New Camo RTV 500

C

ckruse

Member
I'll post more detail later, but the first four or five hours on the new unit have really impressed me. These photos are not the best, but I'll get some more posted as time allows. The weather here in SW Missouri has been conspiring against me! Storms both days since taking delivery have cut my playing short! Ashlen (my 12 year old daughter) got to drive today after school for about an hour on a new trail dad cut yesterday. She stopped a couple of different times to point out good stand and ground blind locations! Golly I love that kid! CKruse</p>


Hanging out in the back yard:
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Front end in the sun:
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Roof line:
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Up on the trailer:
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man dat thing is nice i bet you had a smile across your face all day long not to mention you was probably finding all kindaexscuses to have to move this or do thisor that just to get on it. you know we all post pics of our rides when we unload them but we never get that happy shot of our face on it for the first time as the proud new owner.</p>
 
That is a really nice looking rig. I know ya'll will enjoy it. My rtv has made my life much easier and I believe I would probably have a different job if I had to use a pickup on the farm every day. It is so easy hopping on and off the RTV and just driving it. I am sure it will make for many good times for you and the daughter .Bordercollie</p>
 
Believe it or not, I've actually already hauled a little wood, and some limbs that came down in the storm the other night! Tuesdaymorning I took it on the maiden voyage out to the hunting property. I have about a 2 acre food plot that has a strip of timber and brush running down the south side going east to west. South of that is another smaller plot that is at the end of a brushy draw. I wanted to put a connecting trail in between the two food plots. Keep in mind this strip is only about 75 yards wide, but is choked with brush, multiflora rose, hickory, oak, black locust, and an old hedge row. Couple that with ice storm and tornado damage, and you get the picture! I treated the tires with SLIME before ever heading out! I loaded up a chain saw and got after it. </p>


Well to shorten the story, I got my trail opened up in a few hours. I still need to go back with the saw and touch up a bit. Overall the RTV did just great. Here's a couple of initial impressions regarding the unit:</p>


I was working in brush that was at least the height of the hood. Several times I pulled into a clear area thinking the underside HAD to be choked with a bushel basket full of brush and tall grass. Each time I was pleased to find there was hardly anything at all stuck underneath the unit! This speaks well to the design layout of the undercarriage and skid plating. </p>


Several times I rocked over against a tree with the edge of the roof line as I would pass. The waythe roof wraps over the edge of the R.O.P.S. bars keeps everything protected and you slide by very gently! Again, great design. The roof itself is mounted with big U bolts and rubber isolator blocks. Stout as can be! Not a mark on the roof even after rubbing hard against a few trees. </p>


Furthermore I had wiped all the plastic polymer body parts down with a plastic vinyl protectant (Mother's Preserves- like Armor All) before leaving. A quick wipe down after getting caught in the rain, and the unit looked showroom new! I figured my few hours clearing the trail had surely "taken the new off". Much to my surprise, no permanent scrapes or scratches. </p>


Thanks for reading, I know this was a little long. Suffice it to say I'm impressed and looking forward to using the RTV-500 in the years to come. I'll keep you all posted on how it's going. Thanks, CKruse</p>
 
Don't know about the 500 but on my 900 the underside is fairly well protected when going forward. But when backing up I had a stick ram in along side the radiator and take out the fan belt. May want to take a look at yours. I need to find some time to make a skid plate for that area on mine. I do use mine like a tractor or truck as that is why I bought it. Best wood hauler I ever owned.</p>
 
[quote user="ckruse"]</p>


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Not a mark on the roof even after rubbing hard against a few trees. </p>


Furthermore I Much to my surprise, no permanent scrapes or scratches. </p>


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Another thing you I suggest is to keep the machine waxed up also. (Just plain 'ole Turtle Wax )That has help us in the swamp much against scratches and scrapes. </p>


Write all you want about your machine, we all like to read about the pride folks carry with it >>>></p>


>>>>>>>>> two guns </p>


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i have to disagree with the wax thing. we use armor-all on everything i used to use son-of-a -gun tire foam cleaner but i switched back to just plain armor-all . after i wash it down i spraythe whole utv down with it now the engine i do spray with the son-of-a-gun . but the rest of the utv gets armorall. now after you pull up frommud riding you make sure to washout the radiator anda-arms cause you don't wany mud getting hard in there and chewing up them boots. but after that just let her set for a day and the mud falls off.the next time i go muddin i'll take pictures of the med how it rolls up and falls off. but that armorall forms a layer of oil and it helps protect the plastic at the same time andwe all know nuthin is gonna stick to oil other than a "roughneck" here's my ride and all she gets is dawn dishwashing saop and armorall. and trust me it gets smacked/brushed/hit//scraped/ and whatever else you wanna think of by trees/bushes and other things.</p>


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Please don't get me wrong, I'm a firm believer in the use of the Armour All and the Son of a Gun protectant !!!! Best thing since slice bread on protecting and helping keep the mud off. But when I get the convicts to clean it up, I make them wax the heck out of the machine also >>>> </p>


