2021 Kubota RTV X900 Diesel Review

[Slippy]

First the back story; Been looking for a Side By Side for a couple of years and didn't want to buy another Gasoline Internal Combustion Engine so began looking for Diesel or Electric Vehicle.

In the EV market, Polaris is about the only one unless you want to buy some offbrand Chicom crap but...I COULD NOT FIND A POLARIS EV!...and when I did the sumbitch was too small! The Polaris currently makes their EV on a compact Side by Side frame and it was very small and uncomfortable.

I then focused on finding a good Diesel powered Side by Side. Bobcat has one made by Polaris and it is a good fit but I looked nationwide and when I found one, the dealer jacked the price up by $5 grand! WTF!?!

When a buddy of mine called and told me that he found a Kubota RTV Side By Side Diesel 2 Seater at a dealer that he's bought 2 tractors from, I put it on reserve, loaded the trailer up and went to look at it. The price was right and since I had just sold my 4 wheeler, a trailer, some exercise equipment + weights as well as some other crap that we've been hauling around for years...I was holding a wad of cash and willing to spend it!

So I brought it back to Slippy Lodge and began to explore what it can do...

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[Slippy]

First off, the Kubota 2 Seater Diesel is BIG. The cab is spacious and has plenty of legroom for a tall person, plenty of width to sit 1 large person (Me!) and 2 small people (Mrs S and a Grandchild!...or 2 Grandchildren!)

It is also SIMPLE! Some of the Side by Sides that I looked at had more bells and whistles than you could imagine. Yamaha, Kawasaki, Honda, Polaris etc...all of them were stupid expensive and had plenty of options that I didn't need. Plus the Kubota was THOUSANDS of dollars cheaper than anything else I could find that I could fit in comfortably and would do the job I need.

The Kubota has only what I need and a reliable Diesel Tractor Engine that is proven to be tried and true. 3 Cylinder 898 cc

4 Wheel Drive with Front and Rear Differential, Independent Suspension, Power Steering are exactly what I need

It weighs about 2000 lbs and can haul 1000 lbs in the bed plus passengers. It can tow about 1300 lbs. All of which are acceptable for what I use a 4 wheeler for.

Diesel tank holds 8 gallons which is plenty. It came with a front grille guard and bumper that is Winch Ready. It is fitted with both a Front and Rear Trailer Hitch option which can come in handy moving stuff around tight spaces or pulling shit out of the mud etc.

Now for a potential CON...it is SLOW. It is not a zippy machine to haul ass on the trails, it is a slow, adequately powered work horse. On a flat stretch of road I got the Kubota up to 25 mph before I had to slow down for a curve.

Braking is EXCELLENT and I may never have to change brakes as the Engine does most of the braking. Diesels are made to do that so that's a plus as far as I'm concerned.

Going up some of my steep hills was a concern and it seems to lose power on the steeper hills. But even loaded down with some weight in the bed and 2 passengers it does fine. I did find a couple of Youtube videos where you can make a few adjustments to increase power but it may void the warranty. Further investigation is needed.

I'll have to put it through a number of chores; Moving Firewood, Hauling Trash, Hauling Building Materials, Equipment, Pleasure Riding etc before I can assign it a SLIPPY APPROVAL NUMBER.

BUT SO FAR SO GOOD!

[shootbrownelk]

I drove one Slippy, it belonged to a rancher friend who's ranch we used to hunt elk & deer. The only negative I remember was when trying to scale a long steep trail to top a rocky ridge it quickly ran out of power and I had to back down quite a ways and put it in 4wd low range to creep over the top. It was scary backing down that rough trail. It could have used a 2" or 3" lift and taller tires too. Maybe you could add a turbo Slippy.

[Piratesailor]

Thanks for the review Slippy. We are considering a side by side. Currently have a very old but workable gas golf cart. Wife looked at a new battery (lithium) golf cart and although very very nice, it’s very very expensive.

A little diesel on flat texas land would work well. What was the price range?

[BucketBack]

I have some rolling hills, before the UTV craze I could drive the trails in rear wheel drive.

25 mph speed isn't bad. Party store is 1 1/2 miles away, again with a hill that most people walk their bikes up.

[Slippy]

Thanks for the review Slippy. We are considering a side by side. Currently have a very old but workable gas golf cart. Wife looked at a new battery (lithium) golf cart and although very very nice, it’s very very expensive.

A little diesel on flat texas land would work well. What was the price range?

New base model 2 Seater Diesel lists for +/- $13,900 or so. Start adding some things and it will jump up to mid $14's plus tax. 4 Seater Diesel in the high $16,000 range.

If you can find one!!! :)

[Slippy]

I drove one Slippy, it belonged to a rancher friend who's ranch we used to hunt elk & deer. The only negative I remember was when trying to scale a long steep trail to top a rocky ridge it quickly ran out of power and I had to back down quite a ways and put it in 4wd low range to creep over the top. It was scary backing down that rough trail. It could have used a 2" or 3" lift and taller tires too. Maybe you could add a turbo Slippy.


Yes sir, I could see a long steep trail being an issue if you don't have it in 4WD Low. I researched and there are some Turbo Kits you can find as well as over-riding a factory setting that voids the warranty.

For my hills, it works just fine.

[Sparkyprep]

A very nice acquisition, Slippy, my man! Looks like it is perfect for what you need. I hope it works out great for you.

[Inor]

That looks like an excellent little cart! Great pick up! That is exactly what we have been thinking about getting for our place. Some of those damn things are going for north of $50K! For that, I'll just buy a truck!

But, under $20 and a diesel to boot... Hmmmm...

[Dwight55]

I only have that Kubota engine in a 60 inch zero turn . . . but it does that and does it well.

2 thumbs up on that engine.

May God bless,
Dwight

[Slippy]

Just added a panoramic view rear view mirror ($14.99) to help when backing up. Its kinda hard to see the mirror but here it is;

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[Kusa]

If you don’t get a Canam, you are a pussy.

[stevekozak]

If you don’t get a Canam, you are a pussy.

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[Slippy]

If you don’t get a Canam, you are a pussy.

Thats Mr Pussy to you! :tongue:

Or;

In the words of Bob Marley; No Diesel, No Cry...

[shootbrownelk]

Yes sir, I could see a long steep trail being an issue if you don't have it in 4WD Low. I researched and there are some Turbo Kits you can find as well as over-riding a factory setting that voids the warranty.

For my hills, it works just fine.

Slippy, I retract my opinion of your Kubota diesel. My memory ain't what it used to be. I was looking at some old hunting pictures and low and behold, there's a picture of me and my rancher friend in his KAWASAKI MULE!
I don't know why I remembered that as being a Kubota, and not only that, it looks to be a gasser model too. Wow. Time plays tricks with the memories I guess.

[shootbrownelk]

Just added a panoramic view rear view mirror ($14.99) to help when backing up. Its kinda hard to see the mirror but here it is;

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My rear view mirrors on my Rhino shake so bad I can't see a damned thing out of them anyway, they're mostly a decoration in my case.

[Slippy]

My rear view mirrors on my Rhino shake so bad I can't see a damned thing out of them anyway, they're mostly a decoration in my case.

I was worried about the mirror shaking but I am pretty impressed with the fastener connections to the roll bar. So far so good and for just north of $15 bucks, I'm good to go!

[shootbrownelk]

That rear view wouldn't do me much good Slippy, I have a fabric cab cover with a plastic rear window and a Kolpin gun boot that covers most of the window anyway. I back up "By guess & by Golly" and stop when I hear a thud. I have a front mounted receiver hitch and ball and that makes moving trailers around a breeze.

[Sparkyprep]

If you don’t get a Canam, you are a pussy.

Eff those overpriced Canuk pieces of junk.

[Kusa]

Eff those overpriced Canuk pieces of junk.

I guess you are too poor to afford them.

[Sparkyprep]

I guess you are too poor to afford them.

My Polaris will rip by while you are stuck in the mud hole. LOL. :kickinballs:

[BucketBack]

North Star To The Rescue

In 1990 I bought a '76 Polaris 340 sled.

I studded the track, and it was great on trails.

Then I bought a 440 El Tigre in '91

Then a Wildcat 700 EFI in '92, that almost killed me.

Oh, the first sled I drove was a brand new '69 SkiDoo Elan 250, on the canal in front of our home.

[MountainGirl]

.... I have a front mounted receiver hitch and ball and that makes moving trailers around a breeze.
Oh, now that ^^^ is a great idea!

[BucketBack]

That's been a poplar option in marina's for years