Are the diesel rtvs really that slow?

[chris_the_wrench]

After lots of hemming and hawing and sitting on the fence I ’think’ Im finally ready to drop some cash on a utv. I crawled around a few of the utv’s out there, and keep coming back to the diesel rtvs(rtv-x and rtv-x1130). They ‘looked less plasticy’ and more like a tool vs a toy. However as Ive been looking into them, I keep reading about that they are slow, like REALLY slow! Like top speed up a hill of around 12mph, unloaded or loaded. I understand they are torque monsters, i‘ll use my tractor to pull tree stumps.

i was drawn to the 1130 for the 6’ish foot long bed, and the diesel appeals to me since I already get that delivered to my property and have a small fueling station setup for diesel.

Im looking for any real world users/owners testify to real world speeds Vs internet regurgitation?

I dont need 50 mph, but 12 mph is too slow. It will get a fair amount of use on the steep forest roads that lead up into the mountains from my property for cutting wood and more importantly, fishing.

 

[Sidekick]

My 2023 RTV-X is slow. Have gotten it up to 20mph going down the hill in front of my house on the road. I asked why it wouldn't hit 25 like advertised and was told you either get the faster speed or low end torque so adjusting it to go faster would take away low end. They supposedly come from the factory adjusted for best overall performance. Mine has gobs of torque up to about 8 mph but over that it bogs on my hill and you have to let off the accelerator to keep it at a constant speed. Not like the sidekick that would run fast up to the Rev limiter that was set at advertised speeds and it didn't need a half mile to det there. I was told as it gets more hours it should speed up. Definitely take one for a ride to form your own impression as some may be happy at that speed on rough ground. My granddaughter named the RTV Sloowpoke. I don't know why it only has a 1300 pound tow rating. The shifter can be ornery at times also even with the brake pedal fully depressed.

 

[hedgerow]

After lots of hemming and hawing and sitting on the fence I ’think’ Im finally ready to drop some cash on a utv. I crawled around a few of the utv’s out there, and keep coming back to the diesel rtvs(rtv-x and rtv-x1130). They ‘looked less plasticy’ and more like a tool vs a toy. However as Ive been looking into them, I keep reading about that they are slow, like REALLY slow! Like top speed up a hill of around 12mph, unloaded or loaded. I understand they are torque monsters, i‘ll use my tractor to pull tree stumps.

i was drawn to the 1130 for the 6’ish foot long bed, and the diesel appeals to me since I already get that delivered to my property and have a small fueling station setup for diesel.

Im looking for any real world users/owners testify to real world speeds Vs internet regurgitation?

I dont need 50 mph, but 12 mph is too slow. It will get a fair amount of use on the steep forest roads that lead up into the mountains from my property for cutting wood and more importantly, fishing.

I bought a new RTV X 1000C back in April. Finally have had time to use it some. Got a little over hundred miles on it now. If your looking for break fast speed keep looking. I like mine a lot. AC has been nice in this hot weather. It runs 25 MPH on the flat with the AC on and will pull down to 18 MPH on the hills. I also wanted a diesel as we have fuel in tanks on the farm. Wanted a HVAC system and HST drive no belts. It narrows real quick to Kubota. I am mostly going to be out on the farm and gravel roads. I don't need a lot of speed. I wish they did make the cabbed model with the longer bed. I would buy it again.

 

[chris_the_wrench]

@Sidekick @hedgerow have either of you installed the hand throttle kit from Kubota? From what I understand it was more designed for people who run snow blowers or power brooms, but ‘can’ provide more speed and power for normal driving???

thanks for the feedback

 

[hedgerow]

@Sidekick @hedgerow have either of you installed the hand throttle kit from Kubota? From what I understand it was more designed for people who run snow blowers or power brooms, but ‘can’ provide more speed and power for normal driving???

thanks for the feedback

Mine does have the hand throttle on it. The only thing I have used it for is to idle it up a couple of times when I had it parked with the AC running. I think there are some adjustments that can be made to get a little more speed. I just don't need any more speed. In my area you will have less trouble with the law on the road if you are going slower with a flag and a SMV sign on your rig. Side by sides are only legal around here on the public roads for AG use. Some of the smaller towns have some laws that allow them in town with a town plate and a flag.

 

[Sidekick]

@Sidekick @hedgerow have either of you installed the hand throttle kit from Kubota? From what I understand it was more designed for people who run snow blowers or power brooms, but ‘can’ provide more speed and power for normal driving???

thanks for the feedback

I have not. Was told there isn't a way to raise speed and the ones they sold have been the same. Remember this is the replacement for the 900. Only thing I had to do was go with aftermarket wheels with 50 mm offset to widen the track width to add stability on hills and match the sidekick track spacing on my trailer. Went with orange aftermarket wheels that I bought through Summit Racing for 55% less. I only have 50 miles on mine. It was very tippy with stock wheels.

 

[WFM]

How old are you Chris?
And do you have atv trails to ride hundreds of miles on should you want to pack a lunch and have some fun ?
A polaris ranger is certainly tuff enough to work around the house but goes fast enough to out run the game warden if you have a cooler of short trout.
I've never owned a rvt but have rode in one. It was like riding in a tank. For me. Go anywhere slow.

 

[chris_the_wrench]

How old are you Chris?
And do you have atv trails to ride hundreds of miles on should you want to pack a lunch and have some fun ?

