UTV's and ATV's general discussion.

[hayden]

My girlfriend had an RTV1100C for a while, but practically gave it away and bought a Defender "single cab longbed".

It was primarily the diesel that made her not want the Kubota.

What didn't she like about the diesel? For me it's a big plus. When operating it's much quieter than the typical Chery gas engine. Usually the complain with teh Kubotas is that they are too slow, which they are.

The plus is they are built like tanks. More like a tractor, vs a go-kart. I have had Kubota, Deere, and Kawasaki side by sides, and would rank them in that order for sturdiness of build. I know the Mule is considered a work machine rather than a recreational machine, but it's still built like a go-kart compared to even the Deere, and certainly compared to the Kubota. The Kubota is just slow as a dog. It really needs to be 50% to twice the HP that it currently is.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Horsepower is a non-issue for what she uses these things for. Originally she got a Gator 6X4, which was fine in SoCal and with fewer horses producing manure.

Next was the Kubota RTV110C which was nice with its cab and heater here in the Rockies. Not nice was the small bed (more horses now) and the diesel. It helped to plug it in before starting it in the winter, and it obviously needed anti-gel in the fuel.

But realistically a diesel was far from ideal for a short drive or two every day, but the noise was her biggest complaint. Maybe they have become better, but that '18 (or whatever it was) was loud. Inside and out.

In comparison, the current Defender Limited Pro is positively quiet. I hear its tires on the gravel driveway over its engine at a bit under 1/4 mile, doing about 5 mph. With the Kubota I could hear the engine no matter where it was on the property. And it didn't help that it's only 30 acres.

I'm all for diesels in applications where they make sense, and we have several, but this was not a vehicle where it did.

 

[hayden]

Horsepower is a non-issue for what she uses these things for. Originally she got a Gator 6X4, which was fine in SoCal and with fewer horses producing manure.

Next was the Kubota RTV110C which was nice with its cab and heater here in the Rockies. Not nice was the small bed (more horses now) and the diesel. It helped to plug it in before starting it in the winter, and it obviously needed anti-gel in the fuel.

But realistically a diesel was far from ideal for a short drive or two every day, but the noise was her biggest complaint. Maybe they have become better, but that '18 (or whatever it was) was loud. Inside and out.

In comparison, the current Defender Limited Pro is positively quiet. I hear its tires on the gravel driveway over its engine at a bit under 1/4 mile, doing about 5 mph. With the Kubota I could hear the engine no matter where it was on the property. And it didn't help that it's only 30 acres.

I'm all for diesels in applications where they make sense, and we have several, but this was not a vehicle where it did.

It's interesting how all these machines have evolved. We have a 2007 diesel Gator and it's very noisy. Yanmars typically are, and the 3 cylinder is also a real shaker. The 2020 Kubota X1140 is much quieter and smoother. My Mule was quiet at idle, but reved up it was an ear splitter. Underway the Kubota is quieter.

But in general I think these manufacturer's have started to get the message that these things are just too darn loud. I won't operate any of them without ear plugs. Your Defender Pro sounds (no pun intended) a big step in the right direction.

 

[Grumpycat]

Am thinking I should be looking for an EV SxS.

No fuel to fuss with or go bad.

No noise.

 

[jjeff]

Plowed snow yesterday with the younger ones 350 grizz does a good job with an old county style atv plow, pipe welded on cutting edge, it's a pretty simple small 350 cc single air cooled engine minus the small oil cooler. Probably said before but Yamaha really did a great job with the ultramatic belt drive CVT transmissions In my experience with them. Never had a problem or even blew a belt on one in almost 20 yrs of owning one of some sort of Yamaha model over the years, great work ATV cuz they've been pretty reliable with great engine braking also imo.

 

[deserteagle71]

Am thinking I should be looking for an EV SxS.

No fuel to fuss with or go bad.

No noise.

I would love one too. But the ones on the market now have a maximum range of about 50 miles. Too many of my rides are well over 100 miles...I can carry an extra can of gas but haven't figured out how to carry an extra can of electricity.....

 

[LouNY]

I had contemplated such a critter as I don't do long trail rides but I do get into some rough horsepower eating climbs. Looking at their projected numbers and cutting them in half for a cold winter day of use and all of a sudden nope not going to work when really needed.

 

[davrow]

Am thinking I should be looking for an EV SxS.

No fuel to fuss with or go bad.

No noise.

My Tuatara beats my previous Yamaha Rhino 660 every way you look at it.
But they are not silent, just very much quieter. You can hold a conversation at any speed.
Very expensive, too.
And, yes, 50 mile (very short) range. And max 25 mph.
Fine for me in Southern California. I never go over 12 miles in a day.

 

[LouNY]

My Tuatara beats my previous Yamaha Rhino 660 every way you look at it.
But they are not silent, just very much quieter. You can hold a conversation at any speed.
Very expensive, too.
And, yes, 50 mile (very short) range. And max 25 mph.
Fine for me in Southern California. I never go over 12 miles in a day.
View attachment 2124055

Interesting appearance and design, but yea advertised 50 mile range would end up at 25 or less in cold weather and then throw in high load steep climbing you would be lucky to get 10-15 miles.

 

[Grumpycat]

Interesting appearance and design, but yea advertised 50 mile range would end up at 25 or less in cold weather and then throw in high load steep climbing you would be lucky to get 10-15 miles.

How do you know this property of "25 or less in cold weather"? You have any experience?

With every bit of experience you have I could say the 50 miles reduces to 5 miles. Or, "Can't even leave the driveway."