UTILITY VEHICLE PRICING COMPARISON & ADVICE

[Snobdds]

I have never really needed them before, I enjoy just breaking the last 200 yards into the cabin. However, we just had 35 inches of wet heavy snow and I could have used the pods.

I chained up my 88 toyota and it was pretty unstoppable in the snow. I am now considering them for the rzr.

 

[woodlandfarms]

My 2cents. We have a Kubota RTVx900 and a Polaris RZR 900. I have to say I did NOT like the CVT on the RZR, and because of this we sold it. It was fun as heck to drive around, but had no practicality as a farm vehicle. Also the CVT was a problem. We live on steep property and it was a problem. The RTVx900 is a beast. It is heavy, and with the right tires pretty unstopable. But it has some huge problems that would make me not buy another one either. It is slow. Painfully slow. It will go up any hill you ask it, but it won't do it fast. We are talking 5mph slow. Its all due to the transmission (Hydrostatic) they put in the machine. Terrible choice. But it is diesel, we bough ours used from a flower farm and honestly we drove a brand new one around and couldn't tell the difference, they ar solid as a tank. If i were to buy another machine it would / will be the Honda Pioneer 1000-5. That said, the local dealer told me to come back in 2023.

 

[ArlyA]

My 2cents. We have a Kubota RTVx900 and a Polaris RZR 900. I have to say I did NOT like the CVT on the RZR, and because of this we sold it. It was fun as heck to drive around, but had no practicality as a farm vehicle. Also the CVT was a problem. We live on steep property and it was a problem. The RTVx900 is a beast. It is heavy, and with the right tires pretty unstopable. But it has some huge problems that would make me not buy another one either. It is slow. Painfully slow. It will go up any hill you ask it, but it won't do it fast. We are talking 5mph slow. Its all due to the transmission (Hydrostatic) they put in the machine. Terrible choice. But it is diesel, we bough ours used from a flower farm and honestly we drove a brand new one around and couldn't tell the difference, they ar solid as a tank. If i were to buy another machine it would / will be the Honda Pioneer 1000-5. That said, the local dealer told me to come back in 2023.

The Polaris RZR is a sport machine. What was its problem on steep hills??

 

[the old grind]

It's a 'go-faster'. Maybe the FIA suitcase added too much weight to climb hills.

 

[Milo]

IMHO Kubota RTV is the best vehicle on hilly terrain with its hydro tranny verses a CVT tranny.I have owned golf carts 2004 Kawaski mule 4010 4X4 and 2006 Kubota RTV 900 and just purchased 2021 Kubota RTV 1100.Where I live is somewhat hilly terrain.

Around here most find them too heavy and underpowered and I'm not sure if it's lack of engine hp vs weight, or power loss from the hydro? Maybe both? I think the stiffer work suspension impedes climbing as well. In 2018 the power company here made a deal with Kubota to buy 4 RTV's for various tasks including right of way maintenance. The units were run through the local Kubota/Polaris/Can Am dealer for PDI and delivery, the manager there said Kubota paid them $200 per unit. Within a few days the line foreman and and another representative from the power company were back saying the RTV's weren't working because they couldn't even make it up many of the same hills their previous ATV's did. A Kubota rep was brought in to go out with them along with the sales manager and both agreed. The RTV's didn't have enough speed to get a good run or power to maintain the speed they had when things got steep, adding to the problem their wheels hopped and lost traction on rough stuff.
Kubota took them back and the dealer sent out a Polaris Ranger to try. The Ranger worked fine and had no problem making it up the right of ways so the power company bought Rangers.
I'm not saying this is necessarily a hydrostatic problem because I imagine the power company would have had similar result had they tried Mule 4010, just not enough speed, power, and suspension, for climbing hills.

 

[RancherGuy]

I am considering the Kioti Mechron 2200 ...

If you are considering the Kioti, I have to say that it looks like a Kubota RTV clone. I have a beef cattle ranch and if you want my experience, it is this:

1998 Kawasaki Mule - many rust problems (even the gas tank) even though was sheltered most of the time. Gave it to my bro-in-law, who found the transmission was about to go and replaced the bed and other parts.

