Just bought it...comments

[Terhune]

I purchased a Kawasaki Mule 3010 diesel 4WD today in the dark red color. Will be picking it up on Tuesday or Wednesday (my dealer had to pick it up at another dealer). I am open to any comments good or bad but I would like to hear from forum members as to their likes and dislikes. Thanks for any information that you can give me. Fire away!!

 

[cat2]

Welcome to the forum, don't worry the mule is good. Have fun trying to wait that long to get it. I no I had to go threw that

 

[Spiveyman]

Welcome to TBN! We have a wealth of opinions, so you've come to the right place to ask. I've been looking for a utility vehicle as well. I do like the mules, I don't think you can go wrong there - depending on what you want to use it for. One thing I like about the Gator is the capacity in the bed, but they seem sluggish to me. I really like the Arctic Cat's they have at BassPro, but they are pricey.

When you get it, don't forget to get it dirty, and don't forget to get PICS!!!

 

[TWO GUNS]

Congrat on your new toy !!!

I have heard some great things about these machines, a dear close friend of mine has one, and he talks highly of it. He uses his on his farm. So enjoy this new machine, don't believe you have anything to worry about !!!!!

 

[TWO GUNS]

Congrats on your new toy !!!

I have heard some great things about these machines, a dear close friend of mine has one, and he talks highly of it. He uses his on his farm. So enjoy this new machine, don't believe you have anything to worry about !!!!!

 

[Skipholiday]

Mules are awesome..

Congrats~!

 

[weldingisfun]

We have a 3010 Trans 4 gas and love it. use it every day. Never had a problem with it.
You will love yours. Enjoy it.

 

[Spiveyman]

Alright, it's been TWO WHOLE days! We need to see some pics of that Mule making light of a mud whole somewhere!

So once you get it broken in, let us know how is goes. I've driven a diesel Gator (roped cattle out of the bed of it) and it was a little sluggish when you hit the fuel. Is yours gas or diesel? Does it have good acceleration? Speed? Power? Do you find the size of bed to be sufficient?

I need to get something like this for my farm, but can't afford it yet. I'm hoping for a decent tax refund towards one, so I want to learn what I can about the different brands. Granted, most people don't rope Longhorns from the bed of their utility vehicle, so the speed and agility I'm looking for may not be universal to the utility vehicle community.

Later.

 

[Terhune]

Spiveyman

Don't have it yet. Hope to pick it up on Tuesday. You have raised a couple of good questions. How do you break one in (diesel)...easy or just run it like you stole it. I have never owned a diesel "anything" before so I know very little about them. It is a 3 cylinder and 953 cubic inches so the power should be there and info says 25 mph top speed which is fast enough for me in a hayfield, gravel road or anywhere else. It does have good acceleration....had to tell my wife to slow down in the dealer parking lot. The bed seems to be a good size compared to the Artic Cat that I was going to purchase but that decision changed in a matter of minutes after seeing the Mule and driving it and the Mule quality and strength is way over the head of the Artic Cat in my opinion. I was one hours drive from getting the Artic Cat on that day so I think it is an excellent choice as well but the Mule just "fit" what my wife and I were looking for due to size of bed and the diesel and of course the grandkids have to have plenty of room.
Now.......as far as affording it.....well that ain't going to happen....but I'll make a few payments and get it paid off early. Did I mention that it is a Xmas gift, birthday gift, anniversary gift, grocery gift (eat hotdogs for a while) for the next couple of years.
If a longhorn is gonna run....I can't picture him running at 25 mph for very long so put the rope on him when he slows down to 15 mph and your day is done. With the power of the Mule you can drag him to the barn. Thanks for the response and I am still open to any and all comments from anyone. thanks JIM from Kentucky

 

[Terhune]

One more thing Spiveyman....I can take pictures and load them on the computer but dang if I know how to put them on this forum. My knowledge of the computer on a scale of 1 to 10 is about a 4 but I'm learning!!! Retired art teacher NOT a computer teacher.


thanks again JIM in Ky.

 

[tommu56]

Terhune

here is the link by Grrr about posting it..

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/photos/107314-photo-posting-how.html

tom

 

[Spiveyman]

OK, duh on the "I don't have it yet" thing. I knew that. Just got antsy for you. I bought a FEL for my tractor and waited forever for them to get it in, then waited foreverX3 to get the digging teeth in. So, I feel your pain.

