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Looking at UTV's, anyone own a Kawasaki Mule?
toad67
Member Posts: 13,009 ✭✭✭✭
Anyone own a mule? If so, looking for opinions on them, preferably the pro-fxt eps.
Comments
Never had one of those but I did have a Tote Gote when I was a kid!
Mules are all work if you want to play get a CanAm or a Honda.
I know, and it's tough to find what I want. The mule isn't very sporty, but I'd use it more towards utility, than sport. Basically, something to cruise around the woods with, hauling 2-4 people and dogs. The mule seems fairly adept at trails, but nothing like the Polaris Razor. Open to suggestions.
On the trails Polaris are the most reliable. In Idaho most trails are restricted to 50" wide (bridges are not made wider than that).
I have towed many a can-am back to the trucks. Honda has been lacking in ride comfort because of suspension issues.
Look at what others are riding in your area, Ignore the go fast machines they end up wrecked alongside the trail.
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
Two of my friends at church have Mules. Both are over 5 years old and get a lot of use. Neither one of them has a bad thing to say about their Mules. A farmer near me is on his third one in 15 years. He just bought a new one a couple months ago. He runs the heck of them as he has a large herd of cattle.
All of these are pretty basic models.
Not really looking to do the trails where there is a width restriction, just looking to ride some back roads w/o putting the miles on my pickup. Something for a few people to ride in, as well as haul some dogs with us. Would also use it around the house to pull/haul a sprayer, as well as use it hunting. Looking at this one.
https://www.kawasaki.com/en-us/side-x-side/mule/3-to6-passenger/mule-pro-fxt?cm_re=SUBBRAND-_-MULE:MODELS-_-VIEWMODELS
No experience with the Kawasaki mules. We have run John Deere Gators at the club, hauling clay pigeons, sporting clay machines, etc... Been good machines but we only use the SxS versions. They do make a 4 passenger but I've never used one. Might be worth a look. Bob
In Idaho 70 percent of the state is public owned. All the good trails are restricted to 50 inches as Parks and Recreation builds them 50 inches.
I also go on club rides and they can be 50 to 150 miles in length for a day.
I go to high lakes were maybe 10 people a year can get to those lakes. If the snow is gone and the Moose let you they can be very nice to fish.
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
My friend owns the two seater model. His only complaint is the loud engine noise.i have ridden in it with him and couldn't carry on a conversation.
Other than that, he is very pleased with it.
Polaris ranger, they make 2 & 4 passenger.
and as said above, most are so loud the driver/passenger have to yell at each other, the ranger is quiet enough to talk normally over the engine............ and I own a honda
Where are your local dealers or independent repair shops? This can/will be an issue at some point.
My area is highly agricultural. We have John Deere, Polaris, Can-Am, and Kawasaki dealerships plus a couple of 'we work on anything shops'. I've owned 100% Polaris for the past 40 years and have been generally satisfied with their machines. Aftermarket accessories are abundant and even the newer ones aren't terrible to DIY maintenance.
Toad, I am right where you are. I have been looking for a SxS for the past couple of weeks and done many comparisons from various brands. Based on consumer satisfaction in my area, WNC it seems the Polaris wins out in all aspects. Durability, reliability, longevity, quality for price, & parts & service availability.
Deciding to purchase the Polaris, I decided on the model, Ranger 1000. It has 45hp which would allow it to also tow a small trailer and has a 1500lb capacity & of course is 4x4. With that said I started checking websites and found several dealers in my area with this model listed and in stock around the $14,000, range. Seems they are all using the bait & switch method. They only list the base price of the machine with no accessories which they do not have. All have accessories they have added and must be added onto the base price. Most then became in the $25,000, range. Looking around I have found several used, '20 ~ '23 models with as much or more accessories in the $12 ~ $15,000 range. So tomorrow morning I will be driving just north of Atlanta to look at a '21 model for $13,000. If it meets my expectations, it will be here tomorrow afternoon.
I have bought used Polaris ATV and UTV models in the past with good results. I have very high standards for a machine as I do not want to walk back to the truck 50 miles away.
I change belts every other year, do not run the stock tires (or any Chinese brand) .
