Ability to climb and descend steep grades.

[ultrarunner]

I may be to the point of just waiting... too muddy right now to do anything.

The original plan was to have something easy to use for the kids and to take the old folks out around the place...

Something easy to get into and compact.

With all options it does get overwhelming... of course I would have bought the Ranger 400 for $4200 and been done with it...

When buying new... you want it exactly tailored to your needs...

Really like Kubota... just some of the reviews have me concerned... was even thinking of the 500 with hydro but the combo accelerator/hydor pedal seems to have issues.

Still keep coming back to the Mule 610XC... just don't like the freewheeling and being dependant on brakes for long descents...

Another Suzuki would work... but no locking differential so the Mule might out perform?

 

[s219]

So far my Kubota RTV-X1120D has been outstanding. Yesterday I was surveying some hunting land with neighbors, and we squeezed three across for a short ride. In 4WD low, it crawled right up a steep hill with no drama. Came back down with no drama. Really like the HST, which is rare in this type of vehicle. Compared to other UTVs, it has a more traditional frame and tractor-like build (most have a lighter tubing frame) and more of a tractor-like feel.

The only common complaint I have seen about the new RTV-X models is the shifter, but it takes a little understanding and knowing the right procedure (which is in the owners manual but seems to be missed). Coming out of gear, if you're on a hill or in any situation that puts load on the gears, the brake needs to depressed, which triggers a valve in the HST that takes pressure/load off the gears so shifting out of gear is easy. There is a simple cable adjustment for that to tweak the behavior as needed (I can tell it's evolving on mine, presumably as the brake cable is stretching, so I will probably adjust at some point).

Going into gear is normally smooth, but sometimes you will want to let off the brake to make it easier, and worst case (about 10% of the time) you might need to blip the pedal. If you've ever changed gear ranges on an HST Kubota tractor, this will all be very familiar. The shifter action improves dramatically after some break-in.

My wish is that the HST had a treadle, or separate fwd/reverse pedals, like the tractors. Many times I want to change direction just as quickly/easily as I can do in a tractor. Having to shift gears for fwd/reverse gets old. I would only want to shift when needed for high/low gear ranges if I had my preference.

 

[dfkrug]

Still keep coming back to the Mule 610XC... just don't like the freewheeling and being
dependant on brakes for long descents...

Another Suzuki would work... but no locking differential so the Mule might out perform?

From my history of 4-wheeling in the Rockies and Sierras, I would say descent control that does
not require the brakes is important. Esp with steep hills. Low-end Mule could be a problem there.

So, a manual-trans jeep (Samurai) would be superior for descent, but the rear end IS open. Of
course, you COULD have it permanently locked, aka "Lincoln-locker", cheaply.

 

[bcp]

Of
course, you COULD have it permanently locked, aka "Lincoln-locker", cheaply.

Is the the right way?





Bruce

 

[4570Man]

Is the the right way? <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=460783"/> Bruce

Its a good way to tear the rear end up.

 

[Green Power]

If it were me i would not get a mule 610, and would get something that is more machine.

 

[ultrarunner]

My wish is that the HST had a treadle, or separate fwd/reverse pedals, like the tractors. Many times I want to change direction just as quickly/easily as I can do in a tractor. Having to shift gears for fwd/reverse gets old. I would only want to shift when needed for high/low gear ranges if I had my preference.

I was thinking about this today... one of the great features of having a hydro tractor... forward and reverse on demand...

Some of the problems I have read about are the difficult shifting and the adjustment for the pedal...

 

[ultrarunner]

From my history of 4-wheeling in the Rockies and Sierras, I would say descent control that does
not require the brakes is important. Esp with steep hills. Low-end Mule could be a problem there.

So, a manual-trans jeep (Samurai) would be superior for descent, but the rear end IS open. Of
course, you COULD have it permanently locked, aka "Lincoln-locker", cheaply.

I like how the Samurai creeps in low... use it all the time to pull my trailer from the back... nice and slow.

