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.