RTV for hilly property in Vermont

[hayden]

Hi,

My wife and I are looking into an RTV (or whatever acronym you prefer) for our place in Vermont. It's a total of about 250 acres broken into two lots separated by a 1/4 mile or so. It's mostly forest and logging trails, and much of it is quite steep. How steep? Well, I can get up and down using a 4wd tractor (Kubota 2910), and the parts that are open we can get around (though will difficulty) with a riding mower. This is a log way of saying that strong hill climbing capability is very important, including with a full dump load of fire wood, stone, or other heavy material. Roll-over stability is also important to the extent there is much difference between models/makes. From the little research I've done, they all appear to be the same width and hence presumably have similar roll-over stability. We want a dump bed, and good load carrying capability. 4 WD is essential due to the terrain. Speed is not particularly important since the terrain it too rough to go fast anyway.

The Kubota's with their tractor-like design strike me as best suited for lugging heavy loads up steep hills, but that may just be because my Kubota tractor does well at it.

Other thoughts?

 

[darkday]

Kubota should be able to do it just fine. My personal experience is with a John deere gator 6x4 and HPX. Both of which could go up the steepest hills easily with as much wood as you can possibly pile into the bed without the pile toppling over.

 

[TWO GUNS]

hayden,

I am a owner of a RTV 900 Kubota, you don't have anything to worry about. That machine will really surprise you. It will do what you described, and a heck of alot more. Trust me, you will not be dissapointed with the Kubota RTV 900 or the 1100 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

~~~~~~ jamie

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

i have the hpx and you can load it down and go for it. i load mine down with logs and cement and cross ditchs that have steep embankments on the other side and she never let me down yet. but tires are a big factor too! no traction no climbing. but they both have the power to haul a load up a hill. i like the rtv for it's hydraulic attachments and stuff. i don't own one but that would be one of the best reasons i would buy one.

 

[Cottonhawk]

We have a Polaris Ranger 6x6 and it can go anywhere. It's a true six wheel drive and will go up steep hills, down through deep mud, with great stability. It is a work horse with a nice sized dump bed and we take grand kids and house guests to ride around our property. We have steep hills, forest, and various terrain.
Here is a pic of my Ranger.......

 

[Skyco]

I have a Yamaha Rhino. You mentioned all are about the same width and that just isn't so. The Rhino is much narrower than say the Polaris Ranger.

The Rhino is very off road capable but it will turn over sideways easier than a wider unit. In my case I wanted narrow for two specific reasons, one it will fit in my enclosed trailer next to my motorcycle and two I need to fit in between trees more readily.
Unfortunately I can't leave my Rhino on my distant 10 acres where I use it due to the thiefs in the world. If I wasn't having to haul it I'd have likely gone for a different unit. Hindsight now that I own a Kubota tractor I'd probably really look hard at the Kubota RTVs

 

[riptides]

Hi,

..... Well, I can get up and down using a 4wd tractor (Kubota 2910), and the parts that are open we can get around....

We looked hard at various vehicles when we had our hilly property and the RTV just came out. We based our buying point on the drivetrain, stability and general good feelings we had when operating the RTV on the property. Of course we had some loyalty to the Kubota brand too. And that helped.

Since that time the market has caught up to Kubota and some other brands can give it a run for the money. But, IMHO, once you operate it, you will just be amazed. And sorry, but for our needs that bench seat is still an important distinction in that type of vehicle.

-Mike Z.

 

[TWO GUNS]

Here's a pic of my RTV. I just the other day, took off the little square Hella lights on the front top and replace with better round spot lights. The others just wasn't what I wanted. I installed me a new set of ITP 589's for I will be doing alot of running here in the swamps. Installed a Sirius Satallite radio system in it, just to keep me company when I'm in the woods building my deer stands. And a must, had to put the ROPS High Air Intake for to help me keep the air filter cleaner, and also get the intake out of the water >>>>

 

[kubota men]

thats fine going up hills in a polaris but tell us about comeing down steep hills i had a polaris 500 sportsman one time keep it one month the most dangerous thing i ever owned zero engine braking

 

[Mr. Green]

............................This is a log way of saying that strong hill climbing capability is very important, including with a full dump load of fire wood, stone, or other heavy material.......................

I recently spent two weeks in the mountains clearing and planting food plots at our hunting camp. I put my new RTV900 to the test.

I loaded 1 full skid(40 bags @ 50 lbs. each or one full ton.........2000 lbs.) of pulverized limestone on the cargo bed of the RTV and proceeded to climb a 40 deg. grade without as much as a hint of a groan or second of hesitation from the Kubota. Driver and one passenger were and additional 450+ lbs..

I was impressed...............................nuff said.



Mr. G