Barebones Mule or your Suggestions

[Alan L.]

We have a 2003 model Mule 550 which would be very similar. Bought it new for just under $6K and it has about 600 hours on it. Never a minute's problem with it. Its 2 wheel drive, has only about a 10 HP Kawasaki industrial engine in it, and it will only go about 20 mph. Not a whole lot of pulling power, but with the diff lock we have been in some mud holes and up hill mud and have been able to keep from getting stuck. It has a good suspension - front and rear, and handles our rough terrain real well - probably much better than a golf cart.

If you don't need alot of power or speed it is very handy for carrying stuff around and is very fun to putt around the property. We love ours.

 

[Alan L.]

I posted about our mule before reading all of the responses. At the time we go ours the small one was not available in 4 x 4. For $800 I would definitely get the 4wd also.

Good thing about the small mule is you can put it in the back of the pickup. I have ramps and I've done it.

 

[beppington]

I even made the mistake of asking my Mom what she thought about it and if she'd be happy driving it around. She was like a little girl at the idea. Crazy, she's going to be 70 in two months, and she acted like she was 7 years old on Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!...

My 67 y.o. mom is the same way! She BEGS me to bring mine over so we can "Go mulin'". When I do she says, "I could just do this all day!"

 

[KentT]

If nothing changes, I'm planning on buying the Mule 610 4x4 this week. I even made the mistake of asking my Mom what she thought about it and if she'd be happy driving it around. She was like a little girl at the idea. Crazy, she's going to be 70 in two months, and she acted like she was 7 years old on Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE IT.

Eddie

Eddie, I think you'll be glad you went 4x4 at some point. I agree with your Mom that this is likely a good choice for your uses...

If you'd been interested in a bit more play to go with the utility, I'd have recommended either the small Ranger or the Rhino 450. They have the clearance, suspension and wheel travel to play in places like this:

 

[jinman]

If nothing changes, I'm planning on buying the Mule 610 4x4 this week. I even made the mistake of asking my Mom what she thought about it and if she'd be happy driving it around. She was like a little girl at the idea. Crazy, she's going to be 70 in two months, and she acted like she was 7 years old on Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE IT.

Eddie

Eddie, I think your mother has every reason to be excited. I can't imagine not having our Mule. We use it constantly. The only way your choice of a 610 Mule 4x4 could be improved is if they made the engine fuel injected like the 4010. Even so, we have never had a problem with our 3010's carb in over 6 years. I would recommend that you find a source for non-ethanol added fuel. Ours sure seems to run better with 100% gasoline.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Eddie,

I may be a little late in replying but I think the 610 with 4x4 is a good decision. The mule is a little light in the rearend and you will need the 4x4 in some instances.

I would like to add one more thought for you to consider. I have a 3010 Trans Mule and it has performed very well for my needs. I usually have the rear seat folded up for more bed room but also use it to drive prople around the property. It is great to be able to ride 4 people around. My mother-in-law is 86 and she loves to ride in the back seat around the property. And if it is you, a friend, your dad and mother it would be easy to ride 4 people to the lake in one vehicle and a picnic lunch and chairs in the bed.

 

[RavensRoost]

Eddie, too bad you are not in Phoenix: 2008 610 (?) for $5200.

2008 Kawasaki Mule 4X4

 

[beppington]

Eddie ... Something else to consider:

If your mom leans more toward being a "girly-woman", like mine, (certainly nothing wrong with that!) she may like an electric golf cart better than a Mule. More Cadillac-like. The Mule's R-N-H-L shifting isn't Cadillac easy; It requires use of the manual choke knob to start; Has a little exhaust note to it; Steering requires some effort, especially tight turns; Brakes aren't very good, gotta push real hard.

Electric golf carts are obviously super-quiet, steer very easily, no choke of course, no exhaust sound of course ... Just turn the key to "on" & press the go pedal. I myself don't want an electric golf cart, but they are certainly easier to handle/ drive than a Mule.

When I mentioned my mom loving to go for rides on my Mule, she loves riding, not driving it.

By the way, you may be surprised how robust golf carts are!! My friend has a '94 gas Club Car cart his dad gave him about 10 years ago; He's mis-treated/ abused that thing since day 1, off-roading it, loading it with 5 people, never doing any maintenance whatsoever, & the thing still runs & goes anywhere/ everywhere. He takes it everywhere I take my Mule. I still wouldn't even think about trading it for my Mule; Just saying they're much tougher than I ever thought they'd be.

 

[Jimbrown]

I have a Mule and a cart. The wife likes the cart because it super simple to drive. I put gas in it about 3 times a year at most.

