Barebones Mule or your Suggestions

[jinman]

Eddie, what you are going through is normal and a bit frustrating. You have to decide on what is your baseline and then go from there. I was darn close to buying the EZ-Go Workhorse from my New Holland dealer before I started looking around. I quickly decided I needed something more. I definitely would say that you should consider the 4010 because it is a larger machine and will meet every need you have for many years. You might find you are limited with the 610 or RTV500. The noise of the RTV900 is a very real problem. Even the Mule is pretty loud, but speaking with riders is also very easy as you experienced when you drove our 3010. Just hang in there until you decide and then go with your gut feeling. You are the only one you have to please.

 

[beppington]

The Mule 610 may be too lightweight for you, a dude that operates very heavy machinery. They're tough for their size/ weight/ power, but they aren't what I'd call indestructible.

 

[beppington]

You are the only one you have to please.

Actually, he & his mom, if I remember reading correctly. :thumbsup:

 

[DIXIEDOG]

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

I'm a bit biased but I think the 2 cylinder fuel injected Kubota RTV 500 is worth the extra $$ up front. I bought one last March and I love it, it does so much more than I expected it's not even funny. It's a little work horse for sure, alot of guys say how gutless they are, how loud they are, how slow they are....but I haven't had any of those issues. My RTV 500 is quiet, when I mash the go pedal in low I spin the tires, I don't care to go over 25 anyway because I use mine in rough terrain or hauling alot of weight. It's been a great purchase, I haven't had a single issue that required a repair yet. I just get on it and go.:thumbsup:

 

[westcliffe01]

Eddie, I would second the KEI truck.

Very civilized, heating, windshield wipers, smooth as silk, weather protection (dust, rain, wind, bugs, rodents etc)... Will beat everything else out there for reliability.

Buy a basic model for less than $5k and add on whatever you want, dump bed, fat tires, camo etc etc. Dressed up a little, they don't have to look so prissy.

Keith

When I went through this a few years ago I wanted 4WD and a nice size bed and nothing in the mule size fit my needs plus they were over 10K.
I went with the mini trucks from Japan a 4WD unit with a nice size bed for 3K. Since I purchased it I have abused that thing every way I can and she still starts up and runs like a Swiss watch.

Best money I ever spent.

This is what I mean when I say MINI truck:
All Terrain Mini Trucks - Japanese Kei Mini Trucks - Mini Truck Direct Importers

 

[timswi]

Eddie,

Dixie is right about this. I had an RTV500. It is very quiet, and once Kubota worked out the servo and max RPM adjustment issues, they run very well...25-30MPH max, but that's what they do. It is a little tank compared to what I looked at at the time, and there is absolutey nothing wrong with any of the others. I liked the 4x4 and diff locks are on the dash for heavy use, and every other control makes absolute sense. Take one for a ride and see what you think.

It grabbed attention everywhere I took it, others really liked the the layout and styling. I'm talking hard core ATV and UTV guys.

Keep in mind that they run best at full operating temperature. So if you run one stone cold, it wont have the 'nads that are normally there. So go for a test drive longer than 5 minutes.

Steel bed and a very stout frame makes it a nice work and general cruising machine. If I didn't have fond memories, I wouldn't have posted.

(737pilot and I had some issues, but we were a couple of the first buyers of these in 2008. The problems had to do with tuning issues that Kubota has figured out. We handled them ourselves...No big deal once we knew how to deal with them)

As far as Kubota requiring insurance. They cover full replacement if you flip it and destroy it or if something else bad happens. Most other insurance is somewhat pro-rated, so it's actually a peace of mind thing and very reasonably priced from what I've found. I have it on my RTV1100. It also covers on and off property, which most homeowner riders generally don't cover.

Can't beat the finacing either. Used it on my BX23, RTV500 and the RTV1100. No hassle at all.

I have nothing to do with Kubota by the way..They just have a ton of my money at this point.

In addition, a tank of gas lasts FORVER...I think it's every bit as economical as both of my diesels.

Maintenance is a very DIY job too..No need for a dealer in that respect. General hand tools and a little mechanical ability, that's all.

The only reason I don't have it anymore is that I needed HVAC for my daughter. In reality I liked the size of the 500 better than the the 1100 I have now.

 

[doall]

Eddie I have nothing against the Mules, but I think you would be cheating yourself if you didn't test drive a ranger. The ride is so much smoother than the others and they will out haul or tow the others. But there is certainly nothing wrong with a mule or a rhino.

 

[Unregistered2013]

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 don't find my 900 loud at all -- really --

i found the 500 to be way overpriced for a gasser engine -- just me though -- it's too lightweight, and lacks features, like hyd dump-bed, etc.

 

[EddieWalker]

Made a big mistake today. I went back to the Kawasaki dealer and asked what the 4010 runs for. They said $9,199 for the single seat, and $9,999 for the Trans Mule with two bench seats.

I really liked the Trans Mule. I like how it's set up, all the storage it has and that power steering is REALLY NICE!!! It's my dream machine. With $2,000 down, payments are $180 a month for 5 years with the roof added on to it as my only add on.

2011 Mule? 4010 Trans4x4® Mule - Kawasaki.com

Eddie

 

[wlwells@yahoo.com]

My wife and I were thinking about buying a golf cart, until I looked at a Mule 610. We thought it was great, but after 8 months of riding our 2 kids we found it was a little crowded. I then found a used 3010 Transmule, at the same dealer that we bought the 610! We traded the 610 in on the 3010 Transmule and are very pleased with it. The only things we wished our Transmule had are power steering and engine braking. Also more time to ride would be nice. It seems this year work, and the kids starting school makes less time for riding.