Kubota RTV900 for steep clayish hill in high altitude

R

Rod1

Member
Hi everybody.

I need to buy my first UTV very soon. I’m thinking seriously about RTV900 but I have several questions:

Is RTV good in high altitude? It lacks of EFI and I have to use it at high altitude: 4500 to 7000 ft. (8000 ft. from time to time).

What about clayish very steep hills? I have a challenging one: 6700 ft., at least 30°, maybe a bit more, 200 ft. long.

What about lift kits for ground clearance?

Which size of tires to improve ground clearance and to deal with deep clay? 25”, 26”, 27”? Bigger tires reduce torque, I think.

I suppose I will need aggressive tires like Ancla M-T, ITP 589, or something like that.

What about exhausts to improve power? Is it worthwhile? How much power/torque increase with it? Which brand do you recommend?

Thanks for your opinions. :thankyou2:
 
Welcome to the forum!

Considering your situation/conditions, I'd suggest you have a demo unit brought out to your place so you can test drive it in your conditions. Clay, altitude and steep hills are going to be a challenge. Are you looking for a work machine, play or something in between? Are you carrying loads up the hill or down?
 
Also, I forgot to state that It's not a problem if the RTV, or any other UTV, climbs the critical hill very slowly (I don't care if it's 1 mph). It's only around 200 feet, so I'd be patient for 2 or 3 minutes. But I want to be sure it will climb it in rainy weather when the soil will be that sticky clay. It's no problem in dry weather because the soil will be compacted.
 
Hi Rod, welcome to Net Tractor Talk. I'm glad you found us.

I thought we had a member who talked of using his RTV in higher altitudes. I will search for that thread and post a link here if I find it. I have long steep clay hills to deal with and have no issues climbing them. I do have to go into Low but even in low it goes a whole lot faster than 1mph ...more like 8 to 10 I'd guess. As fast as I want to go on the hill anyway.
The altitude would be what I would not be sure of and like BC / Brian suggested an on site demo might be the best answer to that question. Or dealers in the area, if there are any. They would know about the effect altitude plays on the diesel engines. Turbo is available for the RTV's, but like everything else it is a bit pricy.
 
Some of our Southern members drive in a bunch of muck. Let's hope they chime in here.

I climb some pretty steep hills but the altitude of your situation means it won't have quite the same amount of power.

What do you use now to climb the hill? Can it handle the sticky clay?
 
Rod1,
Good Day & Welcome to the Forum !!!!

I would have to agree with bczoom. The best thing to do is test-fire a
Kubota RTV in YOUR conditions before writing a check.
Personally having some experience with my RTV with steep hills and clay, slick mud/dirt, 30% grade, 200 ft, no problem. I don't think you have any worry. But with the altitude, I can not say anything about. For I have never run our RTV's that high. We will have to let some members who have done
the high altitude thing speak for that subject.

Lift kits for RTV's: From what I was told, Not enough lift to worry with.
Bigger tires do cut back on power some.
ITP 589's are no longer made. My suggestion is the exact tires member bordercollies just purchased, called Black Water Evolutions. Great tires and will do just what you are looking for.
Tire size: On the RTV, Don't go over 26".
And the exhaust, just remove the spark arrestor if your not on government property. Kubota has all the power you need.
NOW, on the flip side.
First, take note that we are crazy about our Kubota RTV 900. There is nothing like it. Serves us very well and trouble free.
BUT, if there another Great vehicle if the altitude runs into a problem, which I don't think it will .
The Honda BIG RED, It's a gas burner. It is EFI. And is driven by a automotive style hydraulic torque converter. Has all wheel differential lock, which is a BIG PLUS.
1,000 lb. bed capacity.
It's one hell of a machine. Not a RTV, but a good machine. And does SUPER in the very steep hills over there is Mississippi.
This would be the ONLY thing I would get other than the Kubota RTV 900.
Nothing else even comes close.
I can say this about the Honda Big Red, for this hunting season, every time I went over to the steep hill and hollers hunting in Mississippi, I was using a Big Red. And it performed !!!
The Big Red we were using has a lift kit, 27" Black Water Tires.
 

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bczoom said:
Some of our Southern members drive in a bunch of muck. Let's hope they chime in here.