The mule was bought to work and does realy well I can drive fence line and repair fence ect with no problem. We bout the 3010 trans just thave more seat room for the dogs that always want to go.

 

[EddieWalker]

I went and looked at the Kubota RTV 500 today. It's $8,500 and has a two cylinder 450 cc engine, compared to the 610 mule with the 400 cc single cylinder engine. The RTV has a hydrostatic transmission and the Mule doesn't. Is that worth the extra money?

The big thing that got me was Kubota has five year, 0% financing. With $2,000 down, I'd be paying $111 per month, which is just crazy. The salesman said that Kubota requires insurance on everything that it finances, and that it would run aroub ten dollars more per month. Still pretty cheap, and the insurance covers theft, fire, flood and a list of other things. It's good on my land, or someplace that I may take it. Sounds like good insurance and teh price is right, but it's still an extra.

I also looked at the RTV 900 4x4 diesel. I liked it, but thought it was a bit too high in the air. Its huge, but the bench seat has a lump in it so that seating for three is dificult. Everything about it was impressive, and at $10,700 it was a bit pricey. For that, they offer 0% for four years.

Unfortunately for the diesel, it's extremly loud. Painfully loud. I hated how loud it was and the salesman said that to talk, you have to turn off the engine. I hate loud, so if I went that route, I'd have to do something about that noise.

I'm now second guessing myself on the Mule 4010 4x4. Will that extra size and features be something that I'd appreciate and use? Twice as much cargo weight over the 610 and a water cooled, fuel injected 3 cylinder gas engine over a one cylinder and a carbarator? The 4010 also has power steering, but it's over nine grand for all that fun stuff.

I'm starting to confuse myself.

Eddie

 

[jinman]

Eddie, what you are going through is normal and a bit frustrating. You have to decide on what is your baseline and then go from there. I was darn close to buying the EZ-Go Workhorse from my New Holland dealer before I started looking around. I quickly decided I needed something more. I definitely would say that you should consider the 4010 because it is a larger machine and will meet every need you have for many years. You might find you are limited with the 610 or RTV500. The noise of the RTV900 is a very real problem. Even the Mule is pretty loud, but speaking with riders is also very easy as you experienced when you drove our 3010. Just hang in there until you decide and then go with your gut feeling. You are the only one you have to please.

 

[beppington]

The Mule 610 may be too lightweight for you, a dude that operates very heavy machinery. They're tough for their size/ weight/ power, but they aren't what I'd call indestructible.

 

[beppington]

You are the only one you have to please.

Actually, he & his mom, if I remember reading correctly. :thumbsup:

 

[DIXIEDOG]

I went and looked at the Kubota RTV 500 today. It's $8,500 and has a two cylinder 450 cc engine, compared to the 610 mule with the 400 cc single cylinder engine. The RTV has a hydrostatic transmission and the Mule doesn't. Is that worth the extra money?

The big thing that got me was Kubota has five year, 0% financing. With $2,000 down, I'd be paying $111 per month, which is just crazy. The salesman said that Kubota requires insurance on everything that it finances, and that it would run aroub ten dollars more per month. Still pretty cheap, and the insurance covers theft, fire, flood and a list of other things. It's good on my land, or someplace that I may take it. Sounds like good insurance and teh price is right, but it's still an extra.

I also looked at the RTV 900 4x4 diesel. I liked it, but thought it was a bit too high in the air. Its huge, but the bench seat has a lump in it so that seating for three is dificult. Everything about it was impressive, and at $10,700 it was a bit pricey. For that, they offer 0% for four years.

Unfortunately for the diesel, it's extremly loud. Painfully loud. I hated how loud it was and the salesman said that to talk, you have to turn off the engine. I hate loud, so if I went that route, I'd have to do something about that noise.

I'm now second guessing myself on the Mule 4010 4x4. Will that extra size and features be something that I'd appreciate and use? Twice as much cargo weight over the 610 and a water cooled, fuel injected 3 cylinder gas engine over a one cylinder and a carbarator? The 4010 also has power steering, but it's over nine grand for all that fun stuff.

I'm starting to confuse myself.

Eddie

I'm a bit biased but I think the 2 cylinder fuel injected Kubota RTV 500 is worth the extra $$ up front. I bought one last March and I love it, it does so much more than I expected it's not even funny. It's a little work horse for sure, alot of guys say how gutless they are, how loud they are, how slow they are....but I haven't had any of those issues. My RTV 500 is quiet, when I mash the go pedal in low I spin the tires, I don't care to go over 25 anyway because I use mine in rough terrain or hauling alot of weight. It's been a great purchase, I haven't had a single issue that required a repair yet. I just get on it and go.:thumbsup:

 

[westcliffe01]

Eddie, I would second the KEI truck.

