Barebones Mule or your Suggestions

[EddieWalker]

For the past several months, I've been looking to buy a Mule or gas golf cart with a bed in the back for hauling stuff around. I like the small size of the golf carts and how low they are to the ground. I've seen quite a few sell for just under $3,000 to almost $4,000 with a thousand or more hours on them. I've also looked at Kawasaki Mules that are 7 to ten years old for that amout up to $6,000 depending on featurs and hours.

After looking at so many used and abused vehicles, I've reached the conclusion that I should look at brand new and maybe finance part of it.

Kawasaki has a basic, two wheel drive Mule 600 for $6,400. It's a sinlge cylinder, 400cc motor with auto transmission and manual lock rear differenctial, manual tilt metal dump bed and a bench seat. I test drove it today and really liked it. Nice enough ride, fast enough and it felt very solid. It's everything I want and then some.

My question is this. Does anybody have a recomendation for something else in this price range or less?

I don't need or want 4wheel drive. I have no reason or desire to go off roding. I don't want to pull anything or work it. I just want to be able to put around my place, and for my Mom to be able to use it to get the mail and maybe drive around on the roads too. She never goes down to the lake, and she will be 70 in a couple of months, so I realy want something that she can drive around easily. Which is why being low to the ground is a big plus.

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Sounds like the Mule will fit the bill, I don't think you can find anything better at less than that price point, the Mules are nice machines and a good value.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks. That's sort of what I was thinking too. They've been doing it awhile and sort of have it all figured out. At least, that's my assumption. LOL

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

The Club Car Carryall looks interesting too.

Commercial 4x2 Utility Vehicles - Club Car

I need to find a price for one and see who sells them.

Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

Looks like the Club Car Carryall is over a grand more then the Kawasaki 600 Mule.


Eddie

 

[jinman]

Eddie, I'm going to strongly suggest you don't go with just 2wd. My neighbor has only 2wd in his Mule and has wished for 4wd constantly after only owning the Mule for 6 months. I have used 4wd on our 3010 Mule twice in the last two weeks for simple things you normally wouldn't think it was needed for. Once was when I was on the slightest slope and the ground was wet. I had just enough clay in the soil that one rear tire spun like it was sitting on a banana peel. One shift to 4wd and drove the Mule 10 feet and shifted back to 2wd. If I hadn't had that, I might have had to push the Mule to get it out. The diff lock doesn't engage instantly like 4wd. You have to drive about 20 feet for the diff lock to engage and by then you may not need it.

Just last week I was pointed down a small slope to our garden and went to back up. The right-rear tire spun and I dropped it into 4wd for just long enough to get back up the hill. The rear end of the Mule is so light that you REALLY REALLY need 4wd just for those short little runs that keep you from getting into trouble. Sure, you can put the Mule into 4wd and climb hills, but the utility of having it just long enough to get out of small irregular terrain is its biggest benefit in my opinion.

I did a quick scan of the Dallas craigslist and found two Mules right away. One was a Mule 4000 2wd with 5 hours for $6900 and another was an '03 3010 4wd with roof, windshield, bedliner, and high grip tires for $6500 asking price. Here are a couple of links.

Mule 4000 2WD

Mule 3010 4WD (the area code is screwed up in this ad, it's 940 instead of 9440)

Here's a Trans model with 4 seats and 4wd. Mule 4010 Trans

Oh yes. . . Here's a 610 4wd model for $6500

I think you will find lots of Mules in the metroplex, but you'll have to drive a little for the best deals.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks Jim. You have me rethinking my views on 2wheel drive versus 4wheel drive. I'm going to check the price difference and take another look.

I had my brothers electric golf cart here for awhile while he was looking for a place to buy, and never had any problems with its ability to go anywhere I wanted. I just hated charging the batteries or dealing with them when they ran low and having to wait for them to charge up again.

I've been searching all over Texas, Oklahoma and Lousiana with StateWideList - Search Craigslist by state and also search craigslist by Canada province It allows you to search Craigslist by keyword in the entire state.

Eddie

 

[gwjd]

John Deere products for homeowners: Features for Gator™ TS 4x2


we have one at work it will get stuck if you push it to far but good for non mud situation. would fit the bill 6400 new maybe less if you haggle and they are tough machines so used would be OK ours at the park has like 2500 hours and that might be a new hour meter simple easy to drive fairly easy on fuel to not sure

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks gwjd.

The Gator has a smaller engine then the Mule and I'm not sure about the rear suspension. The Mule has a coils spring rear suspension that felt pretty stiff, but went over all the bumps and stuff that I could find in the demo area without any issues. It doesn't have a roll cage or a bench seat. Both are on the Mule for a little less money.

It's not a big price difference, and the dealer may be cheaper then the list price, so it might be worth my time to take a look and see what they have to say.

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

This is the one that I looked at. Same color too.

The link lists it for $300 more then what the dealer quoted me he'd sell it to me for.

Kawasaki Mule 600

Eddie