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The Kubota RTV-XG850 Sidekick has been a game changer for farmer Edwin Douglass.
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck in March 2020, Edwin Douglass decided to leave his residence in Switzerland and come home to his family run property, Glen Alton Forrest, in the Clarence River Valley.
Best described as remote, the property is isolated further following a bridge connection to the local town falling in the last earthquake, the lack of phone reception and poor wireless internet connectivity on the property.
It’s no surprise then that property’s Kubota RTV-XG850 Sidekick is more than just a side by side to get from A to B, helping Edwin and his family to stay connected to the community around them.
“My Kubota RTV-XG850 Sidekick has been a game changer. It’s light, easy to operate, zips around forests and the narrow profile means it’s small and can go anywhere,” Edwin said.
Living on such an isolated property brought with it challenges, not least the lack of consistent mobile phone coverage or Wi-Fi that Edwin needed to manage his team across the other side of the world.
The solution was to install an internet repeater station on a hill next door to his property.
“Even then, the repeater would cut out in the middle of the night, often with the system needing a reboot, so I had to drive up the hill to repair whatever needed fixing. Navigating the uneven terrain is so much easier and quicker with a side-by-side than a heavy four-wheel drive,” Edwin said.
“We bought the Kubota RTV-XG850 Sidekick in early 2021, having noticed that my neighbours all had side-by-sides for their properties, usually preferring the format to heavier four -wheel drive vehicles, so I thought I’d also give it a go.”
Equipped with a CVT Plus transmission, the rugged, liquid-cooled engine of the Kubota RTV-XG850 provides plenty of torque for a quick and smooth take-off, perfect for the type of terrain found in the Clarence River valley.
The type of landscape Edwin’s property sits on means that he needs a durable and reliable vehicle, especially when he needs to visit his partner at the end of the road and the other side of a river crossing.
“Getting there on my Kubota Sidekick means the journey is simpler and easier, while the purchase and service support offered by local dealer Norwood Blenheim, means everything is convenient and perfect for fitting into my lifestyle.”
Side Specifications
* Twin cylinder Subaru liquid cooled - 48hp
* CVT transmission with downhill braking-top speed 64kph
* Independent suspension using dual A-arms and coil springs
* Selectable 2 or 4WD and diff lock
* 799kg kerb weight with 907kg towing capacity
* Electrically assisted power steering
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