I go over any used machine with a fine toothed comb.
Margaret Thatcher
"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
Mark Twain
The USAF has been using them for years to patrol base perimeters. They are reliable.
Mike Whiskey is giving you good advice. Polaris Ranger sounds like the machine you are looking for. You may check out the midsize ranger also. I owned a midsize two seater before trading to a Polaris General. I rode trails, deer hunted and hauled a little firewood in it and it is much more capable than you would think. The Kawasaki mule is a good UTV but they seem to be oriented a little more towards being a straight work machine.
' All have accessories they have added and must be added onto the base price. Most then became in the $25,000, range.'
correct^^
After my 10 year old Ranger was destroyed in the 11/2/22 fire, I was looking for a replacement. Insurance agent said 'replacement cost of similar make/model' was covered. I accepted that and went to my closest Polaris dealer who had a new Ranger 1000 with power steering & hard cab on hand. The hard cab, windshield, doors w/roll up windows, grill guard w/winch were all added features. I/we also opted for a heater and windshield wiper (also extra cost). Final out the door price was just under $25K.
There was a 2 year old Kawasaki MULE with hard top and windshield showing minimal use and 2xx miles on the clock for $11,500. Very utilitarian but also a dependable lightly used specimen.
I allowed myself to be swayed by the amenities the Polaris offered and spent the $25K but discovered later that the insurance agent had mislead me/us and the burnt Ranger had ZERO fire loss coverage.
Current c-list offerings of 1-4 year old Rangers are in the $15-25K range.
We just bought a 2023 Mule, because we couldn't find a used one anywhere. It is the XLG bed, because we have four dogs over 100 lbs that NEED to go on a ride every day! :) I forget the exact model, but it looks like the one you posted, just not 4 doors.
Yes, NEED! :)
My wife takes them all over the place here at the ranch. It has been a good machine so far. It has 66 hours on it right now, had 1 when we bought it.
I'm building a kayak rack for it, so she can just take one kayak to the lake, instead of pulling the whole trailer full.
It has been great so far. Was about $23k out the door, I think.
Merc
I switched to Polaris Ranger and am very happy with it so far.
I have a Kubota 900 UTV. It hauls everything with no problem. I also use it to plow our long driveway with a 6 ft. Boss V plow. It pushes even the heavy snow without any problem.
another thing to consider is top speed, the Polaris ranger is 'governed' at 50 mph. nice if you have to 'road trip' someplace.
We have owned the Gator for 2 months now.... We are really happy with it so far....
Kawasaki mule is a WORK HORSE! If you just want ride quality and speed, the Polaris is hard to beat. For a work vehicle, the mule is hard to beat! I had used both for years. I'm sure the Kubota is a work horse too, but I have zero exp with it.
The older 'botas' were underpowered and slow. I think the newer ones are improved.
Neighbor has a JD Gator. Golly it's LOUD. I can hear him running up the highway 4 miles away. Cousin just bought a used Gator. Apparently older farmer had 2(one for farm chores and one for wife's yard chores) and traded both in. Cousin bought the yard work Gator. Seems to be working out for him.
I'm ok with my new Ranger 1000 but I preferred the gearing of my mid-size 800. The 800 had issues was cooling capacity--designed for running 30-40 mph rather than dogging along at 5-10mph(fixed that with a manual fan control).
One item to keep in mind: Polaris has a 'rated load capacity'. This is based on the bare weight of the unit. Adding accessories cuts this load limit. Mine has the hard cab/doors and grill guard w/winch. This is approximately 300-400# of added dead weight. Overloading leads to early failure of A-arm bushings and other suspension parts.
Whatever you wind up with make sure you can mount a plow or preferably a snowblower on it.
Well, the Polaris 1000, found its way to my home today. Was a long drive to pick it up, but made it home just before the storms started here in WNC. Pic tomorrow.
Some of the "other brands" have caught up to the Japanese brands recently, and I don't have much experience with those modern units.
I worked as a mechanic at a Kawasaki dealership for quite a few years. From that standpoint, the Mules are pretty bulletproof.
Couple of pics of the Polaris I purchased yesterday.
NICE !