Was looking for a golf cart...bought a Mule

[shooterdon]

With the addition of a 200 yard range, I was looking for a cheap vehicle to run back and forth. I was shocked to see used golf carts in decent condition going for $4000+

Stopped at the local Kawasaki dealer last Friday and they had a sale on SX 4x4 FI Mules...under $7000. Liked having a dump bed. Nice to get a three year warranty. We did about 5 hours of logging road and two track riding over the long weekend. It seemed quieter compared to my buddy痴 570 Polaris...but it is not as fast. But we do not drive fast on those roads anyway.

I was concerned it would tear up the lawn but no issues with that

Will be adding a roof, extra LED lights, folding bench seat that is quick detachable in the bed and a trailer hitch.

Wish I had got the XC with extra clearance but pleased otherwise.

 

[930ck]

With the addition of a 200 yard range, I was looking for a cheap vehicle to run back and forth. I was shocked to see used golf carts in decent condition going for $4000+

Stopped at the local Kawasaki dealer last Friday and they had a sale on SX 4x4 FI Mules...under $7000. Liked having a dump bed. Nice to get a three year warranty. We did about 5 hours of logging road and two track riding over the long weekend. It seemed quieter compared to my buddy痴 570 Polaris...but it is not as fast. But we do not drive fast on those roads anyway.

I was concerned it would tear up the lawn but no issues with that

Will be adding a roof, extra LED lights, folding bench seat that is quick detachable in the bed and a trailer hitch.

Wish I had got the XC with extra clearance but pleased otherwise.

Bought a sx xc a couple weeks ago , have about 10 hrs on it. Got it with a roof and slip in bed liner. Need to get a windshield and would like jump seat also, so far nice for puttering around town but no speedster.

 

[grsthegreat]

After we got the 4010 mule, i sold the gas golf cart we had. Love the mule. Very quiet and dependable. I added the electric/hydraulic bed dump for the wife.

My dog love it also.....just say load up....shes there

 

[dnw64]

I need to put my golf cart up for sale!

I recently replaced my "Yamadog" G2 with 6" lift and ATV tires (a very capable, but tippy feeling rig that my wife really didn't like) with a 6x4 diesel Gator.

I was thinking about listing it for around $1700, and being happy to get $1200-1500.

Maybe I need to up my game...

But if anyone from the forum wants it I'll take the $1200, no haggle deal.

 

[two_bit_score]

I need to put my golf cart up for sale!

I recently replaced my "Yamadog" G2 with 6" lift and ATV tires (a very capable, but tippy feeling rig that my wife really didn't like) with a 6x4 diesel Gator.

I was thinking about listing it for around $1700, and being happy to get $1200-1500.

Maybe I need to up my game...

But if anyone from the forum wants it I'll take the $1200, no haggle deal.

I would like to hear how you like the 6x4 Gator.

 

[shooterdon]

I need to put my golf cart up for sale!

I recently replaced my "Yamadog" G2 with 6" lift and ATV tires (a very capable, but tippy feeling rig that my wife really didn't like) with a 6x4 diesel Gator.

I was thinking about listing it for around $1700, and being happy to get $1200-1500.

Maybe I need to up my game...

But if anyone from the forum wants it I'll take the $1200, no haggle deal.

From the shopping I did, that is a very good deal!!! If I could have found a deal like that, I would not have purchased the Mule.

 

[dnw64]

I would like to hear how you like the 6x4 Gator.

It's amazing. Positives:
*The traction is incredible.
*It has a cargo capacity of 1200# - as much as my full-sized pickup! The only way you could put that much weight in it would be a large stone or block of concrete...
*It has a very low COG - it feels as if you couldn't tip it over unless you drove off a cliff.

So far the three negatives are:
*Low ground clearance.
*In 4WD you essentially lose steering ability.
*The snowmobile style drive system means you lose all engine braking ability at low RPM.

But most importantly, my wife loves it

 

[two_bit_score]

It's amazing. Positives:
*The traction is incredible.
*It has a cargo capacity of 1200# - as much as my full-sized pickup! The only way you could put that much weight in it would be a large stone or block of concrete...
*It has a very low COG - it feels as if you couldn't tip it over unless you drove off a cliff.

So far the three negatives are:
*Low ground clearance.
*In 4WD you essentially lose steering ability.
*The snowmobile style drive system means you lose all engine braking ability at low RPM.

