RTV1100 Opinions

[timswi]

Anybody have an RTV1100 that could offer some opinions...Likes/Dislikes.

I'm considering trading the 500 for one of these..Just don't want to make a really expensive mistake.

The wife is all for it, so gotta strike while the iron is hot

 

[coobie]

Anybody have an RTV1100 that could offer some opinions...Likes/Dislikes.

I'm considering trading the 500 for one of these..Just don't want to make a really expensive mistake.

The wife is all for it, so gotta strike while the iron is hot

I would hold off and look at the new Kioti mecron coming this spring.I would also drive the kawaski mule diesel,john deere.I am thinking about trading off my 2006 RTV 900 this spring,there are alot of good RTV,s out there to look at.I also wanted to add a member on here called Dargo has a Kubota RTV 1100 maybe he can give you some input.coobie.

 

[randu]

I've had one since May of 2008 and use it for mostly plowing my driveway and picking up leaves and old trees and making a road to the beach.
I'm quite happy with it and the heater is fantastic in the winter and use the air conditioning in the summer. I have the worksite tires and have no problem with them in the winter. I don't have any swamps or mud to deal with so I can't tell you how they would work in those situations. I had a Honda Rancher ATV before this and besides the apparent blind spots with the RTV compared to the Honda the heat and power steering more than make up for that. I wish the shifting would be a little easier but it something I can live with.
Randy

 

[radman1]

Drove one a few years ago when looking at UTV's. I was really interested in the cab with A/C and diesel engine. I felt it was underpowered, slow and the cab was noisey. The power in high range is not good. 22 mph was the max speed according to the speedometer. (I have tractors that go faster than that.) Noise and vibrations echoed throughout the cab. It would be difficult have any kind of conversation in that cab. I would have to put some major sound deadening on the cab, doors and engine compartment to make it reasonable.

It may suit your needs just fine. Purchased a Kawasaki Tereyx instead.

 

[timswi]

Thanks..I just looked it one to see if it was too big...Not alot bigger than the 500. The cab and climate contol will allow me to take my daughter plowing with me for a few hours, where I can't do that now..Speed isn't an issue. Power is. Seems that it has the same engine as my BX, which I am perfectly happy with.

Still thinking though..Keep it up guys...Thanks

 

[coobie]

I've had one since May of 2008 and use it for mostly plowing my driveway and picking up leaves and old trees and making a road to the beach.
I'm quite happy with it and the heater is fantastic in the winter and use the air conditioning in the summer. I have the worksite tires and have no problem with them in the winter. I don't have any swamps or mud to deal with so I can't tell you how they would work in those situations. I had a Honda Rancher ATV before this and besides the apparent blind spots with the RTV compared to the Honda the heat and power steering more than make up for that. I wish the shifting would be a little easier but it something I can live with.
Randy

The hard shifting is the reason I want to sell my 2006 RTV 900 this spring.IMHO,Kubota just ignores this shifting problem.I have the release on the dash and sometimes still have to shut off my RTV to relieve the hyro. pressure to shift into the gear that I need.WAKE UP KUBOTA you are losing customers.coobie

 

[Dargo]

I put my RTV1100 through it's first "hard" run a few weeks ago. The group of guys who go riding at my property had things all set to go on a Saturday when the high was going to be 5 degrees. I took my daughter with me and ran it rather hard through the trails for the first time. I ran it so hard that I unseated the right front tire from the rim with 22 psi in the tire. I had a tank in my toolbox in the back of the RTV with 150 psi in it and, after wiping the rim and tire clean, was able to re-seat the tire no problem.

Some observations; climate control is great. I've run in 100 + degree days but that was the first really cold day. It takes the rough trails better than I thought for what is basically a 2000 pound ATV. Somehow lost my rear hitch even with the pin in it. I guess I ran it pretty hard. It will not climb hills that the ATV's will climb. My Yamaha Rhino would climb hills that the ATV's couldn't make it up. It would be nice to be able to switch between low, medium and high range without stopping. The RTV1100 seems to be immune from the shifting problems that I had with the RTV900. As long as I stopped, changing gears was no problem at all. I'd shell out the bucks for a turbo for more power, but it just doesn't make nearly enough to justify the cost. Maybe a hybrid twin turbo setup? I think the tranny and axles can handle it. I literally bounced the living crap outta the 1100 on bumpy trails without bending anything nor breaking any steering knuckles or U joints or gears.

I've played with diesel pickups for years and I've posted my F350 4X4 crew cab dually that weighed in at 8170 pounds. Here is the run and the time sheet YouTube - F350 4X4 crew cab dually 6.0 PSD 8170 pounds running 1/4 mile running the 1/4 in 14.24 seconds. Staying with a diesel, I think I'd need to go with a bit of a bigger Kubota displacement wise, custom injectors, custom injection pump, twins and a few other little tricks and I can see the RTV1100 keeping up with any side by side power wise. The next issue would be suspension, but that's another whole issue. I guess it depends on what you want to do. I didn't run my F350 in full race setup trying to take care to the tranny. With just a little tuning only and hitting the tree a bit harder I broke into the 13 second bracket. To put that in prospective, I completely embarrassed both a 'hot rod' new Mustang as well as one of the new Camaros.

 

[timswi]

So Dargo...I'm taking it that you like it with a few reservations?

When you say it won't go up the hills that ATV's will climb, do you mean that there is not enough power, even in low range, or not enought traction?

 

[Dargo]

So Dargo...I'm taking it that you like it with a few reservations?

When you say it won't go up the hills that ATV's will climb, do you mean that there is not enough power, even in low range, or not enought traction?

Not enough power. I have some great tires on it that will really grab. However, when it will just barely turn them on steep hills, it clearly won't clean them and power on up the hill. It can be done with a diesel, but I haven't seen one that will yet.

My personal observation is that Polaris seems to be the industry leader with innovations but I've had waaaaay too many friends pay the price in reduced reliability to ever consider one of them. I'd think a strong fuel injected Ranger 6X6 would be the ultimate off roader IMHO. I'd just like to see them a bit more reliable.

 

[sunnyside360]

My personal observation is that Polaris seems to be the industry leader with innovations but I've had waaaaay too many friends pay the price in reduced reliability to ever consider one of them. I'd think a strong fuel injected Ranger 6X6 would be the ultimate off roader IMHO. I'd just like to see them a bit more reliable.

I've heard the same but when I was looking to buy a SXS two years ago I test drove them all and decided to take a chance on the 2008 Polaris Ranger 700 XP/LE based mainly on the test ride, looks, performance, features, ergonomics, db noise, and etc. It's been trouble free now for two plus years with over 2000 miles and 400 hrs. I don't run it really hard but I don't baby it either. I'd definitely buy another one tomorrow if I was looking to buy a SXS.

BTW, I've been a strict Honda fan for over 40 years and this is the first I've broken ranks and bought something else.