Barebones Mule or your Suggestions

[Alan L.]

We have a 2003 model Mule 550 which would be very similar. Bought it new for just under $6K and it has about 600 hours on it. Never a minute's problem with it. Its 2 wheel drive, has only about a 10 HP Kawasaki industrial engine in it, and it will only go about 20 mph. Not a whole lot of pulling power, but with the diff lock we have been in some mud holes and up hill mud and have been able to keep from getting stuck. It has a good suspension - front and rear, and handles our rough terrain real well - probably much better than a golf cart.

If you don't need alot of power or speed it is very handy for carrying stuff around and is very fun to putt around the property. We love ours.

 

[Alan L.]

I posted about our mule before reading all of the responses. At the time we go ours the small one was not available in 4 x 4. For $800 I would definitely get the 4wd also.

Good thing about the small mule is you can put it in the back of the pickup. I have ramps and I've done it.

 

[beppington]

I even made the mistake of asking my Mom what she thought about it and if she'd be happy driving it around. She was like a little girl at the idea. Crazy, she's going to be 70 in two months, and she acted like she was 7 years old on Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!...

My 67 y.o. mom is the same way! She BEGS me to bring mine over so we can "Go mulin'". When I do she says, "I could just do this all day!"

 

[KentT]

If nothing changes, I'm planning on buying the Mule 610 4x4 this week. I even made the mistake of asking my Mom what she thought about it and if she'd be happy driving it around. She was like a little girl at the idea. Crazy, she's going to be 70 in two months, and she acted like she was 7 years old on Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE IT.

Eddie

Eddie, I think you'll be glad you went 4x4 at some point. I agree with your Mom that this is likely a good choice for your uses...

If you'd been interested in a bit more play to go with the utility, I'd have recommended either the small Ranger or the Rhino 450. They have the clearance, suspension and wheel travel to play in places like this:

 

[jinman]

If nothing changes, I'm planning on buying the Mule 610 4x4 this week. I even made the mistake of asking my Mom what she thought about it and if she'd be happy driving it around. She was like a little girl at the idea. Crazy, she's going to be 70 in two months, and she acted like she was 7 years old on Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!! LOVE IT.

Eddie

Eddie, I think your mother has every reason to be excited. I can't imagine not having our Mule. We use it constantly. The only way your choice of a 610 Mule 4x4 could be improved is if they made the engine fuel injected like the 4010. Even so, we have never had a problem with our 3010's carb in over 6 years. I would recommend that you find a source for non-ethanol added fuel. Ours sure seems to run better with 100% gasoline.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Eddie,

I may be a little late in replying but I think the 610 with 4x4 is a good decision. The mule is a little light in the rearend and you will need the 4x4 in some instances.

I would like to add one more thought for you to consider. I have a 3010 Trans Mule and it has performed very well for my needs. I usually have the rear seat folded up for more bed room but also use it to drive prople around the property. It is great to be able to ride 4 people around. My mother-in-law is 86 and she loves to ride in the back seat around the property. And if it is you, a friend, your dad and mother it would be easy to ride 4 people to the lake in one vehicle and a picnic lunch and chairs in the bed.

 

[RavensRoost]

Eddie, too bad you are not in Phoenix: 2008 610 (?) for $5200.

2008 Kawasaki Mule 4X4

 

[beppington]

Eddie ... Something else to consider:

If your mom leans more toward being a "girly-woman", like mine, (certainly nothing wrong with that!) she may like an electric golf cart better than a Mule. More Cadillac-like. The Mule's R-N-H-L shifting isn't Cadillac easy; It requires use of the manual choke knob to start; Has a little exhaust note to it; Steering requires some effort, especially tight turns; Brakes aren't very good, gotta push real hard.

Electric golf carts are obviously super-quiet, steer very easily, no choke of course, no exhaust sound of course ... Just turn the key to "on" & press the go pedal. I myself don't want an electric golf cart, but they are certainly easier to handle/ drive than a Mule.

When I mentioned my mom loving to go for rides on my Mule, she loves riding, not driving it.

By the way, you may be surprised how robust golf carts are!! My friend has a '94 gas Club Car cart his dad gave him about 10 years ago; He's mis-treated/ abused that thing since day 1, off-roading it, loading it with 5 people, never doing any maintenance whatsoever, & the thing still runs & goes anywhere/ everywhere. He takes it everywhere I take my Mule. I still wouldn't even think about trading it for my Mule; Just saying they're much tougher than I ever thought they'd be.

 

[Jimbrown]

I have a Mule and a cart. The wife likes the cart because it super simple to drive. I put gas in it about 3 times a year at most.

The mule was bought to work and does realy well I can drive fence line and repair fence ect with no problem. We bout the 3010 trans just thave more seat room for the dogs that always want to go.

 

[EddieWalker]

I went and looked at the Kubota RTV 500 today. It's $8,500 and has a two cylinder 450 cc engine, compared to the 610 mule with the 400 cc single cylinder engine. The RTV has a hydrostatic transmission and the Mule doesn't. Is that worth the extra money?

The big thing that got me was Kubota has five year, 0% financing. With $2,000 down, I'd be paying $111 per month, which is just crazy. The salesman said that Kubota requires insurance on everything that it finances, and that it would run aroub ten dollars more per month. Still pretty cheap, and the insurance covers theft, fire, flood and a list of other things. It's good on my land, or someplace that I may take it. Sounds like good insurance and teh price is right, but it's still an extra.

I also looked at the RTV 900 4x4 diesel. I liked it, but thought it was a bit too high in the air. Its huge, but the bench seat has a lump in it so that seating for three is dificult. Everything about it was impressive, and at $10,700 it was a bit pricey. For that, they offer 0% for four years.

Unfortunately for the diesel, it's extremly loud. Painfully loud. I hated how loud it was and the salesman said that to talk, you have to turn off the engine. I hate loud, so if I went that route, I'd have to do something about that noise.

I'm now second guessing myself on the Mule 4010 4x4. Will that extra size and features be something that I'd appreciate and use? Twice as much cargo weight over the 610 and a water cooled, fuel injected 3 cylinder gas engine over a one cylinder and a carbarator? The 4010 also has power steering, but it's over nine grand for all that fun stuff.

I'm starting to confuse myself.

Eddie