I climb some pretty steep hills but the altitude of your situation means it won't have quite the same amount of power.

What do you use now to climb the hill? Can it handle the sticky clay?
Click to expand...

Hi Rod . I am only about 250 ft altitude. I have had an '05 RTV900 and used it for over 4000 hrs here on the farm. Most places are flatish with a few "hills and pond levees.In August of 2011, I sold that RTV and bought an XT model 900. It will run up pond levees and hills with less slowdown than my '05 model.I can pull mineral troughs easier too. The main difference is in the ability to go up a pond levee in H or pull something without being in L from a stop position. I loved my '05 and it worked hard for me but if I was going up a pond levee without a good speed in H it would stop about 1/2 way up and I would have to go in L to start moving again. The 2011 XT will not bog down on me- not yet at least , and I have over 800 hrs on it now. Gotta say that I love it and unless the altitude plays in you will most likely also...I agree on getting a demo...that is the only way you will know for sure....
The folks at allterrainonline can tell you all about tires... I have been through a lot of them (see sticky on tires) and am now on a pair of Blackwater Evolutions.. maybe they will start making the 589's again in a few years- the folks at alt said.... lot of folks have used the grim reapers and you can see what they posted there at the sticky.. Good Luck... bordercollie
 
Rod1,

Don't believe your going to have ANY problem witht the RTV.

We have talked to several owners that live in the mountains up north,
and never heard them complain about power. Some may have wanted to go faster. But if speed is what you want, forget the RTV. But if you want a dependable machine, the RTV is one to look at. Again, try to Test fire a RTV and see for yourself.
If your dealer balks and acts like he don't want to do this, go to another dealer. They are some good dealers out there.....



The RTV has the POWER !!!!

About your performance with your hills & clay.

Either it be on a RTV or anything else, TIRES plays the MAJOR factor
of getting there or getting stuck. If you want to there there, you
have to get aggressive lug tires. And to add, tires that will clean themselves and
will not "slick" over.

If your using this RTV for work use, it will serve you perfect with a good set of aggressive tires.
 

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Doc said:
Hi Rod, welcome to Net Tractor Talk. I'm glad you found us.

I thought we had a member who talked of using his RTV in higher altitudes. I will search for that thread and post a link here if I find it. I have long steep clay hills to deal with and have no issues climbing them. I do have to go into Low but even in low it goes a whole lot faster than 1mph ...more like 8 to 10 I'd guess. As fast as I want to go on the hill anyway.
The altitude would be what I would not be sure of and like BC / Brian suggested an on site demo might be the best answer to that question. Or dealers in the area, if there are any. They would know about the effect altitude plays on the diesel engines. Turbo is available for the RTV's, but like everything else it is a bit pricy.
Click to expand...

Hi, Doc.

I look forward to the link you offered.

The dealer called to offer that drive test, not in my place because it's far from the shop, but near their place, that is still higher (around 8700 ft). So, if it works there, it should be better in my place. :17875:

Thank you for the inpunt and courtesy.
 
bczoom said:
Some of our Southern members drive in a bunch of muck. Let's hope they chime in here.

I climb some pretty steep hills but the altitude of your situation means it won't have quite the same amount of power.

What do you use now to climb the hill? Can it handle the sticky clay?
Click to expand...

HI, bczoom.

I actually use horses and... feet! :yum:

Seriously, only tractors can climb there with wet clay.
 
Rod1 said:
Hi, Doc.

I look forward to the link you offered.
Click to expand...
Rod,

Do a search of the forum for words like "altitude" and "turbo". That should give you some reading material about running these at higher altitudes.
 
TWO GUNS said:
Rod1,
Good Day & Welcome to the Forum !!!!

I would have to agree with bczoom. The best thing to do is test-fire a
Kubota RTV in YOUR conditions before writing a check.
Personally having some experience with my RTV with steep hills and clay, slick mud/dirt, 30% grade, 200 ft, no problem. I don't think you have any worry. But with the altitude, I can not say anything about. For I have never run our RTV's that high. We will have to let some members who have done
the high altitude thing speak for that subject.

