Barebones Mule or your Suggestions

[Bird]

An electric lift that's under $700 that works, but isn't very heavy duty. And a hydraulic lift that is very good will run $1,100.

I'm not sure what he paid, but my brother had a dealer install the electric lift on his Mule. I've forgotten exactly how long the bed was on his Mule, but my B2710 had a 54" bucket on the FEL, so my brother drilled two holes through a piece of plywood and through the front corners of the Mule's bed, so with the tailgate open, he bolted down the plywood to make the bed 54" long. We loaded dirt from the side and would pile enough on there to have it falling off the sides and back, and that electric lift had no problem dumping that, sometimes sitting in one place and sometimes dumping "on the fly" to spread the dirt.

In other words, the electric screw type lift worked just fine, but naturally I would expect the hydraulic to be even better.

 

[nickel plate]

Nice photos of your folks but when I opened one up, I saw something that reminded me of a past incident-that ill designed emergency hand brake! Again, if your 4010 emergency hand brake placement is similar to my 3010, be extra careful when setting it on a hill and climbing out as the set button can easily be depressed by your leg or thigh and away goes your Mule..... It happened to me ONCE but I was lucky to catch and reset it as the hill wasn't too steep. Can't just shut it down in gear like a standard transmission so try a static test on fairly flat land and teach yourself and other operators to avoid body contact on that set button when entering and exiting the driver's seat.

 

[timswi]

Nice photos of your folks but when I opened one up, I saw something that reminded me of a past incident-that ill designed emergency hand brake! Again, if your 4010 emergency hand brake placement is similar to my 3010, be extra careful when setting it on a hill and climbing out as the set button can easily be depressed by your leg or thigh and away goes your Mule..... It happened to me ONCE but I was lucky to catch and reset it as the hill wasn't too steep. Can't just shut it down in gear like a standard transmission so try a static test on fairly flat land and teach yourself and other operators to avoid body contact on that set button when entering and exiting the driver's seat.

Very true...All UTV's sould have park and a foot operated parking brake. Why most don't is still a mystery to me. I have never needed to pull my e-brake during operating except to spin it out in the snow

 

[nickel plate]

The dealer told me that they sold two typs of lifts. An electric lift that's under $700 that works, but isn't very heavy duty. And a hydraulic lift that is very good will run $1,100.
There is one on Ebay for $819.95

If you decide to go with either of the hydraulic lifts, please post detailed installation photos.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Jim,


I hate washing windows, and that's my biggest reason for not getting the windshield just yet. With winter only being two months long, and some of those days, not too bad, I'm unsure if I want it for the cold, but maybe the rain would be a good reason to get it?

Thanks,
Eddie

Eddie,

If you don't want a windshield Northern Tool makes a bug screen Classic Accessories QuadGear UTV Windshield Small, Fits Kawasaki 610, Yamaha Rhino, Black, Model# 78617 | UTV Accessories | Northern Tool + Equipment

I don't how great the visibility is but I have thought about getting one. But will most likely make a windshield that is hinged in the middle so I can fold it down, like is on some golf carts. My problem is running into spiders on the trail. I think you made a great choice on the Trans Mule, I really like mine.

David

 

[firefighter9208]

Eddie,

If your going to add a top, I wouldn't worry about the bed lift just yet. Unless you buy the factory top you can't dump the bed with the mule in long bed (2 seat) configuration. The front screen will hit the top. The mule has to be in short bed (4 seat) configuration to dump. With the mule in short bed (4 seat) configuration it's not hard to dump by hand.

I have the GR manufaturing top and windshield on my Transmule. The top is economical and fits well. The windshield works well also. I bought both through my dealer for less money than the Kawasaki top.

I have had the mule out in a pretty good rainstorm and stayed fairly dry with the top and windshield. The windshield folds up at the bottom, so you can access the under hood storage and get air in the summer. Here's a link: Utvproducts My wife also bought me the Transmule Stereo system from GR manufacturing for Christmas last year. :thumbsup:

Chris

 

[MarkV]

Eddie that is cool!! I haven't followed UTV's closely and am really impressed with the rear seats folding up to create a larger bed. That seems like the best of both worlds to me. Almost makes me wish I had a bigger need for one.

MarkV

 

[EddieWalker]

Eddie,

If your going to add a top, I wouldn't worry about the bed lift just yet. Unless you buy the factory top you can't dump the bed with the mule in long bed (2 seat) configuration. The front screen will hit the top. The mule has to be in short bed (4 seat) configuration to dump. With the mule in short bed (4 seat) configuration it's not hard to dump by hand.

Chris,

I've already paid for and ordered the factory top. Are you saying that the factory top will allow me to dump the bed with the back seat folded up and bed in the full size configuration?

This morning, I ordered the hydraulic lift for the dump bed off of ebay. $700 for the factory top and $820 for the lift is a lot of money. If they don't work together, I'm gonna be in trouble.

Guess I'll know soon enough what will or wont work.

Something that I've been wondering since pulling my lawn mower out of the mud with it, is mounting a tow hook to the front. Has anybody done anything like this? I figure that when I buy a tow hitch for the back, I'll be fine there, but I'd like something on the front in case I need to pull it for whatever reason.

Any thoughts or suggestions? There is a place for a winch, and I think that would be a good place to mount something.

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[DIXIEDOG]

Is there a hitch available for the front? My RTV 500 has a 2" hitch front and back so I just use a shackle receiver and switch it where I need it at the time.

 

[MarkV]

It just struck me that the title "Barebones Mule or your Suggestions" may not fit as well anymore. I think you are making the right choice Eddie. Buy it right the first time with everything that meets your needs and you will be happy for years.

MarkV