My thoughts on the RTV 1100

[Robert_in_NY]

I have had the chance to run the RTV 1100 for a few hours over the past month. My girlfriend owns one and lets me drive because of my back and the way the hydro transmission is. She doesn't want me to get slammed against the window when she lets off the pedal so by letting me drive it I can brace myself as I slow down.

Well I am getting use to it and can feather off the pedal fairly good but I still do not like this set up. If I am not paying attention 100% of the time to how I let off the hydro pedal I get jerked around which isn't comfortable for my back. The suspension isn't great but is not as bad as I expected. What I dispise is that hydro pedal. I drove this thing today to their other farm 5 miles away and my back was killing me from having to hold the pedal forward the entire trip there and back. Does Kubota offer a cruise control kit for this thing? If not they need to as it is painful if you have a surgically repaired back and are going for a long drive at 20-25 mph.

Last thing, this 1100 seems to lack power going up slight inclines on paved roads in high gear. If it was a steep incline I would expect it but it was just a lull where there was a bridge and going up the other side we lost 5 mph and you could feel the lack of power. Didn't you guys have issues with spark arresters robbing power of something similar? I am wondering if this is the problem.

The cab isn't that bad. Its not super quiet but better then expected. It is fine for two adults and there is room enough for my 5 year old daughter to ride in the middle with us.

I am still wanting a UTV for my own farm and will definitely try the Ranger but wouldn't mind the Kubota if they did something about that pedal and quit the jerking stop somehow.

I did take it down the trail to the creek which is a fairly steep and narrow trail. It isn't small and nimble like a 350 cc ATV but it did remarkably fine and I never felt uncomfortable descending or climbing the trail. I didn't take it into the water though as the trail ended at a deeper section of water then I would want to take that machine into.

All of my other running of the RTV 1100 has been on their main farm which is all flat gravel land. It is a nice machine and I can see why so many guys like them. I just wish Kubota would refine it a tad more as I know a hydro doesn't have to jerk to a stop like that.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

a couple more pics. We were taking grape samples today which is why we were using the RTV to bounce from farm to farm.

 

[whistlepig]

This is one of my "wish for" toys. I don't really need one for my small place. What needs to be done around here can be done with my ATV. But when I'm pushing snow I do dream about the cab on a RTV1100. Sounds like you are a bit disappointed with it. I always thought that Kubota would be the Cadillac of UTV's but then again I know little about them. I only have ATV experience.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

This is one of my "wish for" toys. I don't really need one for my small place. What needs to be done around here can be done with my ATV. But when I'm pushing snow I do dream about the cab on a RTV1100. Sounds like you are a bit disappointed with it. I always thought that Kubota would be the Cadillac of UTV's but then again I know little about them. I only have ATV experience.

90% of my disappointment is because of the hydro setup. The only other UTV experience I have is a small Gator that I can't remember the model of. I will not rule out buying a RTV in the future but it will only be as a result of severe disappointment in the other brands offerings. That hydro is not something I can tolerate the way it is currently. A cruise control feature would help out a ton as would eliminating the sudden jerk to a stop. Those are the two main issues I have with it. I had some issues changing into reverse but I was able to do it. That wasn't as big an issue as I had heard but then again it isn't that much different then what I am use to with tractors. They don't all shift easily every time.

I also wish you could start this RTV while in gear. Put a safety feature on it where you have to push the brake but its silly to have to shift to neutral every time to start it.

 

[hebren]

I test drove kubota rtv 900 and 500 many times and wanted one bad but could not tolerate ride ,back hurt after each test drive . I just purchased used polaris ranger with 44 hrs,you will need utv with independent suspension front and rear, broke my back in 1999.

 

[whistlepig]

I test drove kubota rtv 900 and 500 many times and wanted one bad but could not tolerate ride ,back hurt after each test drive . I just purchased used polaris ranger with 44 hrs,you will need utv with independent suspension front and rear, broke my back in 1999.

I have a Polaris Sportsman. Sportsman's may have their faults but no one faults their ride. McPherson struts up front and IRS on the rear. The automatic tranny on the Sportsman is much more forgiving than the hydro on my Kubota tractor. Softer starts and stops. Never really thought about until know but my Polaris is the most comfortable thing I have ever ridden off road.

 

[milkman]

Hey Robert, next occasion that comes up, give her a coast valve and even offer to install it for her.

 

[2fast2]

Robert, for your sake wish I lived back in Angola where I grew up, I'd bring down my JD XUV 850D to try out and compare. I bet you'd like it better than the Kubota, given your specific observations / complaints.
They are all a LOT of money, IMO, so you better love the one you get.
Good luck, back pain sucks.
I, too, own a Polaris Sportsman 500 and agree the ride is nice, but there isn't any comparison with the utility and reliability of the JD XUV.

 

[TWO GUNS]

Your dealer can adjust the valve in the back of the tranny so it will not have that " sudden stop "
This was offered to me when I purchased our RTV, and since then, seen it done several times on other RTV's that owners didn't want to have the engine brakeing ~~~~
Kubota has a throttle control cable that many has purchased.

The " H " gear on the Kubota's are strictly, in my opinion, just for rolling down a flat road. The 900's also, if in high gear and one runs into a incline, will slow down a little bit.

If power is what a person is looking for, a work machine, and dependable, get the RTV. But if you want speed, don't even consider a RTV.
The RTV is a slow moving tank >>>>

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Your dealer can adjust the valve in the back of the tranny so it will not have that " sudden stop "
This was offered to me when I purchased our RTV, and since then, seen it done several times on other RTV's that owners didn't want to have the engine brakeing ~~~~
Kubota has a throttle control cable that many has purchased.

The " H " gear on the Kubota's are strictly, in my opinion, just for rolling down a flat road. The 900's also, if in high gear and one runs into a incline, will slow down a little bit.

If power is what a person is looking for, a work machine, and dependable, get the RTV. But if you want speed, don't even consider a RTV.
The RTV is a slow moving tank >>>>

Thanks, I will check into getting the valve adjusted. I know when running in high you don't have the sudden stop its only in L, M and R.

Of course this RTV almost met is match today. She was flying up through the driveways in the vineyard when I was coming through a perpendicular drive to go to the one she was on. I had a 2wd JD 5310N pulling 4 ton of grapes and 1 ton of cart in slippery conditions. I can't see the RTV as the rows are taller then it is and when I came around the corner she was coming straight at me looking behind her. Luckily she turned around in time as there was no way for me to stop my rig and get it out of the way. I don't think the RTV would have held up to well to that crash Of course she just about had a heart attack when she did turn around