But most importantly, my wife loves it

Thanks! I was wondering about how the 4WD worked on those. Do you actually have 6 wheels pulling in 4WD?

 

[Industrial Toys]

There is no front wheel drive on the 6 wheel gators.

GREAT, simple and robust design but would have it's challenges. Surprised the Military used them actually, unless maybe their options for a domestic rig were limited.

WISH my 2WD Electric Gator had a Diff lock!

 

[two_bit_score]

There is no front wheel drive on the 6 wheel gators.

GREAT, simple and robust design but would have it's challenges. Surprised the Military used them actually, unless maybe their options for a domestic rig were limited.

WISH my 2WD Electric Gator had a Diff lock!

Ok so the 4 rear wheels engage in 4WD, the front don’t. I can see how that would affect steering.

 

[Industrial Toys]

There is only one drive mode. Both rear wheels are chain driven, each side. That arrangement is going to want to go straight. Or also, think of it as the wheels on a tandem trailer skidding around a corner. Not what they want to do.

In that "CLASSIC" Gator Family, it allowed them to keep things simple and have the non front drive, fronts of all three gator models to be the same.

 

[radios1]

there's some decent prices here for trucksters, though. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fr...man.TRS0&_nkw=cushman+truckster&_sacat=181476

 

[grsthegreat]

My mule has either 1 wheel drive (saves lawn) 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive with diff lock.have never gotten it stuck....but have winch in case i do

 

[BobG_in_VA]

We bought the Pro FX EPS a few months ago. Have about 13hrs on it now. the 815CC 3 cyl engine is quiet and strong. Will tow 2000 lbs. I like it. Shrps74

 

[dnw64]

There is only one drive mode. Both rear wheels are chain driven, each side. That arrangement is going to want to go straight. Or also, think of it as the wheels on a tandem trailer skidding around a corner. Not what they want to do.

In that "CLASSIC" Gator Family, it allowed them to keep things simple and have the non front drive, fronts of all three gator models to be the same.

I guess what I have is a differential lock. With the diff open it turns relatively normally. But with the diff locked it really wants to go straight. Boy I can tell you having it locked makes a HUGE difference in traction!

 

[Zebrafive]

Thanks! I was wondering about how the 4WD worked on those. Do you actually have 6 wheels pulling in 4WD?

The drive axle is the forward of the two rear axles. Inside the frame rails is chain drive from each forward axle to the axle behind it. So two loops of chain, 1 on each side. The rear most wheels are each side are on their own independent axle (sort of like a mower blade spindle, wheel/tire on the out side, sprocket on the inside). So when in 2wd, you have the 2 wheels on one side driving (chained together) . When in 4wd, the drive axle is locked, so all four rear wheels drive.


He is correct, they do not steer well when in 4wd, especially in snow, they just want to "plow", go straight.


In the drawing from JD parts, the left axle shown is the powered axle, the right, is chain driven from it. Left side of Gator shown, see direction of travel arrow at bottom

 

[Industrial Toys]

Makes you wonder how they steered with those half tracks in WW II. They had front steering but did they have steering brakes?

 

[dnw64]

So when in 2wd, you have the 2 wheels on one side driving (chained together) . When in 4wd, the drive axle is locked, so all four rear wheels drive.

Very interesting. So if I understand correctly, it IS a 2WD/4WD setup, but contrary to normal thinking, it's 2 on one side rather than 2 on one axle. Based on the nomenclature of the manual "differential lock" I was assuming a conventional differential, driving both sides, with the ability to lock it. I will need to do some observational testing

Makes you wonder how they steered with those half tracks in WW II. They had front steering but did they have steering brakes?

Split brakes would help with an open differential (and would be a good option). But if you have a locked differential split brakes will only halve your braking power.

 

[LouNY]

They have a conventional differential that drives the primary axle with a differential lock.

 

[dnw64]

OK, I just did a real life test.

Mine anyways (MY 2000), has full time 4WD, where L/R pairs have conventional open differential type power.

In "normal" mode all 4 rear wheels have power in the same way/sense that the two rear wheels of a conventional car/truck does. IOW, if one side loses traction you are pretty much dead in the water.

There is a Differential Lock, that, when activated, provides power equally to all 4 rear wheels. This provides a substantial increase in traction at the expense of steering ability.