Friday, 11 March 2022 10:55

Connecting farmer to the world

Written by  Mark Daniel
The Kubota RTV-XG850 Sidekick has been a game changer for farmer Edwin Douglass. 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

More like this

Deutz AG and TAFE Motors Launch Engine Facility in India

Founded in Cologne, Germany, in 1864, Deutz AG is the world’s oldest engine company, with its engines and systems used in construction equipment, agricultural machinery, material handling equipment, such as forklift and telehandlers, as well as stationary equipment such as gen-sets.

Deutz AG and TAFE Motors Launch Engine Facility in India

Founded in Cologne, Germany, in 1864, Deutz AG is the world’s oldest engine company, with its engines and systems used in construction equipment, agricultural machinery, material handling equipment, such as forklift and telehandlers, as well as stationary equipment such as gen-sets.

Featured

Editorial: The Value of Credibility

OPINION: In politics, credibility is and should be big. It must surely rank higher than charisma, which is quite trite and superficial. Yet, voters nowadays are often wooed and influenced by how someone looks or talks at a superficial level. TV plays a huge role in this.

Kaikōura Families Get School Run Lifeline After Storm

Kaikōura families affected by July's severe storm have found a practical solution to a problem that's kept some children away from regular schooling for weeks: a washed-out section of Inland Kaikōura Road, which has stopped the local school bus from running its usual route.

National

Machinery & Products

Suzuki Launches Jimny Horizon

Suzuki New Zealand has announced the arrival of the latest version of its Jimny SUV, the Horizon special edition, a…

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Domestic Focus

OPINION: After hogging the media limelight for telling a NZ Chinese MP to "go back home", Winston Peters has decided…

A No-Brainer

OPINION: With fuel prices soaring, one would have expected most farmers to be reclaiming excise duty on petrol.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter