Kubota RTV 500

[check 6]

Anyone have any experience with the kubota RTV 500 utility vehicle. Specifically reliability, seating, quietness of the engine, and towing. how much tongue weight etc. Thanks, i'm looking as a better option than my current electric golf cart for work around the place

 

[jeff9366]

I have 700 engine hours on my RTV500. Very reliable so long as non-ethanol gas (marine gas in Florida) is used. Same HST used in Kubota BX tractors, which is why Kubota utility vehicles cost more than belt drive competitors. Never have heard of any Kubota HST failing. Top speed is limited by HST, which is designed for low end torque, not top speed, to 25-mph. Fast enough for me.

I tow a robust MUTS all-terrain trailer behind my RTV500, usually carrying yard and tree debris, sometime 1,000 pounds dirt. The 15.8 horsepower engine/HST accelerates 1,000 pounds of dirt slowly, but satisfactorily ~~~~~stopping that 1,000 pounds of dirt in a straight line is more difficult. MUTS dumps 100% of loads, which few of its competitors do.

MUTS is the gold standard in all-terrain trailers and I highly recommend them. I abhor equipment down time.
((The Home Depot resin alternative is a POLAR. POLARs incompletely dump. Read POLAR reviews before making purchase decision. Some reports of wheel bearing failure. Photo #9 ))

RTV500 has never overheated despite 97 degree summer heat in Florida.

Engine is fairly loud, louder than the three cylinder diesel in my L3560 tractor. ((Less loud than the diesels in larger RTVs.))
I wear sound attenuating muffs when operating RTV and tractor.

If you work in woods, buy the optional factory roof. I have had large branches come down on the roof three times without damage to me or the roof. A person up to 150 pounds can work while standing on the roof, but I do not recommend that. :wink:

The REAR springs are adjustable in five increments, as operators vary from 80 pounds to 300 pounds. After a short time ALL RTV500's tilt to the left, at which time one adjusts/increases spring resistance on the left/driver's side to level up. Spring adjustment is covered in the Operator's Manual.

MORE RTV500: Google

MUTS: MUTS - Multi-Use Trailer System for your ATV, Quad and 4 Wheeler

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have a 500, it has around 600 hours on it. It has run perfectly since day one, and it's had nothing put in it but E10 fuel...

It's used for work, pulling loads and hauling my tool box and other heavy tools in the bed, that's what I bought for and I'm happy with it.

My wife loves it as much as I do and she really wasn't on board, when I told her I was buying it! lol

SR

 

[ovrszd]

I've got a 900 so can't offer much in regards to the 500. As to the RTVs in general. I consider them a work vehicle. Slow road speed. Rough ride. Poor suspension movement in rough terrain. A bit limited seating space, especially leg room.

I think of my 900 as a miniature 4 wheel drive ton truck with hydraulic dump bed. If you can pile it in/on the bed, it'll haul it.

 

[aczlan]

I've got a 900 so can't offer much in regards to the 500. As to the RTVs in general. I consider them a work vehicle. Slow road speed. Rough ride. Poor suspension movement in rough terrain. A bit limited seating space, especially leg room.

I have similar feelings about our RTV500, its a solid machine but ride comfort was not high on the list of design priorities.

Aaron Z

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My 500 rides better than my smaller tractors, and I spend hours at a time on them...

You guys must be softer than me?? lol lol

SR

 

[ovrszd]

My 500 rides better than my smaller tractors, and I spend hours at a time on them...

You guys must be softer than me?? lol lol

SR

Maybe you are just fatter and smash the seat better.... lol lol

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Maybe you are just fatter and smash the seat better.... lol lol

Could be? BUT you are the one with the handle "ovrszd". ha ha ha

SR

 

[murphy1244]

Maybe you are just fatter and smash the seat better.... lol lol

Thanks for the laugh!:laughing:

 

[jeff9366]

RTV500 REAR springs are adjustable in five (5) increments, as operators vary from 80 pounds to 300 pounds. Spring adjustment is covered in the Operator's Manual.

The Operator's Manual calls for a special spanner to adjust springs, which Kubota USA does NOT stock. A set of good size Channel Lock pliers accomplishes the spring adjustment easily.

Have you gents commenting on a hard ride adjusted the springs? Kubota default position is the hardest setting. :duh::

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Have you gents commenting on a hard ride adjusted the springs?

