Hi from south east Australia and a big hello from a very happy new owner of an RTV900.</P>
First a big thankyou to all the discussion, experience and lessons from the forum. I have found it invaluable over the last few months in deciding what to buy. Actually I have used an agricultural Honda motor bike for a few years and carted things around on that but a few months ago nearly got knocked off by a very large Kangaroo (about100+lbs)travelling at about 30mph. It was dark and I had just had a few beers after a great days fishing and no helmet. I decided my two wheel days were over!</P>
Anyway the forum has been the deciding factor in purchasing the RTV against the competitors (actually my wife bought it for me for Christmas - sort of -and it was delivered on Christmas Eve). It now has 25hrs on it and I am starting to get the feel of it. I think I owe it to the forum to give some feedback on my first month.</P>
As background you can buy two versions in Australia. A standard one with no extras (that no dealer has ever sold that I spoke to) and one with the hydraulic tip, roof and nudge bar at the front. It comes with all the lights, blinkers, hornetc to get registered for the road. I now have a conditional registration (costs about USD25 per year) so I can drive it around the local village, go to the neighbours, go to the gas stationetc but not on the highway. </P>
I only have a few acres next to a lake with boat ramp and jetty etc that has access to the Pacific Ocean but some of my tracks are VERY steep. I have a couple of boats ( a 4.0m runabout and a 4.8m bigger boat to go into the ocean). I needed the RTV to pull the boats up a steep boat ramp to my boat shed. I cart a lot of firewood, dirt, stones, seaweed etc To understand the terrain if I pull the big boat up the steepest hill with my Diesel Toyota Landcrusier then I needed low range 2nd gear with the diff lock on otherwise I would get a bit of wheel spin.</P>
I also test drove the Polaris Ranger (lots of plastic and just seemed much less rugged and a lot less for the money), the Bobcat (did not impress) and had a look at the Mule, JD and the new Massey Furguson. They all have a BIG problem that would have meant disaster on my property. That is going down the steep hills especially with a load. With the belt and free wheeling it would have been VERY dangerous. In hindsight if there are steep hills then it appears the RTV is the only option? The hydraulic braking is simply fantastic. Took about 5 minutes to get used to when stopping (I sometimes also use the foot brake) but what a wonderful benefit. That and the diesel engine are two of the real plusses.</P>
From the forum I was concerned about a few things before taking delivery (it was not possible to get one to my property to try out since the dealer was 200+ miles away although I did drive it around his yard).</P>
1. I was concerned whether the RTV would handle the hills, especially with a load</P>
2. I was concerned with all the talk about the "low top speed"</P>
3. I was concerned about difficulty changing ranges/gears, 4WD to 2WDand having it lock in reverse etc</P>
4. I was concerned about the fuel cap</P>
5. Would it tow my boats and put them into the water and pull them out again? </P>
I am delighted to say all these were unfounded.</P>
I run it in 4WD all the time unless on the road. Simply in 2WD it will slide down the steepest hills even with brakes on and the wheels will slip going up the hills. I have even sealed about1500 feet of the steepest tracks with bitumen etc. Anyway, in 4WD no problems. I have never needed the diff lock however I have played with it a few times to see that it works OK. The RTV will handle the steepest hills in Medium Range even with a reasonable load. It will not handle in High Range but that is reasonable. If I have a good load on the back (say maximum half ton) or am towing one of the boats then low range is obvioulsy required, but that is just sensible. So hills are absolutely no problem. Just be sensible and choose the right range (or gear).</P>
The top speed is just not an issue. I just don't feel safe driving at 25mph on a dirt or bush track anyway in an RTV. Speeds in different ranges meet all my requirements. By the way I am 60 years old.</P>
Changing ranges (or gears) or getting from 4WD to 2WD just requires a bit of getting used to. Put in neutral and give it a few revs or just pull the hydraulic button. When on a very steep hill with a full load it can be a little more tricky. But I have happily worked it all out now. I must say the Kubota dealer who has sold 20+ RTVs knew all the tricks and has been very helpful.</P>
Fuel cap is not a problem. I am unsure of the issue? Maybe the Australian models are diufferent?</P>
Tows both my boats OK but I need to be a little careful with the bigger one. I won't mention how much my big one weighs.</P>
I got some extras on the RTV. A worklight for the rear (pulling out the boats at night after fishing), the RTV bed liner and another tow bar for the front (to also push my boats and trailers around). All are great. I also got a second rear view mirror. There was only one on the side and I need two for backing. I have also added another truck rear view mirror in the cabin attached to the ROPS. Now reversing is no problem.</P>
