Successful Farming Ultimate UTV Evaluation

[hunterridgefarm]

This article was in this months Successful Farming Magazine. The Ultimate UTV Evaluation

They evaluate several different UTV's.

Thought I would share

 

[TableRocked]

Thanks for sharing....I did notice right away that the Kubota RTVx900 was pointed out as having a too little power for steep hills.

RTV owners, I've got almost vertical hillsides that require significant torque to get up and down....I'm fine not having a top speed racer or a huge travel suspension, but if this unit doesn't have the ability to climb hills like a mountain goat, my interest in this unit is over..... I'm definitely not purchasing this unit to use in North Dakota where elevation is a matter of a few feet over 500 miles..... I can purchase 4 brand new Yamaha golf carts for what this unit will set me back..... so if it won't out pull, out climb, out work them at least 5X better, no Kubota RTV in this garage.....

Thanks again for sharing the thread

 

[aczlan]

Thanks for sharing....I did notice right away that the Kubota RTVx900 was pointed out as having a too little power for steep hills.
RTV owners, I've got almost vertical hillsides that require significant torque to get up and down....I'm fine not having a top speed racer or a huge travel suspension, but if this unit doesn't have the ability to climb hills like a mountain goat, my interest in this unit is over..... I'm definitely not purchasing this unit to use in North Dakota where elevation is a matter of a few feet over 500 miles..... I can purchase 4 brand new Yamaha golf carts for what this unit will set me back..... so if it won't out pull, out climb, out work them at least 5X better, no Kubota RTV in this garage.....
Thanks again for sharing the thread

IMO, it depends on what you expect of it. If you expect it to blast up the hill at 40MPH leaving 4 roostertails like some of the sport UTVs will do, you will be very disappointed. We have a RTV500 and it will happily climb hills in low gear pulling a 7000# haywagon. Its slow doing it, but its as fast as the B7500 would be and it seats 2-3 people.
The RTV500 will outwork our golf carts any day of the week (except possibly in a drag race). As I understand it, the RTV900 is bigger, more powerful and faster than the 500, so it should outwork it too, you just might have to put it into a lower range than high if pulling a load up a hill.

Aaron Z

 

[KubotaToy]

They must be using medium or high gear, with my RTV1100 in low I run out traction before I run out of power. Medium does fine with a loaded bed up most hills but you will need to back down on the throttle if you pulling a 2k loaded trailer up a hill.

 

[texasjohn]

I use my 1140 gearing as follows

high range...pulling nothing, seeking speed...often it is too fast to use in the pasture, max is about 25mph on flat asphalt

medium....almost all the time I use it...up hills and with a trailer behind it....total weight pulling is at least 1000 lbs. max is about 15mph

low...if I stop on a hill with the trailer, this is what I need. Also, what I use when pulling heavy loads...just pulled a load of brush out of a 16 foot trailer in low 4 wheel drive, couldn't even feel it.

I have also used low 4 wheel drive to pull a 1000 gallon metal trailer full of water...you do the math...it's heavy...up a reasonable slope...yes, I got a run at it first.

My net...the tests are all done on roads and with people joy riding around with the need for speed and bumps and getting thrown around with seat belts on. Not me, I spend little time on the ranch roads. I USE the vehicle, it carries all sorts of stuff, including people, and moves trailers around well. I've pulled dead trees down with it, pulled windmill towers from horizontal to vertical with it. The engine does not bog down, lose traction first...and it's a heavy vehicle with aggressive tires.

The 1140, seems I recall, has a few more horsepower than the lower models of RTV...the diesel gives you torque and HST gives you reliability and smooth operation, easy driving, easy steering because hydraulic power is already available.

I think you need to think thru what you will use the vehicle for...it's toughest job...then set that situation up and see if you can test drive the RTV and whatever other vehicle under those conditions. Something like a trailer load of wood....or pulling several trees out of the woods...
Net, if you are trying to win a speed race, then the RTV isn't your vehicle...however, if you are planning on working it then it is worthy of consideration.

 

[aczlan]

I think you need to think thru what you will use the vehicle for...it's toughest job...then set that situation up and see if you can test drive the RTV and whatever other vehicle under those conditions. Something like a trailer load of wood....or pulling several trees out of the woods...

In many cases, if the dealer has a used one, they can arrange for you to test drive it at your property and see if you like it. We did that with a Gator before we bought the RTV and with a BX2200 before we bought the BX2660. The Deere dealer

Net, if you are trying to win a speed race, then the RTV isn't your vehicle...however, if you are planning on working it then it is worthy of consideration.

That has been our experience with the RTV500. My only regret is that we didn't get the 900...

Aaron Z

 

[TableRocked]

Great feedback.....I'm now even more convinced this is the vehicle for me....going to pull the trigger tomorrow......dealer agreed to a fresh, new, 2014 model (not the one I demo'd with the rust).....going to check with a few dealerships near me to get the best price.

 

[pwright]

I hope that you didn't really mean it when you said,

RTV owners, I've got almost vertical hillsides that require significant torque to get up and down.... if this unit doesn't have the ability to climb hills like a mountain goat, my interest in this unit is over.....

You really ought to get the dealer to let you try it on terrain you'll actually be using it on.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I find the title kind of funny. I have had my Mule since 2001 and had a Diesel 8wd Argo before that. No REAL farmer around here has any such UTV! They all use their p/u trucks to do whatever they have to do! It's the wannabees and hobby farmers that seem to need these things! Guess the farmers around here just aint successfull!

 

[pwright]

Interesting the way the ratings compare side-by-side (get it? UTV... Side-by-side...).



Thanks for finding this hunterridgefarm.

 

[Member]

Thanks for posting this. I'm interested because I recently purchased a Honda Pioneer 700-2. I'm happy with it.

I compiled and sorted the ratings. Here they are:

Unloaded:

Rating	Rank	Machine
47.57	1	Polaris Ranger XP 900
47.04	2	John Deere Gator RSX 850i
46.65	3	Honda Pioneer 700-4
46.13	4	Yamaha Viking
46	5	Arctic Cat Prowler 700 HDX
42.82	6	John Deere Gator XUV 825i
42.3	7	Bobcat 3400
35.8	8	Kubota RTV X900

Loaded:

Rating	Rank	Machine
48.18	1	John Deere Gator RSX 850i
47.7	2	Honda Pioneer 700-4
47.66	3	Arctic Cat Prowler 700 HDX
47	4	Yamaha Viking
45.9	5	John Deere Gator XUV 825i
43.83	6	Polaris Ranger XP 900
40.5	7	Bobcat 3400
36.75	8	Kubota RTV X900

Total:

Rating	Rank	Machine
95.22	1	John Deere Gator RSX 850i
94.35	2	Honda Pioneer 700-4
93.66	3	Arctic Cat Prowler 700 HDX
93.13	4	Yamaha Viking
91.4	5	Polaris Ranger XP 900
88.72	6	John Deere Gator XUV 825i
82.8	7	Bobcat 3400
72.55	8	Kubota RTV X900

 

[texasjohn]

Well, wish I could see things rated such as.

pulling power before losing traction
night visibility for work conditions
lbs of carrying capacity, rated and
electrical accessory outlets
steering force, stop to stop, while not moving forward
durability of seats, floor mats
hours of operation, varying conditions, to empty full tank
ease/safety of entry/exit, driver/passenger side

Everyone has different needs and surely equipment is designed to meet those different needs.


everyone has different needs, tests should measure things that are difficult if not impossible for people to discover on the show room floor.

 

[timswi]

I'd like to see a video of them climbing hills with the RTV900..Bet they tried a "running" start in High range. High is for flat-landing..In M or L, my RTV1100 would climb a pine tree..As was said by others, I run out of traction before I ever come close to running out of power. They also seemed to have an issue with the machine weight...Isn't that the point for hauling heavy loads including trailers?...I also noticed that there were propeller heads involved in the review.

From the rating order, they seem more inclined to faster machines. I didn't need a sport machine, so I didn't buy one.

 

[Will_C]

I would not put down any machine, but I am happy with my RTV. Power-I guess it's relative, but mine has enough power to haul a measured face cord of wood in the back while skidding 2 12" by 12' long red oak logs behind it-I don't think I would want to be in anything but low range, as 5-6 mph was fine for me with that load-would not have wanted to go any faster!1

Will

 

[TableRocked]

Industrial toys, you may have a point there indeed.... and you are correct, I could get a used pickup, heck likely a close to new pickup for the cost of a UTV, but, with 95% of my property being dense forest, very rocky, lots of steep grades, also with a ton existing ATV trails, I "need" something that can navigate down those trails...plus the wife wants a golf cart to drive to the boat dock, also down an ATV trail through the woods....figured an UTV could serve both of our needs.....