2005 RTV 900 (Gen 1) - with 1500 hours, still have it even though it just sits unused but great working condition.

2015 RTV 1120 (Gen 2) - with 7800 miles and 1800 hours. Big improvement over Gen 1, especially transmission.

If you want a play machine or speed, don't get the RTV. If you want power and have work to do then be sure to consider RTV. For me, the biggest issue is durability and maintenance in these machines. Belt transmissions need maintenance. My 1120 (hydrostatic) has only had oil changes and based on current wear, I expect it to do 6,000 hours, no sweat. My neighbor with a Polaris 900 w/ 1200 hours was asking about my RTV, thinking that it was time to sell before big issues appear. Comparing his to my RTV was like comparing a well used machine to a nearly-new one. If money is an issue, consider a used RTV even if you pay $10k - and make sure it has been well cared for. Both RTVs have hydraulic beds to boot.

 

[the old grind]

If you want a 'play' machine don't buy a Mechron. It's slow, if powerful and the ride is a bit rough. Several years in my only 'upgrade' beyond the top and windshield it came with has been adding a pigtail for a battery maintainer, and fluid changes. It's a great work machine for so many chores and will stay here as long as I do. (it's green vs orange, too )

 

[coobie]

If you are considering the Kioti, I have to say that it looks like a Kubota RTV clone. I have a beef cattle ranch and if you want my experience, it is this:

1998 Kawasaki Mule - many rust problems (even the gas tank) even though was sheltered most of the time. Gave it to my bro-in-law, who found the transmission was about to go and replaced the bed and other parts.

2005 RTV 900 (Gen 1) - with 1500 hours, still have it even though it just sits unused but great working condition.

2015 RTV 1120 (Gen 2) - with 7800 miles and 1800 hours. Big improvement over Gen 1, especially transmission.

If you want a play machine or speed, don't get the RTV. If you want power and have work to do then be sure to consider RTV. For me, the biggest issue is durability and maintenance in these machines. Belt transmissions need maintenance. My 1120 (hydrostatic) has only had oil changes and based on current wear, I expect it to do 6,000 hours, no sweat. My neighbor with a Polaris 900 w/ 1200 hours was asking about my RTV, thinking that it was time to sell before big issues appear. Comparing his to my RTV was like comparing a well used machine to a nearly-new one. If money is an issue, consider a used RTV even if you pay $10k - and make sure it has been well cared for. Both RTVs have hydraulic beds to boot.

Just sold my 2006 Kubota RTV 900 had 984 hours was flawless.The main reason we purchased a 2021 Kubota RTV 1100c.

 

[RancherGuy]

... most find [RTVs] too heavy and underpowered ... RTV's weren't working because they couldn't even make it up many of the same hills their previous ATV's did. ... their wheels hopped and lost traction on rough stuff.

I don't know if this helps, but I wanted to raise some points to be sure things are kept in perspective.

It sounds like in your situation, very steep grades are experienced, which is not everyone's situation. Both Gen1 and Gen2 RTVs have a low range that allows for extreme pulling. Once I had to pull a 1,000 lb trailer loaded with 1,600 pounds of hay through soft ground - so soft that the trailer wheels left 12 inch ruts. My bro-in-law's jaw was on the floor afterwards and he was boasting to everyone. Moral: if pulling or traversing steep inclines, use low range. The second part of that is to have good tires. Just like on a car, tires can be the difference between getting stuck or not, or climbing or spinning.

The factory puts on some OK tires. Not useful in all circumstances. When mine wore out, for both RTVs I have owned, I installed some slightly larger 26x12x12 tires, but much more aggressive. You would do that same with an ATV if you have challenging conditions. The ones I used behave like tractor tires: GBC AR1202. They give me more flotation and much greater traction.

The last issue is transmission. For both of the RTVs I purchased, they came from the dealer with bad transmission settings. #1 was stopping so fast that my passengers often put their hands on the dashboard. After 6 months I was about to dump the machine but with internet searches, I discovered and relaxed that setting. #2 was set so that the engine revs were not matched up with transmission output. Basically idle and revs were too high for the speed. On the contrary, the adjustments could be just the opposite, not allowing engine RPMs to be high enough to deliver enough torque for the ground speed. Again, I did my own discovery to adjust and correct mine, making it much more practical. Dealer mechanics or salesmen may not always know what options are available - they only follow instructions they are given.

 

[ArlyA]

You folks have mention the problem using hydro transmissions in a UTV. There top speed is quite limited and there power loss is terrible. That is if your machine is, lets say 40hp by the time it get to the wheels or pods, your losses are 20 to 40% depending on wherever you are in its power curve. While CVT's are in the 1 or 2% lose rates. These high losses and low top speed, is why we won't get one and hydro transmissions failed in the world of snow grooming. They are not bad machines, just slow and lose lots of there HP.