Lift kits for RTV's: From what I was told, Not enough lift to worry with.
Bigger tires do cut back on power some.
ITP 589's are no longer made. My suggestion is the exact tires member bordercollies just purchased, called Black Water Evolutions. Great tires and will do just what you are looking for.
Tire size: On the RTV, Don't go over 26".
And the exhaust, just remove the spark arrestor if your not on government property. Kubota has all the power you need.
NOW, on the flip side.
First, take note that we are crazy about our Kubota RTV 900. There is nothing like it. Serves us very well and trouble free.
BUT, if there another Great vehicle if the altitude runs into a problem, which I don't think it will .
The Honda BIG RED, It's a gas burner. It is EFI. And is driven by a automotive style hydraulic torque converter. Has all wheel differential lock, which is a BIG PLUS.
1,000 lb. bed capacity.
It's one hell of a machine. Not a RTV, but a good machine. And does SUPER in the very steep hills over there is Mississippi.
This would be the ONLY thing I would get other than the Kubota RTV 900.
Nothing else even comes close.
I can say this about the Honda Big Red, for this hunting season, every time I went over to the steep hill and hollers hunting in Mississippi, I was using a Big Red. And it performed !!!
The Big Red we were using has a lift kit, 27" Black Water Tires.
Click to expand...

Hi, TWO GUNS.

Thank you for the input and your advise.

I know Honda's, in general, and BR's quality. I went to see it, but the dealer is not exactly good, and I read a lot of posts about it is underpowered, saying it's a tank, very good for flat terrain, and advising against it for hills.
 
bordercollie said:
Hi Rod . I am only about 250 ft altitude. I have had an '05 RTV900 and used it for over 4000 hrs here on the farm. Most places are flatish with a few "hills and pond levees.In August of 2011, I sold that RTV and bought an XT model 900. It will run up pond levees and hills with less slowdown than my '05 model.I can pull mineral troughs easier too. The main difference is in the ability to go up a pond levee in H or pull something without being in L from a stop position. I loved my '05 and it worked hard for me but if I was going up a pond levee without a good speed in H it would stop about 1/2 way up and I would have to go in L to start moving again. The 2011 XT will not bog down on me- not yet at least , and I have over 800 hrs on it now. Gotta say that I love it and unless the altitude plays in you will most likely also...I agree on getting a demo...that is the only way you will know for sure....
The folks at allterrainonline can tell you all about tires... I have been through a lot of them (see sticky on tires) and am now on a pair of Blackwater Evolutions.. maybe they will start making the 589's again in a few years- the folks at alt said.... lot of folks have used the grim reapers and you can see what they posted there at the sticky.. Good Luck... bordercollie
Click to expand...

Hi, bordercollie.

Thank you for the input.
 
TWO GUNS said:
Rod1,

Don't believe your going to have ANY problem witht the RTV.

We have talked to several owners that live in the mountains up north,
and never heard them complain about power. Some may have wanted to go faster. But if speed is what you want, forget the RTV. But if you want a dependable machine, the RTV is one to look at. Again, try to Test fire a RTV and see for yourself.
If your dealer balks and acts like he don't want to do this, go to another dealer. They are some good dealers out there.....



The RTV has the POWER !!!!

About your performance with your hills & clay.

Either it be on a RTV or anything else, TIRES plays the MAJOR factor
of getting there or getting stuck. If you want to there there, you
have to get aggressive lug tires. And to add, tires that will clean themselves and
will not "slick" over.

If your using this RTV for work use, it will serve you perfect with a good set of aggressive tires.
Click to expand...

Hi again, TWO GUNS.

It's for work, 90% work, and top priority is power to climb that damned clayish hill, even if I have to do it very slowly. 1 mph would mean 2 or 3 minutes, so I will be patient those 2 or 3 minutes, and if it climbs faster, hallelujah. :dancing:

Thanks for the input.
 
Rod1 said:
Hi, TWO GUNS.

Thank you for the input and your advise.

I know Honda's, in general, and BR's quality. I went to see it, but the dealer is not exactly good, and I read a lot of posts about it is underpowered, saying it's a tank, very good for flat terrain, and advising against it for hills.
Click to expand...
What is BR'S quality and what dealer, Honda or Kubota ?
 
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