Very civilized, heating, windshield wipers, smooth as silk, weather protection (dust, rain, wind, bugs, rodents etc)... Will beat everything else out there for reliability.

Buy a basic model for less than $5k and add on whatever you want, dump bed, fat tires, camo etc etc. Dressed up a little, they don't have to look so prissy.

Keith

When I went through this a few years ago I wanted 4WD and a nice size bed and nothing in the mule size fit my needs plus they were over 10K.
I went with the mini trucks from Japan a 4WD unit with a nice size bed for 3K. Since I purchased it I have abused that thing every way I can and she still starts up and runs like a Swiss watch.

Best money I ever spent.

This is what I mean when I say MINI truck:
All Terrain Mini Trucks - Japanese Kei Mini Trucks - Mini Truck Direct Importers

 

[timswi]

Eddie,

Dixie is right about this. I had an RTV500. It is very quiet, and once Kubota worked out the servo and max RPM adjustment issues, they run very well...25-30MPH max, but that's what they do. It is a little tank compared to what I looked at at the time, and there is absolutey nothing wrong with any of the others. I liked the 4x4 and diff locks are on the dash for heavy use, and every other control makes absolute sense. Take one for a ride and see what you think.

It grabbed attention everywhere I took it, others really liked the the layout and styling. I'm talking hard core ATV and UTV guys.

Keep in mind that they run best at full operating temperature. So if you run one stone cold, it wont have the 'nads that are normally there. So go for a test drive longer than 5 minutes.

Steel bed and a very stout frame makes it a nice work and general cruising machine. If I didn't have fond memories, I wouldn't have posted.

(737pilot and I had some issues, but we were a couple of the first buyers of these in 2008. The problems had to do with tuning issues that Kubota has figured out. We handled them ourselves...No big deal once we knew how to deal with them)

As far as Kubota requiring insurance. They cover full replacement if you flip it and destroy it or if something else bad happens. Most other insurance is somewhat pro-rated, so it's actually a peace of mind thing and very reasonably priced from what I've found. I have it on my RTV1100. It also covers on and off property, which most homeowner riders generally don't cover.

Can't beat the finacing either. Used it on my BX23, RTV500 and the RTV1100. No hassle at all.

I have nothing to do with Kubota by the way..They just have a ton of my money at this point.

In addition, a tank of gas lasts FORVER...I think it's every bit as economical as both of my diesels.

Maintenance is a very DIY job too..No need for a dealer in that respect. General hand tools and a little mechanical ability, that's all.

The only reason I don't have it anymore is that I needed HVAC for my daughter. In reality I liked the size of the 500 better than the the 1100 I have now.

 

[doall]

Eddie I have nothing against the Mules, but I think you would be cheating yourself if you didn't test drive a ranger. The ride is so much smoother than the others and they will out haul or tow the others. But there is certainly nothing wrong with a mule or a rhino.

 

[Unregistered2013]

Unfortunately for the diesel, it's extremly loud. Painfully loud. I hated how loud it was and the salesman said that to talk, you have to turn off the engine. I hate loud, so if I went that route, I'd have to do something about that noise.

i don't find my 900 loud at all -- really --

i found the 500 to be way overpriced for a gasser engine -- just me though -- it's too lightweight, and lacks features, like hyd dump-bed, etc.

 

[EddieWalker]

Made a big mistake today. I went back to the Kawasaki dealer and asked what the 4010 runs for. They said $9,199 for the single seat, and $9,999 for the Trans Mule with two bench seats.

I really liked the Trans Mule. I like how it's set up, all the storage it has and that power steering is REALLY NICE!!! It's my dream machine. With $2,000 down, payments are $180 a month for 5 years with the roof added on to it as my only add on.

2011 Mule? 4010 Trans4x4® Mule - Kawasaki.com

Eddie

 

[wlwells@yahoo.com]

My wife and I were thinking about buying a golf cart, until I looked at a Mule 610. We thought it was great, but after 8 months of riding our 2 kids we found it was a little crowded. I then found a used 3010 Transmule, at the same dealer that we bought the 610! We traded the 610 in on the 3010 Transmule and are very pleased with it. The only things we wished our Transmule had are power steering and engine braking. Also more time to ride would be nice. It seems this year work, and the kids starting school makes less time for riding.