Coolest thing I've seen in a UTV yet!

[Dmace]

Forgive me if this is not a new thing but I saw it today while at the local Kawasaki dealer and I've never seen it before. It looks like the perfect solution for those who want a 4 seat UTV but also plenty of cargo space.

The rear bench seat folds up when not in use and you can move the "head" of the cargo box forward to add 20" to the overall length. This makes the bed a total of 50.4". Is this a Kawasaki thing or do others have something similar? This setup with a diesel sounds like a winner to me! :thumbsup:
According to the Kawasaki website, it still only has a 400lb cargo capacity with 4 passengers and 800lbs with 2 and the seats folded up. That's pretty good but it could be better.

 

[radman1]

Not to spoil your enthusiasm, but that option has been out for a few years. The only downside is the added cost and the machine gets even longer. Thus need bigger trailer to haul, more difficult to turn and could get caught on a ditch or obstacle easier.
It is a cool option.

 

[aczlan]

I think there is a version of the RTV that has that as well. I vaguely recall seeing one on my dealers lot with that feature last year when we were looking at a BX2200.

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

Not to spoil your enthusiasm, but that option has been out for a few years. The only downside is the added cost and the machine gets even longer. Thus need bigger trailer to haul, more difficult to turn and could get caught on a ditch or obstacle easier.
It is a cool option.

If you need seating for four and occasionally the extra cargo space, I can see it as being a good compromise between a "longbed" 2 seater and a "shortbed" 4 seater.

Aaron Z

 

[nickel plate]

We have the same configuration as to what you saw however it is the 2008 model Kawasaki Trans Diesel. One neat thing about the changeable bed configuration is that you can leave the headache rack in the double bench (middle) position and still keep the back bench folded down and do several things:
Put the dogs behind you in the now enclosed flat bed second seat area and their movement is now restricted to that forward section as being closed off by the headache rack then put your gear in the back, aft of the headache rack so the dogs will not be trampling all over it. Or vise/versa.

 

[Dmace]

The only downside is the added cost and the machine gets even longer. Thus need bigger trailer to haul, more difficult to turn and could get caught on a ditch or obstacle easier.
It is a cool option.

Well compared to the Polaris Ranger Crew which is one other 4 seater option, it's actually shorter...
Polaris Ranger Crew - Overall Length: 145" - Box Size (LxW): 36.5"x54"
Kawasaki Mule Trans - Overall Length: 130.1" - Box Size (LxW): 30.3"/50.4"x47.7"
That's 15" shorter than the Ranger yet only gives up 6" in box length when in 4 passenger mode, quite a bit of trailer space.

After some poking around online, it looks like the Kubota has the same feature.
Kubota RTV1140 - Overall Length: 137" - Box Size (LxW): 33.9"/53.5""x52"
Again, the Kubota is 7" longer overall but only has 3" more bed capacity when in 2 passenger mode.

 

[zene55]

I have a mule 4010 Trans and it is a real workhorse. My wife talked me into the 4 seater and I am glad I got it.

 

[farmboy12]

Well compared to the Polaris Ranger Crew which is one other 4 seater option, it's actually shorter...
Polaris Ranger Crew - Overall Length: 145" - Box Size (LxW): 36.5"x54"
Kawasaki Mule Trans - Overall Length: 130.1" - Box Size (LxW): 30.3"/50.4"x47.7"
That's 15" shorter than the Ranger yet only gives up 6" in box length when in 4 passenger mode, quite a bit of trailer space.

After some poking around online, it looks like the Kubota has the same feature.
Kubota RTV1140 - Overall Length: 137" - Box Size (LxW): 33.9"/53.5""x52"
Again, the Kubota is 7" longer overall but only has 3" more bed capacity when in 2 passenger mode.

Believe it or not, I've heard multiple times that the Polaris Crew has quite a shorter turning radius then both of the others mentioned.


Kyle

 

[Dmace]

Believe it or not, I've heard multiple times that the Polaris Crew has quite a shorter turning radius then both of the others mentioned.
Kyle

Unfortunately, I cannot find a spec on the Polaris Ranger for that but the Kawasaki (12.8 ft) and Kubota (16.4 ft) list theirs. Now considering the Kawasaki has a wheel base of 85.2" vs the Ranger's 108", it would be pretty amazing if it did have a tighter turning radius. :thumbsup:

 

[farmboy12]

Yeah, Dmace.

I was surprised as well. I haven't driven a crew, but I have driven a new 2010 6x6 that has an extremely long wheelbase to the back axle, and I was pretty surprised at the turning radius of it. The only, yes only, I had with the 6x6 was the back axle dragging on real turns. Now you can live 99% of the time without having to make turns sharp enough where it rips up on the grass, and in the woods it don't matter but when you need to do it, theres no way around it.


Kyle