Mule 610 vs Rhino or hold out for RTV?

[Boondox]

First of all, it comes down to those three because the local dealers I trust sell them. Other makes might be fine, but the dealers in my area have really bad reputations and I refuse to go there.

Next, my needs: I have 155 acres of hardwood forest and heat with wood. I get enough blowdowns that my firewood needs could easily be met IF I had a way of bringing the wood out of the forest. I have a logging winch on my L4630, but the density of the forest prevents me from reaching most of the downed trees. I can reach them just fine with my Honda Foreman 400 ATV, but its carrying capacity is so low with racks front and rear that harvesting a tree takes all weekend. A side-by-side ute with a dump bed would be perfect for manuevering between trees and bringing home the stuff.

I also raise sheep, so the ability to haul hay or waste material is also important. Again, the dump bed would be perfect. And, since my golden retrievers like to ride with me, a side-by-side would give them their own seat so I didn't have to struggle to drive with 85# of squirming gun dog in my lap.

Plus the usual chores like gathering fallen branches, leaves, spreading compost and lime or fertilizer...all without tearing up the turf AND without breaking the bank -- which is why the lower priced gasoline alternatives are so attractive.

I've driven them all. The RTV would last forever but is overkill for my needs. The Rhino rides nicer, but is sportier. I think the Mule would handle everything I ask of it, but know next to nothing about Kawasaki's reliability.

Any input? TIA, Pete

 

[Deaf]

No way would I go with a rhino for working. I have read tons of things about them being sporty and not very reliable with the worst case burning oil after 100 hours. The 610 should work but it lacks down hill braking and has weak brakes. I would suggest looking at a larger mule.

 

[Boondox]

Thanks, Deaf. (Love the name, by the way!)

I just test drove all three machines plus the 3010 Mule. The only one that really impressed me was the RTV. It felt incredibly smooth and solid, and the hydro tranny just couldn't be beat. The only drawback is it won't fit in the bed of my Chevy.

The Rhino and both Mules felt tinny by comparison, with their CVTs feeling a lot like the centrifugal clutches on the mini bikes that were popular in my childhood. And I didn't like having to actually use the brakes to stop.

Ah well, must save more money. Pete

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

The Rhino's engine has technical aspects that date back to the 1976 TT500 engine. Although it has been enlarged, 4 valves, and water cooled. I would recommend checking the oil level every couple of weeks. They are very dependable and have lots of torque.

Its the suspension and nimbleness is its best asset over everything else.

Our Gator HPX is tough as a tank and drives like one. It's Kawasaki V-twin motor is very cold natured requiring choke with a long warm up period. Time will tell if it is as dependable as the Rhino.

 

[Dargo]

No way would I go with a rhino for working. I have read tons of things about them being sporty and not very reliable with the worst case burning oil after 100 hours.

Not that I'd recommend a Rhino over the RTV, but I do feel obliged to state that this "unreliable" myth perpetuated by non-Rhino owners on the internet is pure bunk. I've owned one for 2 full years and several of my friends have owned them for just as long. None of us has had one single issue with any of them. They have been 100% reliable and bulletproof. Their limitation is their very small bed. However, they will most definitely work with the best of them. I've owned Gators, a Mule, the Rhino and an RTV. With some weight in the bed of the Rhino it will pull as hard as any of the others and has considerbly more power. Again, the bed is small for much work, but from actual experience and seeing the experience of 4 other owners, these "problems" are spoken about mostly by non-Rhino owners.

The RTV does by far have the strongest driveline and the best transmission. All others use the same technology of the Salisbury clutch system that was used in the mid 70's Odysseys and other units before that. The belt drive systems simply are not as strong nor as smooth as the hydro unit in the RTV. Actually, I never had any reliability issues at all with any of the UTV's I've owned except my first 6X4 Gator. The Kawasaki engine in it just flat wore out at 1100 hours. But, that was on one of their earlier units and I suspect that they've been improved since then. Even though they are belt drive, I can't see someone wearing out a diesel HPX Gator. My JD dealer tells me that JD is coming out with an "improved" HPX soon. I'm curious what they improved.

 

[nolefan]

Boondox You seem to have a pretty good feel after driving them. I never did test drive a Rhino but did drive the Mule 610 and Ranger XP before deciding to go with the RTV. I initially had the same hesitation as you with thinking that the RTV was overkill for my needs especially since it cost a few thousand more. But after factoring in what came standard on the RTV that were extras on the others I realized that the price difference was not that great. The front brush bar, front and rear receivers, hydraulic bed all are standard on the worksite RTV. For the needs you describe I would think that all three would meet your needs but to varying degrees. Hauling and winching logs would be much easier with the power and torque provided with the RTV's diesel and hydraulic dump bed as well as the larger steel bed. The RTV's added weight may also come in handy when winching. The others will be more "agile" and a little narrower allowing you to squeeze in a few more places the RTV can't and initially they will be less expensive unless you add the features mentioned above. What ever your decision they all have good reputations. I personally would go with the RTV based on your described needs but I am not totally impartial

 

[jinman]

Pete, my opinion is that this should be between the Mule 3010 and the RTV. I don't think the Mule 610 has the guts for hauling much. With our 3010, I pull an 18' utility trailer (empty) with ease in either low or high range.

I'd say your preferred UTV is the RTV, but a fall-back to the Mule 3010 if the RTV digs too big a hole in your pocketbook.

In 250 hours, our Mule 3010 has been troublefree with the exception that it has developed the nasty habit of not wanting to come out of differential lock or 4wd. When it does release, it makes a "clunk" and I don't like it. It's probably just an adjustment, but it does need to be checked.

We bought our Mule before the RTV was available or we would probably be driving orange even if it is $1500 to $2000 more. It's hard to say too much bad about the RTV even though I like several features of the Mule much better (storage, seats, available add-ons, larger cage, etc).

 

[bigdeer2000]

my rhino is a 2004 model and has been very reliable only service has been oil and filter changes.haven't used it for heavy work but i feel sure that it would haul a bed load of firewood. also have rtv it is the work horse.have a 8x8 heavy chain field drag i use on food plots.had a 2510 mule it would barely pull it in 4wd low rtv pulls it easily in 2wd medium range

 

[Coastline]

I would definitly go with the RTV. You said it was overkill but, like my Dad always said better to much than not enough.

 

[darkday]

Ok, Ill try this again.

In my opinion the RTV is the way to go, it is definitly the most powerful UTV to my knowlege and it will last a long time. If you look a couple threads down there's a new gator coming out that's supposed to be competing against the RTV might be something to look into if you're going to be waiting until next year anyway.

As far as the rhino is concerned I'm going to have to disagree with dargo on the reliability. Not saying it isn't stout but there's plenty of evidence to show the oil consumption is a real problem along with other things. I haven't really kept tabs on it but check here UtilityOffRoad.com Message Board - Rhino Tech & Mods

The real problem that I know of is the oil consumption theres a whole thread full of people just reporting that their rhinos that burn oil, many with around 100 hours. If I know anything about UTVs 100 hours is nothing. I just hit 300 hours yesterday on my 06 HPX that I got in april or may this year. This is the thread: UtilityOffRoad.com Message Board - oil burning rhinos