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."

 

[LouNY]

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."

Are you trying in your snide smartass way to say that my values are not likely to be correct.
If so you are the clueless individual.

 

[lman]

No way to fuel it if you have to park it in the back shed with no electricity.

 

[hayden]

Am thinking I should be looking for an EV SxS.

No fuel to fuss with or go bad.

No noise.

Let me know what you find. If your use pattern is conducive to the range limits, it seems like a good fit. My wife would like to change the gator for an EV, but so far all I have seen are really just jacked up golf carts. 4wD is essential for us, and I want power steering too.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

In regards to bed size. Both the Kubota (my BIL has one) and my mule 4 seaters have adjustable beds. Close up the back seat and it adds almost 2' so 4 feet ish.

Mine came with a 2" receiver so no issues adding the hitch.

I have the original CVT and sometimes it squeals for 20 ish seconds as it comes up to speed. When it gets bad enough I'll replace it.

Top speed on mine is 22mph. It still has the original governor setting. Its fast enough for me.

The kubota my BIL has is a diesel as well. Heavier made I'd say but at a much higher price tag. He mainly uses his for hunting with the occasional wood cutting supplies. He also had a winch put on his. We did use that to tug a scaly bark hickory tree that got hung as we were trying to get it out from across the path.

 

[Grumpycat]

Are you trying in your snide smartass way to say that my values are not likely to be correct.
If so you are the clueless individual.

You have no knowledge of cold temperature range other than the biased media sources you follow who also have no real knowledge but just repeat to each other the same dogma over and over because they heard someone say once upon a time.

 

[Grumpycat]

Let me know what you find. If your use pattern is conducive to the range limits, it seems like a good fit. My wife would like to change the gator for an EV, but so far all I have seen are really just jacked up golf carts. 4wD is essential for us, and I want power steering too.

My purchase is not eminent but EzGo golf carts are looking attractive for having real experience with electric power. Creek crossing and hill climbing are not high on my list.

 

[LouNY]

You have no knowledge of cold temperature range other than the biased media sources you follow who also have no real knowledge but just repeat to each other the same dogma over and over because they heard someone say once upon a time.

Bull crap, I have seen first hand the reduction in range in cold weather.
I have not drunk the EV koolaid even though we do have one. It has it's place but it damn sure is not for cold weather use. It will lose almost 2/3's of it's projected range.

 

[deserteagle71]

My wife would like to change the gator for an EV, but so far all I have seen are really just jacked up golf carts. 4wD is essential for us, and I want power steering too.

Here you go. Although in real-world testing the range was not nearly the 80 miles quoted in this ad, and the starting price is twice that of a comparably equipped ICE Polaris.

https://www.polaris.com/en-us/off-road/ranger/models/ranger-xp-kinetic/

 

[hayden]

Here you go. Although in real-world testing the range was not nearly the 80 miles quoted in this ad, and the starting price is twice that of a comparably equipped ICE Polaris.

https://www.polaris.com/en-us/off-road/ranger/models/ranger-xp-kinetic/

Here you go. Although in real-world testing the range was not nearly the 80 miles quoted in this ad, and the starting price is twice that of a comparably equipped ICE Polaris.

https://www.polaris.com/en-us/off-road/ranger/models/ranger-xp-kinetic/

Thanks. Too bad they don’t say what type of lithium Ion batteries. I’m not interested in anything other than LFP for anything bigger than a power tool.

 

[Code54]

If you are mainly working on your property, and have a charging system nearby, an EV can work. Charge it at lunch/supper/breaks if range is an issue. Last night in the snowstorm we did a 45 mile ride. For us, an EV won't really work for our main machine, as this is normal for us. Now our little RTV 520 could be replaced with an EV since I never go more than 10 miles, and 95% of the time running it less than a 1/2 mile while working is normal.
There is no right or wrong answer to an EV, it is just if it works for you, but you do need to be realistic about the capabilities of any vehicle you look to purchase.