The Great, The Good, And The Not-So-Good About Kubota RTV Windshields

Whether you’re looking to stay warm when plowing snow this winter in your Kubota RTVX1140, considering a Kubota RTV 900 windshield to block insects, branches, and spider webs, or wanting something to keep the rain off of you while trail riding in your Kubota Sidekick, one of the first and most impactful accessories you can get for your Kubota side-by-side is a windshield! Although you may never exceed 30 MPH, windshields will do far more than simply shield you from wind. Some riders love the open-air feel of riding without a windshield, while others refrain from running windshields because of bad experiences in the past. But regardless if you’re ambivalent towards windshields, or if you need a windshield ASAP for a specific purpose, here is a rundown of the best windshields you can get for a Kubota RTV!

Full Windshields Vs. Half Windshields

The climate conditions where you ride will usually determine whether or not you should use a full Kubota RTV windshield or a half Kubota RTV windshield. Although a full glass windshield may become uncomfortably hot in the midday heat for those who ride in the South, poor visibility oftentimes becomes problematic for those using full windshields. With a generous amount of rain repellant, you might still be able to maintain a clear line of sight when riding in a rainstorm. But when it comes to mud, you can either bring along a hand pump to spray your windshield down after encountering the muck, or you can install a Kubota windshield wiper kit that includes a windshield washer reservoir, a windshield wiper motor, and a windshield wiper arm to swipe away mud and water nearly instantaneously!

Usually, you should only use windshield wipers with glass windshields. And when spraying down a polycarbonate windshield, it’s important to flush away as much debris as possible, and only wipe in an up-and-down motion with a microfiber towel to avoid creating spiral-shaped micro scratches. You can find both full windshields and half windshields made from either glass or polycarbonate – with tinted half windshields being a popular option. But aside from the suggested washing protocol, what else is different between glass and poly windshields?

Glass Windshields Vs Plastic Windshields

You can break glass windshields down into two categories: basic glass windshields and DOT glass windshields made from tempered and laminated safety glass. Similarly, with plastic windshields, you’ve also got polycarbonate windshields (AKA Lexan windshields), plexiglass windshields, and vinyl windshields. Manufacturers typically use polycarbonate over plexiglas because it is resistant to chemicals like gasoline, it's inflammable, and it can take harder impacts before breaking. Polycarbonate windshields can then be separated into two similar, yet fundamentally different classifications: coated and non-coated.

Coated polycarbonate windshields are scratch-resistant, but if you go with a scratch-resistant windshield, make sure that it’s coated on both sides. You want the outward-facing side of the windshield to remain scratch-free after encounters with branches, bushes, and anything else you might come across while riding, but the inside of a poly windshield can also get scratched up. If, for example, you go to wipe away fog and slide your wedding ring across the windshield, it could become scratched if it’s not hard coated on the inside. Or, for those who use their rigs to hunt, vertical in-cab gun racks will often cause your gun barrel to be within scratching range of the windshield. So while single-coated polycarbonate windshields for the Kubota RTV are great, double-coated polycarbonate windshields for the Kubota RTV are even better!

Vinyl windshields are among the cheapest available for off-road vehicles like the Kubota RTV. They pair well with full doors and soft roofs / cab enclosure kits, but they can also be used as standalone accessories. Companies like 3 Star Industries are well-known within the industry for their excellent vinyl windshields. Although vinyl isn’t the best material for sport-style side-by-sides, it’s perfect for the slow-to-medium speeds of the Kubota RTV 900, the Kubota Sidekick, and Kubota X-Series RTVs!

Folding Windshields Vs Split Windshields

The versatility of split windshields, foldings windshields, and fast-strap windshields makes them ideal solutions for both all-season riders as well as those who live in areas with capricious weather patterns. Full fast-attach windshields are usually made from lightweight polycarbonate, and they can be placed on or taken off in less than 30 seconds. When you’re in the field, however, you may not have space available to haul a detached windshield, which is where split windshields and folding windshields come into play!

With a split or folding Kubota RTV windshield, you can keep everything locked up and in the closed-most position when it’s dusty, rainy, or cold. But when the sun comes out and starts roasting the cab, you can open up your folding or split windshield for more air. The main difference between a folding windshield and a split windshield is the location of the tilting axis. Some folding windshields are hinged at the top and crack open at the bottom, while others are hinged at the bottom and fold downwards from the top. Split windshields, on the other hand, are cut horizontally down the middle, giving you effectively a half windshield when the top section is folded down, and a full windshield when it’s folded up. The primary drawback with split windshields is that they might hinder your view if the crack is situated directly in your line of sight.

Other Windshield Considerations

You can get quality airflow with a half windshield or folding windshield, but vented Kubota RTV windshields are also an option. One drawback to vented windshields is that the vents can rattle at various vibration frequencies. But with a higher-quality windshield brand, the fitment of the vents as well as their open-close mechanisms are much better and less likely to rattle.

Windshield thickness is another thing to consider. While you might want something in the 1/4” range, a windshield that’s only 3/16” is likely sufficient for everyday cruising. But at the end of the day, you’ve got to do what’s best for you. And whether that means a full glass windshield is in the cards, or a folding polycarbonate windshield is on the horizon, we’ve got exactly what you want / need here at Everything Kubota RTV!