Rippa RS04 Skid Loader – Versatile Power in a Gate-Access Frame

The Rippa RS04 is engineered for the professional or property owner who needs to bring heavy-duty digging power into the most restricted environments. Now offering the flexibility to choose your powerplant, the RS04 is available with either a dependable Briggs & Stratton gas engine or the legendary Kubota Z482 liquid-cooled diesel.

Choose Your Powerplant

• Briggs & Stratton Gas Engine: An excellent, cost-effective option delivering reliable, accessible power. Perfect for users who want easy maintenance, familiar mechanics, and quick starts on the job site.

• Genuine Kubota Z482 Diesel Engine: The ultimate professional upgrade. This liquid-cooled, 2-cylinder powerhouse is world-renowned for its "bulletproof" reliability, offering superior fuel economy, quieter operation, and the high-torque pushing power needed for heavy daily use.

  Here is the horsepower breakdown for the two engine options on the Rippa RS04:

  • Briggs & Stratton Gas Engine: This option delivers significantly higher peak horsepower, rated at 22.8 to 23.1 HP (17 kW).

  • Kubota Z482 Diesel Engine: The diesel option is rated at 11.1 to 11.5 HP (8.3 kW).

  While the Briggs & Stratton gas engine offers roughly double the horsepower on paper (giving it higher top-end speed and wheel-spinning power), the Kubota diesel makes up for its lower horsepower with massive low-end torque. Diesel engines naturally produce more pushing/digging force at lower RPMs, which is why the 11-horsepower Kubota can dig and push just as hard—if not harder—than the 23-horsepower gas engine under heavy loads.

Key Features & Selling Points

• Ultra-Slim 36” Design: No more removing fence panels. The RS04 is purpose-built to navigate narrow side-yards, interior doorways, and tight urban corridors with ease.

• Optimized Hydraulic System: Features a refined hydraulic pump and valve system calibrated to maximize the power of your chosen engine, resulting in smooth, predictable controls for precision trenching.

• All-Day Performance: Whether you opt for the rugged simplicity of the Briggs & Stratton or the liquid-cooled endurance of the Kubota, the RS04 is designed to run efficiently in demanding conditions without power loss.

• Tough-Build Chassis: Built to work hard, featuring a reinforced boom and high-strength pins typically reserved for much larger machines, ensuring the RS04 handles the stress of heavy use.

The RS04 comes equipped with everything you need to hit the ground running:

• 12” Standard Digging Bucket with replaceable teeth.

• Mechanical Quick-Hitch: For fast transitions between buckets and tools.

• Auxiliary Hydraulic Piping: Factory-installed and ready for an auger, breaker, or hydraulic thumb.

• Heavy-Duty Dozer Blade: Perfect for stabilizing the machine, leveling, and backfilling trenches.

• Ergonomic Operator Platform: Features a comfortable, updated seat and clear, unobstructed visibility of the work area.

Since the RS04 uses three pumps to keep the drive and work functions independent, the flow is distributed as follows: