2021 Kubota RTV X1140 Review

You’ve been looking for an honest owner-review of the X1140, while you await Kubota’s manufacture and delivery of your own. Here it is.
No sponsors or affiliates, you get a straight up assessment of the X1140.
Join us, if you want, and see what this and all the equipment on our homestead has to benefit or detract from our effort to build an independent life.

[@CadmusCurtis]

Thanks for the video been looking for a smaller sized 4 seater that also has a bed and never knew about Kabota making them. think this will be the one we get. Great video

[@appalachianheartsong5487]

It is a great choice, if you have a need for a workhorse RTV and intend to load it heavy and run it hard. It is not a good choice if you want comfort or speed and have no need for the heavy labor end of the spectrum. It is 12 ft long, very loud, slow and less comfortable than, say, a Honda Pioneer. It gets the job done around a farm but you will be disappointed if your looking for a family friendly ATV. I hope an honest assessment helps in your search.

[@robertlee8714]

Great video! You will really appreciate the hydrostatic trans when full loaded or pulling a heavy trailer downhill. The belt driven units freewheel, forcing you to hit the brakes! Much safer with the VHT trans. I use mine to pull a small manure spreader, when fully loaded it can approach 2000 lbs. I use it instead of a tractor to have minimal impact on the field. I also had a custom rack made so I can haul more firewood. Take care.

[@appalachianheartsong5487]

Robert, thanks for the comment. I think I mentioned in the video that the VHT trans provides serious engine braking, not to conflate the two, and will toss the dogs off their perches if I don’t do the 1960 mom’s arm brace seatbelt. But, as you say, that trans provides real power to get jobs done. I thought Wranglerstar was nuts when he said a UTV would be his first equipment purchase for a homestead, but I think you could manage a small farm with just the X1140 and all the DR Power etc. hitch-type implements. Would love to see the custom firewood rack, and will check to see if you’re putting out content with that included. Thanks again, Merry Christmas.

[@webman1956]

Fantastic video! My wife and I are looking at this one and a Kawasaki four seater diesel as well, but everything else we have is Kubota other than a 2002 Kawasaki 650 four wheeler I have. I think after watching your video, I am leaning toward the Kubota simply because everything they build seems to be built like tanks and I have a 2003 diesel lawn tractor that is still going strong and the guys at the Kubota place told me to never get rid of it and if I ever wanted to sell it, to let them know. Thanks for your well done and informative video.

[@appalachianheartsong5487]

Thank you my brother, I appreciate the support. Glad the video was helpful. The X1140 is perfect for us, with its huge capacity and hydraulic dump bed. One consideration for us was consolidation of equipment to diesel, to the extent possible, which comes with its benefits and shortcomings. I think having the four wheeler also will be great, I wish we had something light and fast just to get around…maybe in time. Thanks again for commenting and all the best to you, Dan and Elle

[@webman1956]

@@appalachianheartsong5487 I got the Four Wheeler used from Facebook Market Place. It`s more for me trying to relive my youth at 65, no way in hell I could get the wife on it!

[@terrypasquali1]

Diff lock is only for rear wheels.

[@platonkavvadias8541]

Nice video. Enjoyed the tour of your property. Great explanation of converting seats. What made you decide to purchase Kubota vs Honda pioneer?

[@appalachianheartsong5487]

Platon, thanks for commenting. I’m glad the episode was helpful. We decided on the Kubota because we needed the larger bed and wanted a diesel. The Pioneer looks like a great machine and definitely superior if you want to get light work done but also want to run it for fun. The Kubota is a workhorse, noisy and slow, but it emphasizes what we need, torque and capacity. See Wranglerstar for a nice overview of the Pioneer.

[@jimhazelwood9264]

Yep bravo

[@MyTechWebTV]

Great review! Probably one of the most thorough I have watched and I have watched every Kubota RTV video on KZbin at this point. So at the end of the day, now that you have had a little time with it, would you buy the X1140 again or would you look for something different? Any deal breakers from your perspective? Please do followup videos if you find great uses/capabilities. The X1140 is at the very top of my list and I am still looking for a new unit. I don't need fast, I need durability and longevity. I intend to get the hitch extender and HST Gard from UTV Hitchworks to both provide protection to the HST and bring the receiver out to a more normal position. I also have chains on all my trailers and being able to hook them would be preferable to them eventually dragging or having to strap them up. GREAT JOB! P.S. I recently saw online where someone posted that the noise they had in theirs also included the bed "wings" we will call them in the full bed configuration. He put pads on the ends to quiet that. Also he mentioned the lift safety for the bed. He took it off and put it under the seat. Just a couple of other areas to look at to quiet the rattle. Making a few updates to quiet the rattle is worth the utility of 4 seats and then conversion to the larger bed. I subscribed to stay up to date if you post any further observations both pro or con. I hope the X1140 serves you well. I also hope I can eventually find one.

[@appalachianheartsong5487]

Thanks again for the comments, all really great points. This is why we’re doing the channel, because there are so many great resources out here and taking bits from other’s experiences give each of us great insights into our own needs. I would definitely get this RTV again, just hauling wood and water has been so much easier than trying to do it with the L3560…my only other option. I will definitely keep posting as I address some of these rather minor issues but gain more experience with the X1140 and other pieces of equipment. Cheers, Dan and Elle

[@MyTechWebTV]

@@appalachianheartsong5487 I must admit, I watched it twice. Once for the information and again just to hear the motor! haha. BTW, what camera are you filming with? The audio was very good especially when you drove. Some videos it seems the audio doesn't represent the sound inside the cab very well. I have test driven an X1140 and X1120. The X1120 seem a little louder since you are basically sitting on the motor. The X1140 was not quite a loud from the operator's station and your video was the closest to what I remember the X1140 sounding like except the one I test drove didn't have the roof yet. Unfortunately the X1140 I test drove was getting ready for accessories and delivery. I hope I find one soon!

[@appalachianheartsong5487]

@@MyTechWebTV Just an iPhone 10, we hope to move on to a real camera and audio set up if the channel gets some traction. The engine sound is definitely behind you from the driver’s position but in the back seat it is distracting. You couldn’t have a conversation front to rear without turning around and speaking loudly and deliberately to your passengers.

[@brianvazquez4572]

Great video! I just bought an RTV X 1140 as well and love it. My only concern is that it blow a bit of whittish smoke on every start up. Just Curios if yours does the same? Only have 11 hours on it and it's 60 to 70 degrees down over here in Texas, not much cold weather. Thanks for any input.

[@appalachianheartsong5487]

Hey Brian, thanks for reaching out. Mine doesn’t blow white smoke, after I cleaned the fuel line, but it did the first time I started it thereafter. Are you sure you have no water in your fuel/tank? You obviously understand this but wide temp swings this time of year and the condensation would be enough to cause the white smoke but not affect it running….yeah, I just don’t know what else in a diesel application would cause it. Seriously loving the 1140 as a hauler, it’s so convenient in moving cut wood from felling to splitting site. Love Texas my brother, looked long and hard for a place in the hill country before ending up in TN.

[@brianvazquez4572]

@@appalachianheartsong5487 Thanks for the reply. I will replace existing fuel it has with fresh fuel. I will just keep an eye on the smoke and if it get worse, I will take it to my dealer so they can take a look at it.

[@tcmits3699]

I've seen so many reviews on all these utes from various manufacturers. I think you ought to do an honest comparison to say a mid-nineties Ford Ranger 4x4 pickup, probably about the same physical size. I think the Ranger would win. Don't see any advantages in a ute, sorry. 16hrs? 🤔

[@appalachianheartsong5487]

Thanks for participating on the channel. Since I had a Tacoma on the property, which I used in sort of the same role before buying the Kubota, I get your perspective. The only really functional benefit of the X1140 to a pickup or other UTV is the hydraulic bed, which is very handy as we move a lot of soil and other material around. A practical benefit to the RTV is size/weight, as some of the lanes are quite narrow and with 30+ degree slopes around the property the Tacoma was stuck or sliding more often than with the RTV. If you could buy just one and had more level ground and open pasture, I would agree that a small pickup wins hands down.

[@tcmits3699]

@@appalachianheartsong5487 your response was very respectful, l own a Honda 4trax for the last 20yrs, it's very versatile and unstoppable. When l went to look at a side by side, didn't see much in the way of passenger comfort . Just wish they were a little more weather proof for the price. Even my Honda has been modified. l too like a narrow 4x4, I'll probably never get rid of it. Take care, hope you get 20yrs from your ute👍

[@jimhazelwood9264]

Yep bravo