Kubota RTV-X LONG BED (RTV-X1130): Specs, Capacity and Rescue Uses

The Kubota RTV-X LONG BED (formerly Kubota RTV-X1130) is the cargo specialist in Kubota’s full-size diesel utility vehicle lineup. Instead of using its extended chassis for a second row of seats, Kubota equips the two-seat RTV-X LONG BED with a six-foot-long ProKonvert cargo bed capable of carrying up to 1,212 pounds.

That combination gives the RTV-X LONG BED capabilities that are difficult to find in a conventional side-by-side. It can haul lumber, fencing supplies, landscaping material and bulky equipment, but the long steel platform may also make it an interesting base vehicle for fire departments, EMS agencies, search-and-rescue teams and other organizations needing an off-road equipment carrier.

The RTV-X LONG BED is not a fast recreational UTV. It is a deliberately work-focused vehicle built around Kubota diesel power, a hydraulic transmission, controlled low-speed operation and a heavy-duty cargo platform.

See where it fits in Kubota’s range in our complete Kubota RTV lineup guide, or compare it directly with the other diesel models in our Kubota RTV-X family guide.

Kubota RTV-X LONG BED Highlights

• Two-seat, long-wheelbase utility vehicle
• Six-foot ProKonvert steel cargo bed
• Up to 1,212 pounds of cargo-bed capacity
• Approximately 26.4 cubic feet of cargo volume
• Standard hydraulic cargo-bed lift
• Tool-free flatbed conversion
• 1,123cc Kubota three-cylinder diesel engine
• VHT-X Variable Hydraulic Transmission
• Four-wheel drive
• Limited-slip front differential
• Locking rear differential
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Hydraulic power steering
• Front and rear two-inch receivers
• 1,300-pound towing capacity

Kubota RTV-X LONG BED

Six-Foot ProKonvert Cargo Bed

The defining feature of the Kubota RTV-X LONG BED is its six-foot-long ProKonvert cargo bed. The approximately 72.3-inch-long steel platform provides considerably more usable length than the cargo box on a conventional two-seat UTV.

The two side panels and tailgate can be opened independently, providing access from either side or the rear. All three panels can also be folded down or removed without tools, converting the cargo box into a flatbed.

This flexibility can make it easier to transport cargo that would be awkward or impossible to fit between the fixed sides of a conventional UTV bed, including:

• Lumber and fence posts
• Pipe and conduit
• Landscaping tools
• Feed and agricultural supplies
• Generators and portable equipment
• Bulky containers
• Rescue and emergency-response equipment

Integrated stake pockets allow an owner or upfitter to add dividers, racks or taller cargo structures. Four tie-down points help secure equipment, while a factory-applied bed liner protects the steel platform.

A standard hydraulic lift raises the bed for unloading dirt, gravel, mulch, feed and other loose material. Kubota also offers cargo accessories that take advantage of the unusually long platform, including a bed-mounted winch and a tailgate extender that can reach the ground when the bed is raised.

ProKonvert Is a Cargo System, Not a Crew Conversion

The ProKonvert name can cause confusion because Kubota also offers a convertible RTV-X CREW. The two systems perform completely different jobs.

• RTV-X LONG BEDProKonvert: Converts the cargo box into an open flatbed.
• RTV-X CREW K-Vertible: Converts the vehicle between two-seat and four-seat configurations.

The RTV-X LONG BED always remains a two-seat utility vehicle. Its extended chassis is dedicated to cargo, not additional factory passenger seating.

Kubota RTV-X LONG BED

Could the RTV-X LONG BED Work for Fire and EMS Departments?

The RTV-X LONG BED 1,212-pound cargo rating make it worth evaluating as a platform for fire, EMS, search-and-rescue and public-safety applications. Its potential advantage is not merely the amount of weight it can carry. The six-foot platform also provides more room for arranging a rescue litter, attendant position, equipment storage, water tank, pump or hose system.

Possible public-safety applications include:

• Off-road patient extraction
• Wildland and grass-fire response
• Search-and-rescue operations
• Event medical response
• Park and trail patrol
• Disaster-response equipment transport
• Remote industrial-site support
• Prescribed-burn operations

Specialty manufacturers already produce medical-rescue and fire-suppression skid systems for Kubota RTVs and other high-capacity utility vehicles. These systems can include a Stokes basket or backboard platform, attendant seat, equipment compartments, water tank, pump, hose reel and firefighting hand tools.

The RTV-X LONG BED’s folding or removable bed panels may also give an upfitter greater flexibility than a conventional fixed-sided cargo box. Depending on the installation, an agency could retain side access, remove the panels to create a flat mounting surface or configure the platform around a removable skid.

Why the RTV-X LONG BED May Suit Emergency-Service Work

Several characteristics of the RTV-X LONG BED align well with low-speed emergency and support operations:

• Long cargo platform: Six feet of bed length provides room for equipment layouts that may not fit a standard UTV box.
• High bed rating: The 1,212-pound rating creates useful capacity for a properly selected rescue or fire skid.
• Diesel engine: Diesel fuel may simplify fleet management for agencies already operating diesel trucks and equipment.
• Controlled operation: The VHT-X transmission provides precise low-speed control when transporting a patient, attendant or water load.
• Dynamic braking: Hydrostatic braking can help control speed on descents, although it does not replace proper braking technique.
• Four-wheel drive: A limited-slip front differential and locking rear differential provide traction in mud, snow and uneven terrain.
• Heavy-duty construction: A steel frame and steel cargo platform are appropriate for repeated equipment loading.
• Front and rear receivers: The vehicle can accept recovery, towing and job-specific equipment at either end.

