Farm UTV's.....Mule or Ranger...or other?

[John_Mc]

I put a mild lift kit on the Mule and some more agressive Essex Manufacturing Kevlar tires on it. I should have saved my money and possible future issues with the drive train. It is only so marginally better in snow, it wasn't worth it. Six inches of melting spring snow and this thing is done! 4WD and Rr Def lock. You look at the conditions and can't believe this thing isn't going anywhere! Just sayin!

chains?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Maybe not a bad idea. Never even considered it. But, another thing to do, TWICE a year.

 

[John_Mc]

Maybe not a bad idea. Never even considered it. But, another thing to do, TWICE a year.

Studded chains make a huge difference when driving in snow and ice. If you can find them for your tire size, the diamond pattern (sometimes called "Euro-style" chains) provide great traction (lateral as well as forward traction) - much better than the ladder style chains.

Taking them off takes seconds: unhook the clasps and drive away.

With the right technique, It takes me 10 minutes per wheel to get them on my rear tractor tires - but those chains probably weigh 70# each. I'm guessing doing your Mule would be closer to chaining up my garden tractor, due to the smaller size and lighter weight of the chains. I could do that in less than 5 minutes per wheel - but I haven't done it in a while, since I just leave them on year round now.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I would bet, that an old 2wd VW bug has more snow capability than the Mule. I thought by getting some ground clearance, it would help, but that clearly wasn't the biggest issue. Also, in 4wd on ice or hardpacked snow, that thing is all over the road. Reminds me of my dads 79 CJ 7. You couldn't drive it on a hard snow packed highway in 4wd, it was just squirrely (sp?). Maybe just the short wheelbase.

Would be nice to try chains without committing to the expense.

 

[Jackball]

I would bet, that an old 2wd VW bug has more snow capability than the Mule. I thought by getting some ground clearance, it would help, but that clearly wasn't the biggest issue. Also, in 4wd on ice or hardpacked snow, that thing is all over the road. Reminds me of my dads 79 CJ 7. You couldn't drive it on a hard snow packed highway in 4wd, it was just squirrely (sp?). Maybe just the short wheelbase.

Would be nice to try chains without committing to the expense.

+++++++++++++++++
My Mule DX Pro has not been lifted and has 12 ply tires for rocky and sandy surfaces. I kept the stock tires because the dealer offered me $100 for them.

The after market wheels and tires look great and function good in summer. They are terrible in snow and with my Boss V plow I needed to find traction.

Last summer I was searching for small truck snow tires. The cost of new wheels with the tires would have been another $1500. I thought I would try the factory tires, I had nothing to lose. To my surprise they worked fine this winter in the snow and I was able to use the power V plow with success.

It's my belief the tires you purchased may be more useful in muddy environment.

I've attached a photo of my "bad" tires not suitable in snow.

 

[Industrial Toys]

My tires are more of an Ag tractor design. There was a more aggressive version, but I don't want to be driving around on tractor tires all year. All these UTVs have tire size that is a joke, for any kind of snow. That is the problem, plain and simple! When will someone build an ATV with REAL wheels?

You can put very expensive track kits on these, but who wants to take that on and off? I have a friend that is a mechanic at a ski club where they have various ATVs with tracks. The tracks DESTROY the drivetrain!

 

[ArlyA]

For real snow capabilities, only pods with flotation with get you where you need to be. :thumbsup: Cost? Cheap if you get your tired machine stuck..... :laughing:

 

[Industrial Toys]

Reminds me of when I came accross this.

When you try and make a silk purse out of a sows ear!

I'm still kind of looking for some kind of commercial snow machine.

Not that it's commercial, but did anyone ever put tracks on a Polaris 6 wheeler, between the two rear wheels?

I was considering getting one (years Ago) until I realized there was no Def back there. Hard in turf!

 

[Tennsawdust]

I don't believe so, one it's getting hard to find the old MB series in any kind of shape, even the CJ series is getting scarce in the rust country.
And #2 even when I was young and CJ's were new I would not have called them easy to get into, with that tiny foot well opening.
#3 it would take quite the flotation tire to get the flotation to weight, which then is going to be sticking way out past the body and throwing mud and manure all over when slogging thru such.
#4 many of those had a standard transmission, which I like for most applications and times. A utility vehicle is not one of them. A clutch would get totally abused following along behind a cow/calf pair being moved gently at her own pace. And imagine jumping out to get a gate or to turn an animal the correct direction and have anyone available move that vehicle, wife, neighbor, grand kid.
#5 fuel economy the jeep will never match a mule.
#6 physical size, the jeep can't turn with a mule.
#7 the mule will rut soft fields much less.
#8 around here with a SMV hanging off the tailgate or headache rack I can use the road a bit with no issues and no license requirements if a 14 yr old is operating in my presence.
#9 in the same vein no bull crap about annual safety inspections, registration, license plates as it's a farm vehicle.

And thats just a few of my reasons,
you can have your jeep.
I have had jeeps, scouts and even an FJ-40 they had and have there place.

If someone wants an MB the closest thing would be the Mahindra ROXOR. It is essentially a CJ3. Manual transmission only though.

 

[grsthegreat]

If someone wants an MB the closest thing would be the Mahindra ROXOR. It is essentially a CJ3. Manual transmission only though.

that looks like a totalknockoff of the old cj series with diesel engines. Never knew that existed