 

[dfkrug]

Is the the right way?

Whoops! I guess you have a piece of lawn art now.

Since we have had more than 20" of rain in the past week, my Samurai dumptruck is
going to be moving a bunch of mud.....

 

[Xfaxman]

Is the the right way?

View attachment 460783



Bruce

No, do it with duct tape.

 

[s219]

Here's a shot of a hill I routinely go up and down with my RTVX-1120D -- it's an exit for the hunting trail I share with some folks, that dumps back out onto the road. Not too steep -- measures at about 39% grade (about 21 deg).



I go up and down in 4WD low. To give you an idea how much engine braking there is with the HST -- going downhill, I still have to depress the HST pedal to maintain the kind of speed I want, otherwise it would be too slow.

Interesting thing about this downhill is that there's a 18" ditch at the bottom, next to the road. Though it's only 39% grade, when you get to the ditch it feels like the RTV is pointing straight into the ground right before the front wheels start rolling up the other side of the ditch.

There is one other hill I hit a lot that is steeper but I haven't measured the slope. I'll do that next chance I get.

 

[ultrarunner]

Thanks for the real world report...

I do think Hydro would be the best safety wise for braking if nothing else.

 

[Green Power]

What you should get, (note this is biased with my use the last week) Is a Gator 855D, with tracks. The tracks increase the foot print, and add a lot of stability, and there is plenty of traction to go up the steep hills in 2wd, You have to try hard to get it stuck. I didnt pay attention to engine braking because my use was on flat playa around the Salton Sea in Southern CA, but did go up one steep and short hill....

 

[ultrarunner]

So I did drive the Samurai to the ranch today and the ground was dry and the grass for 14" tall.

The Sammy had no problems negotiating the terrain... the steepest was not an issue.

Sammy is totally stock... no locking differentials... and it has speed rated Highway tires that I got a deal on... so no all terrain or off road.

This is the first time my brother had ever been down any of the three ridges in a vehicle... so it was new for both of us... I had been up their with the dozer before the rains...

NO RTV yet... still looking for the right deal.

I've owned the Sammy for 20+ years and bought it for $1050 with a transmission noise... turned out it was a bad bearing... less than $75 for parts and a Saturday... also on my third battery now...

 

[ArlyA]

We operate ATV's and UTV's with pods (you call tracks) and do not leave them on for the summer. All our machines do have power assist steering yet its just to hard to operate them while these are mounted and we are working on dirt or gravel. The machine center of gravity is also raised quite a lot with pods on which makes them more prone for tipping over. In the case of the UTV, these all have cabs which also adds weight to its upper side. For these reasons, we do not leave pods on for summer use.

 

[dfkrug]

The Sammy had no problems negotiating the terrain... the steepest was not an issue.

I was moving some dirt around last week with my Samurai dumper and failed to compensate
for the liquidity of the mud. It shifted backwards as I ascended my 30% trail and did
a wheelie.

Traction was no problem, even when I could tell my front wheels were off the ground
for the last 30 feet or so. The load was maybe 1200-1500#.

No damage, but I did need my tractor to upright the Sami, and dump the bed.

 

[ultrarunner]

You do have some steep terrain and I can imagine what a little rain will do.

My Samurai with highway tires and no mods went everywhere I wanted to go around the property a few days ago...

Only needed to use the brakes on the steep descent I posted a picture of... it is along the fence line so it is what it is...

Still ruminating the the Kawasaki Teryx... I saw Thursday.

 

[Green Power]

Ultra, have you considered polaris's 6x6, The extra set of tires adds a lot of stability.

 

[ultrarunner]

Have not made a purchase yet... still thinking something local might turn up.

In dry conditions the Samuari has no problem as long as I get a run at it and don't let up on the throttle...

In wet conditions it is not even possible to walk on foot... the ground is slick as snot as my neighbor would say.

 

[mikesee]

Kubota RTV 900 Hill Climb in the Catskills - YouTube