Anybody with tracks on a RTV 500?

[beretta96man]

Hi all,
I'm ordering a RTV 500 from my dealer this week and I'd really like to put a set of camoplast 4s utv tracks on it for this winter and mud season. I know what I'm buying with the 500 being low on speed/hill torque based on the reviews I've read and I'm fine with it all. It will be perfect for work and play on my property and job sites. Only thing for me is that I want a utv that can do it all; go in the woods with 2ft of snow and get firewood, drag my spear house out on the lake, run across a slough out in north dakota waterfowl hunting. The flotation tracks give a machine really would be nice but I'd love to hear from someone that has tried a set on the 500 before I shell out half the cost of my machine on tracks. My dealer hasn't set one up with tracks and we are both leary of doing it but the camoplast rep does have a fit kit for the RTV 500 and has sold them. Any reviews of one set up with tracks would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ihuntbear]

i have them for my rhino.They work awsome.Go anywhere you want to go.Just loke mini dozer

 

[beretta96man]

Right, that is why I would love to put them on the machine I'm buying but everyone I talk to questions the RTV 500's performance as it has lower hp and the hydraulic transmission has slower response/performance then the CVT belt drives like your rhino. I would think the kubota would be a little tank with tracks, slow (fine) but go anywhere.

 

[DIXIEDOG]

I would really like more info on this as well. Tracks are a sizable investment but if they work as I would expect it would be a great thing to have.:thumbsup: If you do get them please post up your opinions after you try them.

 

[Scooby074]

You mentioned waterfowl hunting.

The absoulte best machine for that would be a argo. Completely amphibious and with their tracks there is no place they cant go.

Not exactly what your OP wanted, but for the price of a set of tracks a used argo might be an option.

 

[beretta96man]

Yes they are very costly, I don't want to be the guinea pig on this at $4200 if they don't perform as well as I would hope (I just want them to work, not play like a rhino ect). That said, I may find a used set and have my dealer set me up with the fit kit and appropriate drive sprocket. If/when I do I will post picks and a review for you guys for sure. It may be a late winter before I find something but then again, I may get antsy and just go crazy and buy them right away:confused2:

Argo: Yeah a family friend and fellow waterfowl hunter uses one. He loves that and you are right, it goes anywhere including across water. My factors though are this; I sold the wheeler and my sled for what I hope to get is one all around machine that will do all that I need. I'm sick of winterizing, storing, fixing and maintaining multiple engines. I know that each piece of equipment has a specific strength but for my purposes a utv with tracks should do all that I need it to. I chose the rtv 500 for the compact size, quite engine, hopefully maintenance easy drive train, reputable name in work equipment and I like dealing with my kubota/bobcat dealer for sales and service.

I've seen the rtv 900 with tracks on youtube pulling another 900 with tires out of the mud while the idiot that was stuck was in reverse!! I know that is one heck of a nice set up with the power of a diesel but it's too big and heavy for what I want to do with it. YouTube - kubota rtv mud run.wmv

I'm thinking that tracks should work. After all, they will float the heck out of the thing over tires right? But if anyone has looked at the track setups then you know that they say you loose 30-40% of your power.....or is it speed??

 

[DIXIEDOG]

The RTV is already pretty slow, if you get nearly a 40% drop in speed will you be happy with your unit still? That was my biggest concern, I heard from 20%-40% when I talked to my local dealer. I'm confident they would float excellent but I'm not sure I'd be happy at less than 15 mph.

 

[Scooby074]

I totally understand the "simplify" mentality:thumbsup: I have 10 or so small engines to maintain from boats to snowmobiles to chainsaws.. gets old fast.

One other thing, if you go tracks, you might want to research if it will cause added wear on your drive train .Ive read they do a number on bearings. Also there has been issues with some brands rubbing on the bodywork (i dont have a RTV so i dont have links to the threads, but a google search should work)


Good luck in your purchase.:thumbsup:

 

[tungularafishcamp]

Had a friend put them on his Kubota 900, he feels it is a little underpowered for it and was dissappointed in both the speed(or lack of) as well as the durability of the tracks(cheap bearings and one ripped track) but likes the traction in both the snow and sand it gives him.
Rick

 

[beretta96man]

All good advice and thoughts, thanks to all!

I don't care much about the speed. Just want the tracks for tasks in the snow and mud. Most of the year I'd leave the tires on so wear and tear should be limited, but I will look at that!

Power is my #1 concern. If the 500 can't spin the tracks then they would be pointless. I've read a lot of reviews from guys that don't like the rtv's slow speed and power on hills as it sits with tires but I've driven others like the rhino and ranger and they really are two different machines for different uses.

That said I did love the Polaris ranger for it's speed and suspension. I would think it's speed would help offset the power loss on the tracks but in the end I want a long lasting work horse. Maybe I will end up with another darn engine in the garage to deal with, who knows.