I know they aren’t exactly the same mission, but they are both singles, both tail wheels, and roughly in the same price range.

Which one are you choosing, and why?

They aren't even closely related in use so It seems a very random question.
Different classes of airplane for completely different missions.

RV14 Much cheaper and easier to maintain being EAB, aerobatic if you feel like having some fun, very well supported etc.

185 definitely serves its purpose as well, if you want off field or floats capability.

Personally, assuming it's a tool around and have fun plane I'd go RV14.

The back country performance of an RV-14 is not that much different than a -185. If you put 8:50 tires on the -14 it is a very capable bush plane. It will go into all the mountain strips that most folks would use, and a -185 is not really a gravel bar airplane.

If you want to travel with 2 people, then the RV-14 is hands down the winner.

If you want to haul a full up campsite with tents and stoves, and igloo coolers, or 4 people, then the -185 is the winner.

Both are best in class airplanes, that are very good in other areas.

To Me, This isn't even a Fair Question (for the RV) Cessna 185 Hands Down And the Mission has nothing to do with it Simply the Iconic Cool Factor

Let's see....apples or oranges?

Cessna 185.
After the bankruptcy and those that have protecting their own, and those that don’t yet have getting screwed, Vans is so yesterday.

I chose the RV-14. Mine has 6:00x6 tires on the mains and an 8" pneumatic tailwheel. I'm not building it for gravel bars and everyday back country but wanted something that will handle softer turf without issue. If I need more load capability out of the back country, I'll take the 182.

The reason for an RV over a certified plane because I wanted to build. I'm still a huge Vans supporter even though I was affected by LCP's and the bankruptcy.

Oh yes, forgot about the LCP fiasco, the gift that will keep on giving, like at resale time.

[quote="Doug Rozendaal"]The back country performance of an RV-14 is not that much different than a -185. If you put 8:50 tires on the -14 it is a very capable bush plane. It will go into all the mountain strips that most folks would use, and a -185 is not really a gravel bar airplane.

It would be a much better comparison if you brought the 180 into consideration. Light, and delightful on the controls, without interconnect springs and a huge vertical stabilizer area that mandates either a tailwheel lock, or big quad muscles and frequent brake pad changes for taxiing in strong X-winds.
With the PPonk conversion the 180 will outperform the 185 in all parameters, and give you the ability of,
1.-on floats, water taxiing up to the docks, dropping off or picking up paying passengers or stuff, and quickly pushing off the dock. Starting the carbureted engine pronto removes the worry of digging the back of the floats back into the docks, as you crank the hot injected engine and sweat bullets.
2.- On rubber, landing the airplane in impossibly short and narrow mountain airstrips, dropping off or picking up paying passengers or stuff, and starting the carbureted engine quickly, to get the hell out of dodge before the Federales show up. (See "Over and Back" the untold true story of smuggling electronic contraband into Mexico).
3.- As for the gravel bars, the 180's do it hands down, hauling stuff in and out that Cubs would only dream of.
4.- And for the cool factor, it's been said that they even walk on water...

TN

Buy a 185, women and men alike will all flock to you as arrive acknowledging the superhuman godlike person have become. Hordes of admiring fans begging to adore you. Parties will be held in your honor. You'll use 100ll as cologne, and drink 100w instead of coffee. You will be allowed into a secret society, where there is a handshake, a secret hideout, and an annual fly in where you and your brethren (myself included) will endlessly debate the best prop for performance/weight, what tires are best, and who has the lightest calculated empty weight (never put it on scales!). What’s not to like?

I’d make this in green were it not all true!

Best of all, you’ll fly inverted as I’ve captured in photo below

RV-14 for me. I love the idea of competing in sportsman acro and having a great xc plane to get to weekend events. Seems like a great, economical runabout plane to make day and weekend trips all over the NE.

The only downside is that it’s not a good plane to haul me, my kid, and all the gear we want to camp in the N40. I know lots of people fly their homebuilts from all over and camp with them, but their campsites are really spartan.

The only thing the RV will do better than a 185 is travel long distances in relatively short times. You have a Baron for that.

And I won't take the bait from Tom regarding 180s vs 185s!

A couple of things about maintenance on E-AB. Yes, you can do virtually everything yourself. Unfortunately, so could the guy who owned it before you. He might've been a closet idiot. And you'd be surprised at how quickly the ability to do your own maintenance becomes the obligation to do it. For example, when Garmin replaced a bunch of autopilot servos, those with certified airplanes got free parts and labor. Those with Experimentals got parts only.

They also paid 1/4 as much as the certified guys up front.
Also the 185 can't do aerobatics.

Edit to say *shouldn't* do aerobatics

I know a guy who tells me that the whole 18x series does really nice aileron rolls. I have not tested that ability.