Kubota RTVs prioritize controlled utility performance rather than rapid acceleration. That can be a reasonable tradeoff when carrying a patient, an attendant or a partially filled water tank, since aggressive driving can destabilize a heavily loaded UTV.

Skid Compatibility Must Be Confirmed

The RTV-X LONG BED’s capacity does not mean that every Kubota-compatible fire or EMS skid will automatically fit. Many existing systems were designed around the shorter beds of the RTV-X900, RTV-X1100, RTV-X1120 or RTV-X1140.

Before purchasing a vehicle or skid, an agency should have the Kubota dealer and emergency-equipment upfitter verify:

• Skid dimensions and mounting points
• Empty and fully loaded skid weight
• Patient and attendant weight
• Water, foam, hose and equipment weight
• Front-to-rear weight distribution
• Vehicle payload and cargo-bed limits
• Electrical load from lights, sirens, radios and medical equipment
• Suspension and tire requirements
• ROPS clearance and emergency access
• Whether the hydraulic dump system will remain operational

Bed capacity and total vehicle payload are not interchangeable. A complete weight calculation must account for the skid, water, patient, attendant, driver, tools, accessories and any trailer tongue weight. Equipment should also be positioned so the completed vehicle retains safe steering, braking and rollover characteristics.

An agency should not assume that the full 1,212-pound bed rating can be devoted to water. Water weighs approximately 8.34 pounds per gallon before accounting for the tank, pump, engine, hose reel, plumbing and tools. A properly sized and baffled tank is critical because moving water can substantially change vehicle handling.

Kubota Diesel Power

The RTV-X LONG BED uses a 1,123cc Kubota three-cylinder, liquid-cooled diesel engine. Current specifications list output at 23.3 horsepower with 51.4 pound-feet of torque.

Those numbers are modest compared with high-performance recreational UTVs, but the RTV-X1130 is engineered around low-speed work rather than acceleration or maximum speed. Its approximately 25-mph top speed is appropriate for jobsites, farms, parks and private land, but departments expecting to cover long distances quickly should consider response time when evaluating the vehicle.

For buyers who want quicker acceleration and a 40-mph top speed, Kubota’s gasoline-powered alternative is covered in our Kubota RTV-XG850 Sidekick guide. The Sidekick, however, does not provide the RTV-X1130’s six-foot cargo platform.

VHT-X Variable Hydraulic Transmission

Instead of the belt-driven continuously variable transmission used by most UTVs, the RTV-X LONG BED uses Kubota’s VHT-X Variable Hydraulic Transmission.

The hydrostatic system is designed to provide smooth acceleration, precise speed adjustment and a broad working range without a conventional UTV drive belt. Releasing the accelerator also produces dynamic braking, helping the operator manage speed on a descent.

This behavior can take some acclimation for operators accustomed to a belt-driven UTV. Departmental and commercial fleets should include vehicle-specific training before placing an RTV-X1130 into service, especially when the machine will carry a patient, water or other high-mounted loads.

Suspension, Traction and Ground Clearance

The RTV-X LONG BED has independent suspension at all four wheels, including Kubota’s Extra Duty independent rear suspension. Suspension travel is approximately eight inches.

Ground clearance varies across the chassis, with Kubota listing approximately 11.3 inches at the front and 9.4 inches at the rear. Four-wheel drive is standard, along with a limited-slip front differential and foot-operated rear differential lock.

Hydraulic power steering reduces steering effort and helps isolate the steering wheel from impacts transmitted through the front tires. These systems should make the RTV-X1130 manageable on rough access roads, farm lanes, trails and uneven worksites, but its long wheelbase and relatively low rear clearance should be considered around sharp breakovers and deep obstacles.

Kubota RTV-X LONG BED Specifications

Specifications can vary by model year, tire selection and market. Confirm the complete vehicle, tire, payload and accessory specifications with a Kubota dealer before ordering an upfit.

Who Should Buy the Kubota RTV-X LONG BED?

The RTV-X1130 makes the most sense for buyers who need more cargo length and loading flexibility than a conventional UTV bed can provide.

It is particularly well suited to:

• Farms and ranches carrying feed, fencing material or tools
• Landscapers transporting long equipment and bulk material
• Construction and utility crews
• Municipal and campus maintenance departments
• Parks and public-land agencies
• Fire departments evaluating wildland or support units
• EMS and rescue agencies needing an off-road extraction platform
• Industrial facilities requiring a compact equipment carrier

Buyers who regularly need four seats should consider the RTV-X CREW instead. Operators working throughout the year in extreme heat or cold may prefer an RTV-X CAB with factory heat and air conditioning. Neither alternative, however, duplicates the RTV-X LONG BED’s combination of a six-foot bed, removable sides and 1,212-pound cargo rating.

Final Thoughts

The Kubota RTV-X LONG BED fills a distinctive role in the UTV market. Its diesel engine and 25-mph maximum speed make its priorities clear: this is a working vehicle intended to move equipment and material with control rather than cover ground quickly.

The six-foot ProKonvert bed is what separates it from other Kubota RTV-X models. Side access, flatbed conversion, a standard hydraulic lift and a 1,212-pound bed rating make the RTV-X LONG BED useful for conventional work while also creating potential for specialized fire, EMS and rescue configurations.

For public-safety use, the RTV-X LONG BED should be treated as a base vehicle rather than a ready-made emergency apparatus. A qualified upfitter must confirm skid fitment, loading, weight distribution, occupant protection and operational requirements. Properly configured, however, the long-bed Kubota could become a highly versatile platform for reaching places conventional fire trucks and ambulances cannot.

Kubota RTV-X LONG BED Frequently Asked Questions