Buying Advice Looking at RTV 500

[firemech]

Looking to get some opinions on the Kubota RTV 500. Looking to purchase one for our marina to replace an electric golf cart that has met it's demise. Like the idea of the unlockable rear differential, and hydrostat. Don't need a ton of power; our land is flat and the unit would be used primarily for shuttling fuel cans and shrinkwrap products. Is a electrical or hydraulic option available for the dump box. We used to be a Kawasaki dealer and know they were available for the mule. loking for opinions from long term owners/ operators. Any input would be appreciated.

 

[jeff9366]

Looking to get some opinions on the Kubota RTV 500. Looking to purchase one for our marina to replace an electric golf cart that has met it's demise. Like the idea of the unlockable rear differential, and hydrostatic.

Don't need a ton of power; our land is flat and the unit would be used primarily for shuttling fuel cans and shrinkwrap products.

Very maneuverable. No power steering but not needed. Everyone eventually mounts a "Suicide Knob" on the steering wheel. Some mount two.

Even with loaded trailer, off-road, seldom need 4-WD, more seldom engage LSD. Very seldom engage HST/LOW. Great traction with "Turf" Tires.

RTV500 has 15.8 hp. I pull 1,000 pounds of dirt in a trailer now and again on level, unpaved ground. That is a tribute to the excellent HST transmission more than the engine.

Is a electrical or hydraulic option available for the dump box.

Not from Kubota. Aftermarket, yes. From what I read, electric bed lifts are prone to burn out. My bed is permanently loaded with tools.

EBay is a good place to seek an aftermarket bed lift kit.

As dependable as a Kawasaki Mule, meaning very dependable. I use marine gas in mine, rather than 10% ethanol.

RTV500 is a little noisy in operation. I wear ear muffs. My 600 hour service is due. I am going to use Super UDT2 hydraulic fluid, which may quiet it down a bit.

I think optional $250 wide Turf Tires, which are really R4-Industrial Tires, was money well spent. I would order "Turfs" if you will take RTV500 on wet, mossy ramps, in lieu of 'bar' standard tires, which are R1-Ag Tires.

A 150 pound person can work standing on the optional factory roof. (Get up there, Honey. Take your pruning saw. Careful, Dear.)

Ride is a little stiff from the factory. However, springs have five adjustment positions and are easy to set to soft using Channel Lock pliers.

Looking for opinions from long term owners/ operators. Any input would be appreciated.

I have 600 problem free hours on my RTV500.

ELECTRIC Polaris gets good reviews on T-B-N too.

RTV500 in T-B-N Archive: https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=RTV500+site:tractorbynet.com

 

[tow653]

Bought an '12 this spring with 60hrs,now has 160,love the thing. I think Kubota does offer a lift kit,maybe look at or,wish I could find some good hard doors,or even good fitting soft doors for it,without getting a whole kit.

 

[jcbGM]

Ours is just over a year old and now has about 240 hours on it. Wife uses it every day to feed horses. We plow our 1/4 mile driveway with it as well. Unit is 100% problem free. It's not as fast as a traditional side by side, but that's fine by us.

 

[firemech]

Thanks for your input might cause an addition to our Kubota fleet:thumbsup:

 

[kubotacres]

Thanks for your input might cause an addition to our Kubota fleet:thumbsup:

I'm well pleased with mine. I bought it this year and I've put a little over 80 hours on it so far. I wanted a work horse and not a race horse, so the 500 fit the bill.A hydro lift was available through Kubota, but i would rarely use it so I didn't buy.

 

[tractorworks]

As others have stated very reliable. I bought as a replacement for golf cart (same size). Thought I wanted a lift for bed but after a year of use it is so well balanced I no longer see the need.

 

[aczlan]

Ours has about 150 hours on it. We have the factory glass, mesh back on the cab and canopy.
We like it, I just wish sometimes that they had made the bed an extra 3" wider on each side.
Need to add some LEDs for backup lights and perhaps driving lights.

Aaron Z

 

[jcbGM]

Ooh, this for sure if you plow or are in very dark areas. We have the factory top and poly windshield. When we bought it, I paid for kubota halogens mounted on the front and rear of the roof. Kubota setup has a switch on each light. They are sufficient for a rear work light but were useless up front. I bought a pair of LEDs from Amazon and wired them up for the front. They are 1000 times better. I'll be able to see when plowing this winter.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Mines coming up on 600 hours, we use it almost daily,

The way the hinge point is positioned under the bed, it dumps easily by hand...

I have the bar tires and soft ground, so they are perfect for my use...

SR

 

[mike69440]

RTV900 with +1,600 hrs.
Rather have it than new RTV500.

Consider used RTV900 if you can find one for sale that is not beat up. Bet they are hard to find.

 

[Dozernut]

I have an RTV 900 that was bought new in 2004. I have done nothing to this RTV except scheduled maintenance. Ours is used almost daily with the wife claiming it as hers. I have used it to plow snow for several years and it has worked well.

The only complaint is with the Curtis plow mount. The plow can be a bear to get hooked up, it has to be exactly square to the hitch mount on the RTV, other wise it will not latch. I would not recommend the Curtis plow for any RTV unless they have changed the mount. The plow got to be such a chore to hook up (a bad back with 3 surgeries and a brand new hip) that I bought a loader mount snow plow for the M and I am now a happy camper.

I don't think you would go wrong with an RTV but I would recommend that you step up to the 900. I would and will buy another.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

RTV900 with +1,600 hrs.
Rather have it than new RTV500.

Consider used RTV900 if you can find one for sale that is not beat up. Bet they are hard to find.

900's aren't hard to find used around here...

I like my 500 better than my brothers 900, why? It's narrower, so it's handier on my trails, it's also MUCH quieter and I like that. It's a lot lighter too.

Yes, the 900 has more power and that is nice, but my 500 is getting the job done for me, every day...

SR

 

[kubotacres]

900's aren't hard to find used around here...

I like my 500 better than my brothers 900, why? It's narrower, so it's handier on my trails, it's also MUCH quieter and I like that. It's a lot lighter too.

Yes, the 900 has more power and that is nice, but my 500 is getting the job done for me, every day...

SR

I agree. I went to the dealer to buy a 900 having never looked at the 500. After walking past the 500 I liked the overall size. When I dug into the specs on the engine/transmission, ect I knew then I wanted the 500. Yes I saved over 3k but that wasn't the reason for changing my mind.

 

[tractorworks]

Size was the reason I went with 500 also. Had a Mule trans 4x4 but it just seemed too big.