Plus I need another vehicle to license, pay taxes on, and insure like I need a hole in the head....around here folks can drive these on the country roads without being worried about any of that......

 

[Xfaxman]

But they didn't include the "Ultimate" Farm UTV, the Polaris Ranger Electric.

It is so nice to go out there when it is way below freezing, turn the key, push forward, step on the pedal and you are going down the driveway. Took longer to type it, than it does to do it!


http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/287792-electric-polaris-ranger.html

 

[TableRocked]

I would sure like to see a consumer reports style reliability survey completed by a large sample size of individuals for a similarly large sample of UTV manufacturers and models. Having owned a Range Rover, a Pontiac, multiple Hondas and Toyotas, and after talking with owners of like vehicles, I can tell you I don't care how "capable" a Range Rover may be, from 1989 through 2002, these things are so unreliable - electrical systems, coolant systems, transmissions, body rust (yes, the non aluminum parts), how anyone in their right might would purchase one thinking they'd wouldn't be wrenching on them all the time is beyond me. Toyotas, Hondas, as substantiated by Consumer Reports, some of the most trouble free vehicles on the planet.....

That being said, love to see a UTV Consumer Reports, Report......

 

[timswi]

I would sure like to see a consumer reports style reliability survey completed by a large sample size of individuals for a similarly large sample of UTV manufacturers and models. Having owned a Range Rover, a Pontiac, multiple Hondas and Toyotas, and after talking with owners of like vehicles, I can tell you I don't care how "capable" a Range Rover may be, from 1989 through 2002, these things are so unreliable - electrical systems, coolant systems, transmissions, body rust (yes, the non aluminum parts), how anyone in their right might would purchase one thinking they'd wouldn't be wrenching on them all the time is beyond me. Toyotas, Hondas, as substantiated by Consumer Reports, some of the most trouble free vehicles on the planet.....

That being said, love to see a UTV Consumer Reports, Report......

Personally I don't trust consumer reports....Anyway, given the treatment of these machines is so radically diverse, getting an honest widespread reliability review would be nearly impossible. Some beat them senseless, some don't. Some maintain them, some don't. Some leave them sitting in the yard their whole lives, some keep them in climate controlled garages -- etc. From what I've seen, if they are treated well and maintained well, there isn't a lemon in the bunch. Some are better at fun stuff, some are better at work stuff..All in what you plan on doing.

Asking others who own the machine as you would is the best reliability review there is.

 

[texasjohn]

I'd like to see one, too. No survey is perfect, but getting as large a sample size as possible is better than only relying on ads or anecdotal data. I've found Consumer Reports to be a good source of info...have purchased Toyota vehicles for 40 odd years...my experience matches the CR reported high reliability.

I would sure like to see a consumer reports style reliability survey completed by a large sample size of individuals for a similarly large sample of UTV manufacturers and models. Having owned a Range Rover, a Pontiac, multiple Hondas and Toyotas, and after talking with owners of like vehicles, I can tell you I don't care how "capable" a Range Rover may be, from 1989 through 2002, these things are so unreliable - electrical systems, coolant systems, transmissions, body rust (yes, the non aluminum parts), how anyone in their right might would purchase one thinking they'd wouldn't be wrenching on them all the time is beyond me. Toyotas, Hondas, as substantiated by Consumer Reports, some of the most trouble free vehicles on the planet.....

That being said, love to see a UTV Consumer Reports, Report......

 

[DIXIEDOG]

I think for the most part when people are driving a utv they don't expect they will need to use low range to climb hills or pull a load. I don't think many people doubt the Kubotas ability to move through various terrain or get over hills....the thing that separates them from the competition is that need for gear reduction. I've yet to see a hill that I've had to use low range on in my Gator 825i, I have friends with utvs including a Polaris Ranger, Polaris RZR and a CanAm Commander and all these machines will blast over any hill I've seen up here without shifting, they generally won't even lose any speed at all regardless of whether loaded or empty.


It seems a lot of people really like their RTV's which is great but for the folks who hop out of almost any other machine and get into the RTV it's going to feel like a major downgrade in the power department as well as suspension. It doesn't necessarily make them bad but it does hurt them in any side by side comparison testing situation.