Not quite 50, and yes hundreds of miles of roads and jeep trails from my door. I think im hearing the diesel kubota isn’t what Im looking for….


@Sidekick I like your custom sticker!

 

[WFM]

My ranger is old 2014 that I bought new.
Every year Polaris has made slight improvements. The reverse chain was a issue.
Two yrs later that completely changed and fixed. Ect.ect
They listen and continuly make a better product. The giant factory in Mexico is state of the art...other then that. It's a great product.

 

[Vince1230]

I have rtv900. I get about 25 to 30 flat. I have steep hill and i put into low so around 12 mph. One nice thing is going down hill with the rtv is the engine or transmission brake. When i have clutch utv i would need to really press brake since belt could not engage to no giving gas. So while maybe slow up hill way safer down hill.

 

[Sidekick]

I have rtv900. I get about 25 to 30 flat. I have steep hill and i put into low so around 12 mph. One nice thing is going down hill with the rtv is the engine or transmission brake. When i have clutch utv i would need to really press brake since belt could not engage to no giving gas. So while maybe slow up hill way safer down hill.

My RTV X manual says use the brake on hills and to stop, don't use the hydro.

 

[mikester]

I liked the idea of fuel efficient diesels but found the XG-850 had better tow rating and more zoom zoom. Still speed limited to 60kph.

 

[Vince1230]

Mine is pre x. So unsure if something changed. I will check manual again. Thanks

 

[Sidekick]

I liked the idea of fuel efficient diesels but found the XG-850 had better tow rating and more zoom zoom. Still speed limited to 60kph..

I have had both and if the engine in my 850 didn't have serious engine problems I would say it is a better choice for someone that has miles of trails. The jerkiness of the throttle actually is the biggest downfall and fuel consumption is ridiculous. Trying to back up to a trailer was scary with the jerkiness. On the other hand for small properties and tight spaces the RTV is better with the smooth and controllable low speed movements. It is very tippy on hills and takes a mile to build speed compared to the 850 but a tank of diesel will last 20 hours instead of 4 hours with the 850. The RTV engine should last thousands of hours with its history but the 850 has been hit or miss with my dealer and Kubota has no diagnostics if there's a problem. The 850 is $2k cheaper also. Completely different animals.

 

[CAPT Seabee]

I check in with a friend who owns a Kubota store and shop. Kubota still doesn't make anything that comes close to my JD 865R. I recall my Gator has better suspension, ground clearance, and bed/towing figures. Things may have changed. My Gator is an everyday workhorse for me. It gets around 32mpg. The 23hp engine is very underpowered when you turn the A/C on. Going to a larger engine would mean pollution controls. That would drive the weight up overall. I don't know if there is a market for it. People who want fast get gas powered Hondas and other brands. I tow an aluminum dump with a total tow load of 3000 pounds which ithe Gator is rated at 4000 pounds tow. I did have a turbo on my 855D but didn't go that route for my 865R as I only need it for one hill. I'm otherwise patient.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

So .....what DOES the R in RTV really mean ? I always thought ROUGH, so doing more than 5 MPH wasn't possible. Where I go ,putting the BX23S in high range isn't a good idea.Heck even a CJ-5 in low range, 2nd is 'fast'.

 

[FTG-05]

I have had both and if the engine in my 850 didn't have serious engine problems I would say it is a better choice for someone that has miles of trails. The jerkiness of the throttle actually is the biggest downfall and fuel consumption is ridiculous. Trying to back up to a trailer was scary with the jerkiness. On the other hand for small properties and tight spaces the RTV is better with the smooth and controllable low speed movements. It is very tippy on hills and takes a mile to build speed compared to the 850 but a tank of diesel will last 20 hours instead of 4 hours with the 850. The RTV engine should last thousands of hours with its history but the 850 has been hit or miss with my dealer and Kubota has no diagnostics if there's a problem. The 850 is $2k cheaper also. Completely different animals.

I despise my -850 for this. There is simply no excuse for it. Shi! design by Kubota.

 

[PortTackFarm]

We have a Polaris Ranger 1000. We use it mostly around our acreage. A few trails and lots of yard chores, etc. Depending on your expected use, speed, or the potential for speed, can be overrated. The only time our UTV get's above 8 mph is when I decide I need to stretch it's legs a bit just to keep the engine and transmission running well running up and down the road near our farm. It's not the 1000 XP, just the regular 1000 and will do 35 mph pretty easily, but it get's a bit skittish above 25 mph with the short wheelbase. That said we have lots of UTV traffic on our road and lots of folks are flying well over 35 mph, so it just may be me.

 

[chris_the_wrench]

The only time our UTV get's above 8 mph is when I decide I need to stretch it's legs

That is something Im trying to come to terms with. Im not sure how often I would want to go faster than the diesel rtv can go. Driving around my property doing chores or even bring a load of wood down from the hills behind me the diesel speed would be adequate. However, Im trying to imagine the future and whether I would want to be able to rip up the forest roads to a fishing hole above me faster than the diesel can go.

Im generally not in a hurry and I have other activities that fill my need for speed and adrenaline. Im probably overthinking it, but Id prefer to buy once.

@PortTackFarm What kind of fuel consumption(hours or miles) you see with that 1000cc engine? and more importantly what kind of boat do you have that inspired your screen name?

 

[GreensvilleJay]

maybe he's one lucky sob and has one of these...

Republic RC-3 Seabee - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

!!!!!!!!