Work UTV ... narrow down some choices please

[ultrarunner]

So the one 2015 that was $7500 was advertised in today's newspaper for $6988... price blowout.

Silly me... I'm thinking now that it is $500 less the out the door price will be less.

The dealer just raised the assembly charge by $500...

Lots of games going on in the world of RTV sales.

The reality is the now that it is on sale for $500 less the out the door price is actually higher than the quote from last week...

I may just buy a real 4 legged Mule and forget the RTV...

 

[Redneck in training]

My son is in process of buying UTV/ATV. Mule is on the top of the list. Good reliability record, longest warranty, payload and towing is OK. Brand to avoid is Polaris. Six month warranty. There are too many low hours for sale around us and very few Mules.
I work for Oil and Gas once a while. There are many Mules at the plants. Quite abused but still working, Some plants had Deer Gators. Those didn't last long. Every one I used had something mechanical broken and many were completely out of order,

 

[ultrarunner]

I think the Mule is proven, simple and therefore reliable with 36 month warranty.

Dependable seems to be the strong suit... like the old air cooled VW bugs.

The CV belt is a wear item like brake shoes... it is something cheap enough to keep a spare on hand.

Here is another ad.... I have a written quote on it and it comes in just $4 under 10k...

Almost seems criminal to advertise a product and the out the door price is almost 50% more... I realize sales tax is what it is at $1090 plus $565 freight, $1760 prep, $80 documentation fee... well you get the picture.

Like you... just not finding any used... lots of Polaris for big money.

215 Kawasaki Mule™ 61 4x4 XC Camo

 

[TheGoose]

I've been looking very hard at the Mule 4010 4x4. I can drive out the two seater for about $9400 and a double cab for about $1k more. I'm not looking at the 610 because I don't want one that small. I like the Kawasaki because it's governed to 25 mph, much safer if I let my kids ride.

 

[ultrarunner]

I too think 25mph is good and it qualifies for the AG tax rate if used for AG.

The small size is about as big as I would want to maneuver in between the rows of trees.

 

[EddieWalker]

I think the Mule is proven, simple and therefore reliable with 36 month warranty.

Dependable seems to be the strong suit... like the old air cooled VW bugs.

The CV belt is a wear item like brake shoes... it is something cheap enough to keep a spare on hand.

Here is another ad.... I have a written quote on it and it comes in just $4 under 10k...

Almost seems criminal to advertise a product and the out the door price is almost 50% more... I realize sales tax is what it is at $1090 plus $565 freight, $1760 prep, $80 documentation fee... well you get the picture.

Like you... just not finding any used... lots of Polaris for big money.

215 Kawasaki Mule™ 61 4x4 XC Camo

Did this used to be Hayward Honda? A very good friend since we where very young is married to the son who's parents used to own Hayward Honda. They sold it to focus more on their horse stable business in the Hayward Hills above the bowling alley farther down Foothill. His name is Mark Olund and he still runs the parts department. He's huge into trail rides up in the Sierra's. If that's the same place, go say hi to him and see if being my friend gets you anywhere. I'm still in touch with his wife, but haven't seen any of them in over a decade since moving away. You never know.

 

[ultrarunner]

I don't think it is the same... Honda of Hayward as I think they are now called is several miles towards Niles and the ATV Dealer is almost on the Castro Valley Border...

You do have very good recall... sometimes I throw in a little local color just to see if your are paying attention... ;-)

Got a lead on a very low hour Deere 825i.

Don't know much about Deere as there are no local Dealers...

The machine is very clean and very well equipped... even has a license plate.

Did read the weak point is the Constant Velocity Joints...

I should be able to pick up the Gator for the price of the Mule...

 

[Code54]

The 825I I believe has the Chery engine (3 cyl) -same one that is used on the Mule Pro FXT. Good little motor and easy to get parts for (Kawasaki, Deere and others stock them)
Tons of those little motors are out there overseas and seem to have a good reputation for long term reliability. It is basically a small car motor in other areas of the world so the miles you put on a SxS motor really is no where near what it is used to.
Enjoy whatever new machine you decide on.

 

[Hermio]

Well, I have had the Intimidator Crew with the Kohler gas engine for a bit more than a year now. No problems to report so far.

 

[Redneck in training]

My son is in process of buying UTV/ATV. Mule is on the top of the list. Good reliability record, longest warranty, payload and towing is OK. Brand to avoid is Polaris. Six month warranty. There are too many low hours for sale around us and very few Mules.
I work for Oil and Gas once a while. There are many Mules at the plants. Quite abused but still working, Some plants had Deer Gators. Those didn't last long. Every one I used had something mechanical broken and many were completely out of order,

The problem with UTV is they are too big to transport them long distances. They are great at a farm but not the best for hunting. I suggested to our son to get two seater ATV and a trailer big just enough to transport it. Then it could pull the trailer if need. I think such set up is more practical for his purpose. Opinion welcomed.