They don't need to adjust the springs, they just need to eat more bon bons!

SR

 

[ovrszd]

I think I started the rough ride discussion. My caveat is that I have a 900. No adjustment.

 

[aczlan]

RTV500 springs are adjustable in five (5) increments, as operators vary from 80 pounds to 300 pounds. Spring adjustment is covered in the Operator's Manual.

The Operator's Manual calls for a special spanner to adjust springs, which Kubota USA does NOT stock. A set of good size Channel Lock pliers accomplishes the spring adjustment easily.

Have you gents commenting on a hard ride adjusted the springs? Kubota default position is the hardest setting. :duh::

I was comparing the ride in the RTV to our golf carts. I will have to look at the front springs and crank them down a little.

Aaron Z

 

[check 6]

My dealer brought out a RTV 500 for us to try, rides nice and smoother on the community grass runway than our golf cart. My wife likes it also, however, our dog was not quite as over joyed and prefers the golf cart. Need to take him for another ride today.

For those that have a 500, the sticker on the front and back hitch assembly states 110 as the max towing tongue weight, have to towed ( short distances ) trailers with more tongue weight. One of my uses would be to move trailers around my lot as the 500 is far more maneuverable than the tractor and I'm overloading the rear of the golf cart currently. Other than the dogs apprehension ( this is the same 38 lb fully grown part German Shepard that thought nothing of taking out a 25 lb possum and spent his first year and a half as a stray) and short distance towing, I'm very pleased with the initial testing of the RTV 500. Test drove the RTV 900 and it is too big for my uses plus it sits you higher which would be uncomfortable for my wife.

 

[aczlan]

For those that have a 500, the sticker on the front and back hitch assembly states 110 as the max towing tongue weight, have to towed ( short distances ) trailers with more tongue weight. One of my uses would be to move trailers around my lot as the 500 is far more maneuverable than the tractor and I'm overloading the rear of the golf cart currently.

Not sure what the tow rating is, but we pull loaded haywagons around with our RTV500 in low range and it doesn't complain too much.

Aaron Z

 

[check 6]

Stopped by the local Ezgo golf cart dealer yesterday to see what they had in work vehicles. Most are derived from their golf carts including a 72 volt ( yes 9 12 volt batteries) RTV that they were proud of. Thats quite a load of batteries to pull around and the expense of replacement. their gas engine vehicles ( carbureted 13.4 hp vs Kubota fuel injected 15.9hp were nice but in my opinion not as sturdily built as the Kubota and physically larger. If I were interested in larger I think I would go with the Kubota RTV 900, but the 500 seems to fit all my needs and better than the electric golf cart I have currently. Going to give it one more test run including pulling my trailer around the property and then make a decision, but the RTV500 seems a good fit

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Old thread, but just wanted to drag it up and see if everyone is still happy with their RTV 500? My FIL is looking at a used one, it has 1000 hours, a torn seat and tires are still about 50-60%. Wondering if anyone would speculate a value? It has the front and rear tow hitches and is camouflage.

Any pros and cons?

 

[aczlan]

Sounds like ours, but we are at ~200 hours. Very happy with it. We have the "ATV" tires, if I were to do it again, I would get the "turf" tires (Carlsile All Trail II or similar) to get a little more flotation in the snow/mud.

Aaron Z

 

[coolreinfarm]

Old thread, but just wanted to drag it up and see if everyone is still happy with their RTV 500? My FIL is looking at a used one, it has 1000 hours, a torn seat and tires are still about 50-60%. Wondering if anyone would speculate a value? It has the front and rear tow hitches and is camouflage.

Any pros and cons?

I’m at 530 hours and 9 years of service and it runs well no oil consumption between changes happy with it. At a 1000 hours I would be looking at the maintenance of the machine, has the timing belt been changed, filters at regular intervals etc. The seats tear on them on the drivers side, mine is starting to. As far as value depends on how it was taken care of and its age, 3000.00 would be the high number, it originally sold for over 8K.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I’m at 530 hours and 9 years of service and it runs well no oil consumption between changes happy with it. At a 1000 hours I would be looking at the maintenance of the machine, has the timing belt been changed, filters at regular intervals etc. The seats tear on them on the drivers side, mine is starting to. As far as value depends on how it was taken care of and its age, 3000.00 would be the high number, it originally sold for over 8K.

Thanks, and I've heard to make sure the driver's side shock absorber is set to high.