I have bought a great piece of heavy duty industrial rubber for the rear about half an inch think and very springy, so when I put rocks or wood in the back it absords the shock. I have also put a piece in the cabin. Actually these have cut the engine noise down a bit. </P>
I also got a marine battery case and attached it in the front under the bonnet with cable ties. I keep some tools, a spot light that fits in the 12v outlet and a revolving flashing light that also runs from the 12v socket but attaches to the roof by a magnet (I bolted on a small piece of gal steel on the roof. I need the flashing light as part of the registration to drive on the road but I may never use it?). I also fitted a two way radio with cable ties on the vertical ROPS so I can talk to my wife in the house (just one of the small hand held Motorolasthat have a charger in the house but it does have a range of about 5+ miles at line of sight) and put a clock on the dash. All work great.</P>
But I had one problem that was a pain. I shift a lot of soil, sea weed and garden mulch (pine chips) in the back (we have a small orchard) and big gardens and some always seemed to go down the space behind the seat and cover the engine (I know I should not have filled the back up fully) and also falling behind the seat etc. This has been a pain to keep the engine and seat clean. Anyway all solved. I got a strip of flexible industrial rubber about 3mm thick and attached it with two strips of heavy aluminium onto the grill on the existing ROPS bolts holding the grill. It overlaps into the tray by about 6 inches. Works like a charm. Just have to put it back in place after tipping.</P>
I was concerned that the temperature guage was not working and after looking behind the dash found it had never been plugged in! Anyway works great and on my hills with a load reads about half way. Second fan has never switched in.</P>
The RTV maybe a little noisy especially when first starting up on a clear crisp morning but no big deal.</P>
Overall I am delighted with my new RTV900. Great machine that I would recommend to anyone. The issues raised in the forum are of course important but I have found none of them an issue once I got used to the machine. The neighbours think it is a toy and just a fancy golf buggy until they go for a ride when they are amazed at what it will do! </P>
Thanks again for all the feedback and very useful information.</P>
Downunder</P>
</P>
First a big thankyou to all the discussion, experience and lessons from the forum. I have found it invaluable over the last few months in deciding what to buy. Actually I have used an agricultural Honda motor bike for a few years and carted things around on that but a few months ago nearly got knocked off by a very large Kangaroo (about100+lbs)travelling at about 30mph. It was dark and I had just had a few beers after a great days fishing and no helmet. I decided my two wheel days were over!</P>
Anyway the forum has been the deciding factor in purchasing the RTV against the competitors (actually my wife bought it for me for Christmas - sort of -and it was delivered on Christmas Eve). It now has 25hrs on it and I am starting to get the feel of it. I think I owe it to the forum to give some feedback on my first month.</P>
As background you can buy two versions in Australia. A standard one with no extras (that no dealer has ever sold that I spoke to) and one with the hydraulic tip, roof and nudge bar at the front. It comes with all the lights, blinkers, hornetc to get registered for the road. I now have a conditional registration (costs about USD25 per year) so I can drive it around the local village, go to the neighbours, go to the gas stationetc but not on the highway. </P>
I only have a few acres next to a lake with boat ramp and jetty etc that has access to the Pacific Ocean but some of my tracks are VERY steep. I have a couple of boats ( a 4.0m runabout and a 4.8m bigger boat to go into the ocean). I needed the RTV to pull the boats up a steep boat ramp to my boat shed. I cart a lot of firewood, dirt, stones, seaweed etc To understand the terrain if I pull the big boat up the steepest hill with my Diesel Toyota Landcrusier then I needed low range 2nd gear with the diff lock on otherwise I would get a bit of wheel spin.</P>
I also test drove the Polaris Ranger (lots of plastic and just seemed much less rugged and a lot less for the money), the Bobcat (did not impress) and had a look at the Mule, JD and the new Massey Furguson. They all have a BIG problem that would have meant disaster on my property. That is going down the steep hills especially with a load. With the belt and free wheeling it would have been VERY dangerous. In hindsight if there are steep hills then it appears the RTV is the only option? The hydraulic braking is simply fantastic. Took about 5 minutes to get used to when stopping (I sometimes also use the foot brake) but what a wonderful benefit. That and the diesel engine are two of the real plusses.</P>