I've never test driven anything except the gator. I usually spend 30 min sitting on an Arctic Cat every time we go to a Bass Pro shop, but never so much as turned over the engine. There's a place that sells Kawasaki's just outside of Lexington, so that's way closer if we decide to get one of those as well. I'll PM you (that's Private Message) when we do get ready to pull the triger, I'd like some info on the dealer you got yours from. Maybe you could even get a referral kick back or something. Who knows. Anyway, I'm glad to hear the direct comparrison between the Arctic Cat and Mule. Acceleration is important to me because the Longhorns may not run at 25 mph long, but they also don't run in a straight line, they zig and zag like crazy without a hazer. Running them down a fence line is dangerous because they are part deer and will flat foot a 6' fence at the slightest inkling. It is blast though when you rope one. The first time my pardner forgot to dally off the rope, so when I slammed on the brakes the bull yanked him right over the ROPS and drug him half way across the field before he finally let go. Wish we'd had that on film.

I hear you on the hotdogs Vs. Mule trade off. I'm PB&J'ing it for the next two decades to help pay for the toys, uh... I mean "necessary farm implements" on my wish list. Actually, I even cut out the jelly, I'm a hard core miser when I have my sights set on something I want to buy. Be careful, my list had about 3 things on it when I logged on to TBN that fateful day in July. After a few hundred posts and a few thousands reads, my list would make Santa jealous. The good folk here at TBN are really good at helping you spend you money. That's one of the by-laws I believe.

If you haven't yet, check out that thread by Grrr on posting pics. Attaching to TBN isn't too bad. When you get really bold check out Photobucket That's a great way to post thumbs that people can click. That way even low bandwidth folks can see small versions of the pics, then choose which to click. If you have any questions figuring it out PM me or email me. I married an art teacher here in KY, so I have experience teaching art teachers how to do stuff on the computer.

 

[Milo]

Spiveyman

.....It is a 3 cylinder and 953 cubic inches so the power should be there and info says 25 mph top speed which is fast enough for me in a hayfield, gravel road or anywhere else. It does have good acceleration....had to tell my wife to slow down in the dealer parking lot.....

It's *Tuesday* !

Curious, does Kawasaki make the diesel engine? Also does anyone know if the diesel Kawasaki used about 5 years ago is the same as the current one?

 

[Terhune]

Milo

I was told who made the diesel engine while I was talking to the dealer but I do not remember the name....sorry. Someone on this board mentioned that it is the same diesel that is used in the JD Gators. All I know is that I got the tires dirty yesterday (not muddy)...wife likes the clean look for now. The diesel engine runs as smooth as turkey, dressing and mashed taters (gravy too)! This is my first UTV so I am new to the market and am curious as to this being the engine that was used 5 years ago. This thing sure looks and runs like it is top of the line....very quiet and powerful and the overall physical look of the Mule is quality and built to last. JIM

 

[Spiveyman]

...wife likes the clean look for now.

That's all well and good on the first day, but after that it's gonna need some mud or the other Mules around will think it's a sissy. Seriously, if your wife breaks out the wax, you'll have to put a stop to that.

Just kidding of course, I appreciate people who take good care of their stuff. On that engine, are they made my Yanmar? I looked at the new Gators and a Kubota UTV yesterday (shopping for a chainsaw, and they had them in the store) and I thought that's what the guy said. I wasn't paying too much attention since I'm not buying one soon, and the orange Kubota was blinding me.

 

[darkday]

Yanmar makes all the diesels for the gator that I know of.

 

[Dmace]

My local Kawasaki dealer told me that Daihatsu makes the diesel engine for the Kawasaki's and Kawasaki makes all their own gas engines which JD uses. The John Deere website lists their Gator gas engine as 286 cc (9.5 hp), air-cooled, single cylinder, 4-cycle Kawasaki gasoline engines. Seen here.

 

[Terhune]

The more I read the more I learn so keep the info comming. The gas engine in the Mule that I drove was a V-twin made by Kawasaki. Seemed to have plenty of power but not like the diesel. I hope I heard the dealer correctly when he said V-twin on gas models. If not....I extend an apology to you.

Spiveyman...........I ride a 03 Goldwing motorcycle and I keep it looking good so I don't mind a little wax on the Mule....... till it gets muddy!!!

JIM in Ky.

 

[RollTideRam]

John Deere products for homeowners: Features for XUV 620i 4x4

This is the xuv gator, a little bigger engine than the 286cc model. JC