RTV900 vs a Diesel HPX

[jcmseven]

Toolnut,

I believe I would go with the Gator due to the lower price. It is a very nice machine. I like diesels also and would highly recommend the Gator. They do not have a lot of oomph, like the Polaris or Yamaha, for sport use, but the diesel especially is pretty quick and will grind right along with a load. I have climbed pitches on mine one can barely walk up and it has plugged right along. The other thing is you can wait for the new Gator coming out in January or so, it is the bomb from what I hear.

John M

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

yea buddy if everything is true about them i plan on one. i'll go as for as selling the one i have now .i would like to hang on to it but hey them new ones sound relly good.

 

[toolnut]

It's funny, I really would LIKE to buy a JD, but just having trouble pulling the trigger because of the RTV's HST is SO nice on steep hills. I'm just too practical to go with the nicer looking vehicle if it won't work as well, must be that old german farmer in me...

Anyway, thanks for all the advice... you're gonna laugh at this, but I'm so cheap I'm actually looking at electric golf carts (lifted of course.... I know it's a different class of machine, but hadn't thought of it till I started reading here on TBN. It's maddening for my wife... but I really enjoy considering all the options. I do have decide soon though, defineatly need some wheels before late fall. Talked with the JD dealer about the "new' HPX, it sounds nice, but more expensive and faster.... neither of which I need... Also it won't have a diesel for at least a year he said.

thanks again,
-toolnut

 

[darkday]

Yeah considering all your options is always the smart move, and a fun move too usually. The gator I think was one of the few times I didn't look at all my options we used to farm but then put that land into wetlands so we traded in all of our JD farm equipment to get a couple things for the small tractor that we kept and of course the gator. Even if I had considered all my options (ive casually looked at other things since) I know I would have chosen the gator anyway.

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

you should have gotton one with a clutch enclosure already on it .lol

 

[nolefan]

I purchased the RTV back in June to use on my property in Western North Carolina. I initially was looking at the Ranger as well as the Mule. Happened to stop with the wife at the Kubota dealership and that was it. The power steering can't be overlooked but as others have mentioned the HST was the real clincher. We have some very steep terrain and the HST is worth every penny when it comes to going down hill. I can't really speak on the HPX but can tell you that compared to the others I mentioned the Kubota is built like a tank. I have had it loaded with Locust timbers I used on some cattle guards that easily weighed 600+ pounds and the RTV acted like they were'nt even there coming up a pretty steep grade. And the hydraulic dump made it easy to unload them. I would not have been able to lift the bed without the hydraulic dump. I am sure the John Deere is a quality product as I have owned John Deere products myself but I have been very pleased with the RTV and would certainly recommend it to others who want a workhorse that is also quite manuverable on trails.

 

[JESSE1]

The fact that all the Gators will freewheel can be a drawback to owning one in really hilly country. You have to be prepared to ride the brake or in the case of the HPX shift into low range and keep the engine rpm above idle to keep from freewheeling. If John Deere doesn't add power steering by the time I'm ready for a new Gator I'll probably look at the Kubota. The HPX needs it when you're going slow or backing a trailer.

 

[darkday]

Have you driven the new HPXs ? I don't know what the old ones were like but this one doesn't require that much effort and they say it's much improved.

I noticed you have a 4400, that's a nice tractor I have one myself

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

well i will disagree with you on the backing a trailer or even pulling a trailer for that matter. the less weight you have on the front end the easier it is to streer. and i pull a double axle 16 foot trailer with my hpx and i load it down and it steers alot easier with a load on the rear hitch.i also noticed it steered alot easier with the lift kit i put in the front . now the front of the hpx doesn't have the nose dive affect anymore.the only time i fine the hpx is hard to steer is in the woods when it's on the trails other than that it's not hard at all.i'm sure power steering would be nice. but it's really not needed for the hpx.

 

[JESSE1]

I haven't had the chance to drive a new HPX with the improved steering. I pull a single axle welding trailer loaded with a Miller Trailblazer and gas bottles or a small 4x8 flatbed. Anything bigger I use a tractor. The steering is not hard as long as you're moving but I have the most trouble when backing a trailer into the barn where I have to do a lot of slow speed manuevering. Other than that I have been completely satisfied with the HPX.

The 4400 has been a good tractor. I have the SyncReverser trans. Amazing how much traction it gets in 4x4. I had to pull the 6400 back to the barn once because the shut-off solenoid burned out and shut the engine down. It weighs over 10,000#'s. The 4400 pulled it up a decent hill without slipping at all.