Kawasaki Mule

[RedRam1]

Anybody have one of these? My wife saw one at the Kawasaki dealer the other day, and thinks she has to have one. I'll admit it looks like it would be fun, and I could sort of justify it. We live on a dirt road, the mailbox is on the paved road around 1/4 mile from the house, the wife also has a big garden 1/4 mile in the other direction on some bottom land. That mule would be handy for running out to to the mail box, going ot the garden, etc.



I have had literally dozens of jap motorcycles and several japanese cars over the years, they don't make much junk as a rule. The only bad thing about the mule is the d#$% thing is so expensive! They wanted over 7K for the 4wd gas model, and almost 9K for the diesel! I was wondering if any TDR members own one of these, and if so, how you like 'em? What about the John Deere Gator, I haven't looked at them very closely, just noticed them at the dealer when buying tractor parts, any comments on these?

 

[Tim1]

I don't have one of these units, however have several quads and yes it would be handier than pockets on a shirt. Might look at the Polaris units, they are pretty good units also. They have a encloced cab for the snow and rain which is good. If I had a farm, I'd go with the Polaris because I kike the engine and drive system. Just my 2 cents. Tim

 

[Murle]

I have 3 of the Mule's. I also have a diesel mule. The diesel I have had since April last year. and it now has 1180 miles on it and 200 hrs. Love it . It is 4 wheel drive and I also have a cab on it. I can haul a 1100 lb round bale of hay in the back of it. Would not be with out it. It uses about 4 gals. of diesel every 10 hrs.



Here is the site for the cabs for the Mules



http://www.essexmfg.com/Kawasaki/index.stm

 

[The Sequel]

I don't know anything about the Mule, but my father-in-law has a 6WD Gator and loves it. He uses it for everything and says it's almost impossible to get stuck.

 

[lschultz]

I have had my Mule since 98 got close to 400 hrs on it. No problems with it other than replacing throttle cable that broke. I got the small one 550 2wd. I think its got a 290cc engine on it. I got stuck in it several times but it does what I need it to do. Think it was 4700. Guy I work with just bought Gator and it has the same Kawaski engine as mine. But it does not have oil filter. He said that is extra on the Gator. But what ever you get you will be happy with it. Sure would like to get that one with the diesel though. I have been told that there diesel is a Iszu(sp).

 

[RedRam1]

Thanks for the advise everyone. I'll check out the Gator and the Polaris units before committing to anything.



Mrele, you say you have 3 mules, including one diesel. If I go with the mule, it will be the biggest 4x4 with either the diesel or gas motor. Do you think the diesel is worth the extra $$? If I remember right, the gasser was a V twin around 650cc, it seems like the diesel was a 3 cylinder job, can't remember the displacememt, or whether or not it had the "good stuff" like a cast iron head & inline pump. When I looked at the mules, it was at my wife's insistance... I wasn't too keen on the idea at the time, so I didn't pay a lot of attention to the engine configuration, etc. Now that I'm warming up to the idea, I'll have to take a lot closer look.

 

[Murle]

Not sure about what the diesel being steel inline or what. I just get in them and go. Pull maintance every 100 hrs. I also have the twin gas model 2500 4x4 and the single 550 2x. The diesel is a lot louder than the 2 gas models. They all will go 25 MPH. The gator will only do about 8 MPH. I have 380 acres and I have to travel 2 miles to get to some of the land. So speed is a factor with me. Also I have a local dealer here and they know their stuff. But I have never had any of these Mules in the shop for anything at all. The oldest one is 4 years old. I have looked at all brands on the market and I still take the Mule over anything out there. We run these Mules everyday even in the winter time and they just keep on running. I know some guys that have these Mules with 2 and 3 thousand hrs on them and they are still going.

 

[RedRam1]

Thanks, Murle. I had no idea the gator's were that slow! Even though we've only got 67 acres 8 mph is still too slow. I have had such good luck with japanese stuff that it is not too dificult to sell me on the Kawasaki... I like to buy American, but not if it's going to cost me a lot of $$ verses an import.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Normally this would not be an issue in Georgia but after the recent weather maybe it is. My buddy has a Gator, his uncle has a Mule. The Gator gets bogged down in snow when the Mule keeps on going. The front wheels don't drive on his Gator. Can you even get 6x6 on them?

 

[Bill Lins]

A friend of mine has a Mule and a Gator on his ranch- he much prefers the Mule.

 

[WOWZY]

A friend of mine has been using Mules for a long time. He sold one of his 4x4 Mules and bought a Polaris Ranger 6x6 last year and says the Ranger is much better all around and he's replacing the other Mule with another Ranger this spring. He said the Ranger was more expensive, but it was worth it.

 

[redneckdr]

MULES ETC

i can't remember the name, but Bobcat is now making a similar vehicle. pioneer, i think. looks like it would also be a good consideration??

 

[MOWPAR]

We have had 2 Kaw. Mules at work for about 4 years, they are used to get around the sewer plants. I'm the Light Equipment Mechanic so I'm the one that has to maintain them. I've had very little trouble with them. If they can put up with the abuse these guys put them through, they should last a normal person forever.....



Jim

 

[maint.man]

I use one some when I am at our Leitchfield , KY. plant. They will definetly take the abuse . The one at the plant has 1185 hrs. on i t as of 2 o'clock today. Everyone and their brother uses the heck out of this thing , and it dosent get the best maint. in the world either. Just the other day one of the guys was driving it , and it just "turned over" (his words not mine) However the only things that have been replaced are the muffler and the battery. Just for the record it is the gas powered 2wd.

 

[Doc Tinker]

I wonder if they'll let me drive one of those around the campgrounds. They allow golfcarts. Do you think I can convince them that it's just another golf cart?



Doc