 

[Hermio]

Its all about what you use it for. Our Intimidator Crew seats 6. It requires a bit of room to maneuver, but with some patience, we can get around. It has far more hauling and towing capacity than most. It also has a lot of suspension travel. But it does not do well at really slow speeds; a hydrostat drive would be better than any CVT for that. However, low range on the Intimidator would let it climb a vertical wall if it could somehow get traction. We have pulled down some trees with it. Of course, the Mahindra 5035 tractor can pull a lot more, but it is bigger and heavier. And it is no good as a people mover.

 

[Code54]

The problem with UTV is they are too big to transport them long distances. They are great at a farm but not the best for hunting. I suggested to our son to get two seater ATV and a trailer big just enough to transport it. Then it could pull the trailer if need. I think such set up is more practical for his purpose. Opinion welcomed.

May want to check out the smaller SxS's such as a Pioneer 500 - fits in the bed of the truck and can most places a regular ATV can (Roll cage is mostly the limiting factor - but it does add a lot of safety)

 

[ultrarunner]

One of the strong suits of the pioneer 500 is that being narrow it is allowed in some areas to use ATV trails off limits to even slightly larger units.

As for transporting... I really think the ability to transport in the back of a pickup is a big plus... even if for service.

One of the guys has a small Polaris he takes hunting about 500 miles from where he lives... being that he can put it in his truck means he doesn't have to drive 500 miles in the slow lane...

The only thing keeping me from buying a Kawasaki 610 XC in camo is sticker shock...

I paid a $1000 for my Suzuki Samurai 15 years ago and only oil changes and a battery... passes smog easily.

9 or 10k for Mule 610 XC with a single cylinder air cooled engine just seems way too high.

 

[EddieWalker]

I had the same aversion to buying my Mule. I figured a couple of grand for a golf cart was too much. But the more I looked, the more I raised my budget. I also got some great advice on here and not settling and getting the best one out there for what I needed. Financing helped, the interest rates where low and I paid a lot more every month so that I had it paid off in two years. Doing it that way took all the pain out of it for me since I was enjoying it so much!!!!

If it died tomorrow, I don't think I could survive until I got another!!!

 

[motownbrowne]

I had the same aversion to buying my Mule. I figured a couple of grand for a golf cart was too much. But the more I looked, the more I raised my budget. I also got some great advice on here and not settling and getting the best one out there for what I needed. Financing helped, the interest rates where low and I paid a lot more every month so that I had it paid off in two years. Doing it that way took all the pain out of it for me since I was enjoying it so much!!!!

If it died tomorrow, I don't think I could survive until I got another!!!

That's about what everyone with a UTV that I've ever talked to says about them.

They sure aren't cheap, but they do look handy. I wish someone would trade me one for my Wrangler, but for now, the Jeep does UTV duty on the farm. One benefit is that I can drive it into town to fill it up instead of lugging cans around.

 

[ultrarunner]

Eddie... do you have the 3 cylinder gas engine in yours?

Apparently Kawasaki and Deere use the same third party engine made in China on some of their product.

Probably going to look at the 825i Sunday...

Already asked about the upgraded CV joints and was told yes and it is licensed to drive on California roads...

 

[RollingsFarms]

The reason used prices are so high is because you are seeing how the game is played with new ones. Yeah that advertised price looks good, sounds even better, but you haven't even begun to have all the fees tacked on....and no they won't wave them and yes they don't care if you walk out the door. The best time to buy is honestly when a model year end change over is going on, but be quick because they will not last long like cars and trucks do. That's how I got an extra rebate on my Ranger 570 camo for the exact same price as a next model year without camo.

 

[ultrarunner]

The ones I have been interested at Dealers are all 2015 year models.

Looks like they will have them for quite awhile is my guess.

The $1800 "Build" fee is what I find astonishing... of course they are under no obligation to sell and can ask what they want.

It was not all that long ago there were no registration/off road requirements for private property farm use in my State.

This 2013 Gator 825i sure is clean... 14 hours and one owner garage kept... but $11700 plus tax and DMV puts it at nearly 13k

 

[EddieWalker]

Are you going to use it on your own land? Why do you have to pay anything to the DMV? Do you have an ag exemption on your place in Washington? I grow pine trees for timber, so I don't have to pay tax on anything I buy for the land.

 

[RollingsFarms]

I had to pay set up and all sorts of bogus fees for a unit that was already assembled and sitting on the showroom floor. I do know that Deere doesn't charge all those fees. Yeah they're more expensive to begin with usually but the only thing you pay is tax (unless you get ag exempt), you don't pay set up feed and all that. I've noticed that's mainly "power sports" dealers that do that.