We purchaseit by the bulk (Son of a Gun ), that is how much we use !!!! I wasmaking a statement that good 'old wax help much also on the hood andmetal roof, where heavy limbs and branches hasa thing on leaving a mark >>>>>></p>
 
I'm a big fan of wax on the exposed surfaces....Help protect against oil, fuel and other substances that get accidently spilled on machine..I'll give that armorall a try on the other parts although we don't get to play in the mud like you southern lads........</p>
 
Great pics, ckruse, and really lovely machine! It is a pleasure to read about your adventures with your new rig. Also appreciate the feedback about Armour-All and son-of-a-gun (which I had never heard of). Good habits to keep a machine looking as nice as it works!</p>
 
Hey guys, I found an outstanding deal on a Warn winch for the 500. It looks to be a pretty straightforward install, with nothing extra needed beyond what came with the winch. My question is if anyone on here has access to a RTV 500 shop manual? What I'm looking for is to see what Kubota suggests for mounting location of the contactor, control switch, etc. I figured they probably have a section for installation of a winch, since they offer the same one I bought as an accessory. I thought I'd check here first, then start pestering my dealer! I'm probably going to invest in a shop manual, but would like to get this project done ASAP.</p>


Thanks as always, CKruse</p>
 
CK,</p>


First, I've been away for a couple weeks so I'm late in welcoming you to the forum. Welcome aboard and congrats on your new RTV.</p>


On the shop manual, I'd bite the bullet and get one now. You don't need it yet, but it's invaluable when you do need it for anything from service to repairs. Our forum host (Messick's) has them available for ordering online. They also have the best pricing.</p>


As for the winch, there's nothing in the shop manual. You won't find any sections for other "add-ons" (cab, different air cleaners...) either. Each add-on comes with its own instructions which may not be specific for giving mounting locations if it's a generic item (e.g. winch).</p>


For the "stuff" you need to install for the winch, you should find ample (and safe) space for it under the front hood. Not sure of the exact layout of the area under the hood in the 500 but in the 900, there's all kinds of space. I've got some pictures somewhere, but my stuff is zip-tied to some of the framing members under the hood. Do consider an appropriate location if you plan on putting other "stuff" (tool box, storage compartments, horns...) under the hood as well.</p>
 
Thanks for the warm welcome. This has been a most helpful and friendly crew! I will contact Messicks for a manual soon. I figured under the hood or under the seat near the battery would be the best place for the electronics. The winch itself will be a cake walk as the plate behind the front hitch is winch-ready. </p>


I'm wanting to check into the plastic bin that Kubota sells for the underhood area. It looks like it's engineered to work around the underhood components (brake cylinder, horn, etc). It's kind of pricey, but I'm thinking It would work well to hold a few tools, a pair of gloves, and my winch accessories. Anyway, I may need to get it before mounting anything under hood as to not interfere with how it mounts. </p>


Thanks again, CKruse</p>
 
Not familiar with the 500 but when I installed the electrics for my snow blade and winch(solonoid, actuator etc)..they got installrd behind the cover on the drivers side where the hydraulic lever for the dump is located. Fused separately and presents no load on the fuse panel of the 900.</p>
 
[quote user="ckruse"]I'm wanting to check into the plastic bin that Kubota sells for the underhood area. It looks like it's engineered to work around the underhood components (brake cylinder, horn, etc). It's kind of pricey, but I'm thinking It would work well to hold a few tools, a pair of gloves, and my winch accessories. Anyway, I may need to get it before mounting anything under hood as to not interfere with how it mounts.</p>


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Hang on for some more replies before buying that bin. As I recall, a couple members bought it but nobody thought it was worth the cost. Other members put their own boxes in there. If I recall, some were wood and other were plastic toolboxes that were bolted in there. Both worked better than the OEM box and for about 1/10th of the price. Let's let them chime in here and hopefully post pics and such of what they developed.</p>


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It's been a while since I've checked in. Lately, the RTV 500 could be called "The Blackberry Express"! Ashlen and I have gathered about 6 or 7 gallons in the last few weeks. </p>


We went on a two week vacation in early June, so the hours have not racked up quickly on the RTV. I did mount a Warn RT 25 winch on the unit. I've found myself wishing a time or two that it had a bit more bottom end on a really steep hill. It does seem to be gaining a bit more power as we get her broken in. We only have about 23 hours so far, so I'm hoping to gain a bit more low end power as time goes on. I'll be looking to add a front rack so that my tracking dog can ride in comfort really soon. Anyway, here's a couple of cell-phone photos from today's outing. It's been a good year for blackberrys here in SW Missouri! CKruse</p>


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You are going to want to bump up that engine idle rpm to around 1700rpm, from the stock 12-1400rpm, it is set too low from factory. Also depending on your climate, swapping to SUPER UDT for your first transmission change is a MUST for colder/cooler climate running.</p>
 
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