From the forum I was concerned about a few things before taking delivery (it was not possible to get one to my property to try out since the dealer was 200+ miles away although I did drive it around his yard).</P>
1. I was concerned whether the RTV would handle the hills, especially with a load</P>
2. I was concerned with all the talk about the "low top speed"</P>
3. I was concerned about difficulty changing ranges/gears, 4WD to 2WDand having it lock in reverse etc</P>
4. I was concerned about the fuel cap</P>
5. Would it tow my boats and put them into the water and pull them out again? </P>
I am delighted to say all these were unfounded.</P>
I run it in 4WD all the time unless on the road. Simply in 2WD it will slide down the steepest hills even with brakes on and the wheels will slip going up the hills. I have even sealed about1500 feet of the steepest tracks with bitumen etc. Anyway, in 4WD no problems. I have never needed the diff lock however I have played with it a few times to see that it works OK. The RTV will handle the steepest hills in Medium Range even with a reasonable load. It will not handle in High Range but that is reasonable. If I have a good load on the back (say maximum half ton) or am towing one of the boats then low range is obvioulsy required, but that is just sensible. So hills are absolutely no problem. Just be sensible and choose the right range (or gear).</P>
The top speed is just not an issue. I just don't feel safe driving at 25mph on a dirt or bush track anyway in an RTV. Speeds in different ranges meet all my requirements. By the way I am 60 years old.</P>
Changing ranges (or gears) or getting from 4WD to 2WD just requires a bit of getting used to. Put in neutral and give it a few revs or just pull the hydraulic button. When on a very steep hill with a full load it can be a little more tricky. But I have happily worked it all out now. I must say the Kubota dealer who has sold 20+ RTVs knew all the tricks and has been very helpful.</P>
Fuel cap is not a problem. I am unsure of the issue? Maybe the Australian models are diufferent?</P>
Tows both my boats OK but I need to be a little careful with the bigger one. I won't mention how much my big one weighs.</P>
I got some extras on the RTV. A worklight for the rear (pulling out the boats at night after fishing), the RTV bed liner and another tow bar for the front (to also push my boats and trailers around). All are great. I also got a second rear view mirror. There was only one on the side and I need two for backing. I have also added another truck rear view mirror in the cabin attached to the ROPS. Now reversing is no problem.</P>
I have bought a great piece of heavy duty industrial rubber for the rear about half an inch think and very springy, so when I put rocks or wood in the back it absords the shock. I have also put a piece in the cabin. Actually these have cut the engine noise down a bit. </P>
I also got a marine battery case and attached it in the front under the bonnet with cable ties. I keep some tools, a spot light that fits in the 12v outlet and a revolving flashing light that also runs from the 12v socket but attaches to the roof by a magnet (I bolted on a small piece of gal steel on the roof. I need the flashing light as part of the registration to drive on the road but I may never use it?). I also fitted a two way radio with cable ties on the vertical ROPS so I can talk to my wife in the house (just one of the small hand held Motorolasthat have a charger in the house but it does have a range of about 5+ miles at line of sight) and put a clock on the dash. All work great.</P>
But I had one problem that was a pain. I shift a lot of soil, sea weed and garden mulch (pine chips) in the back (we have a small orchard) and big gardens and some always seemed to go down the space behind the seat and cover the engine (I know I should not have filled the back up fully) and also falling behind the seat etc. This has been a pain to keep the engine and seat clean. Anyway all solved. I got a strip of flexible industrial rubber about 3mm thick and attached it with two strips of heavy aluminium onto the grill on the existing ROPS bolts holding the grill. It overlaps into the tray by about 6 inches. Works like a charm. Just have to put it back in place after tipping.</P>
I was concerned that the temperature guage was not working and after looking behind the dash found it had never been plugged in! Anyway works great and on my hills with a load reads about half way. Second fan has never switched in.</P>
The RTV maybe a little noisy especially when first starting up on a clear crisp morning but no big deal.</P>
Overall I am delighted with my new RTV900. Great machine that I would recommend to anyone. The issues raised in the forum are of course important but I have found none of them an issue once I got used to the machine. The neighbours think it is a toy and just a fancy golf buggy until they go for a ride when they are amazed at what it will do! </P>
Thanks again for all the feedback and very useful information.</P>
Downunder</P>
</P>
I wish I lived somewhere where i had to worry about hitting a 100lb Kangaroo. That makes Pennsylvania sound so boring!</P>
] Welcome to the forum Downunder. </P>