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

[ovrszd]

The rub to me is that you said "the grief"... In over 12 years with the Yamaha I did 3 batteries, a CV boot that a stick tore and annual maintenance. I sold it with the original tires and spark plug

If I have grief... Be it my truck, my UTV, my wife or my job.... In very short order that crap is going down the road.

And this is why I auestion how hard you worked your Rhino?

And what basis are you using to state your Mule has the best powertrain on Earth?

 

[LouNY]

If you are buying for a working vehicle I feel it's hard to beat the old Kawasaki Mules we have two in use at the farm along with several atv's.
The mules that we have have the bench seat in them so you can slid in and go. A small person can be in the middle if wanted.
Many times if the driver needs to step out for something the passenger can reach over and use the throttle or brake which can be handy.
They are not fast or sporty by any definition but they are work horses, fixing fence, checking on animals, bringing a calve back to the barn, to running parts or a relief operator out to a tractor.
The bench seat and no door in the way makes them easy to get in and out of even for a large slightly older individual.
The last couple of years my father was alive the mule was the only way to get him out to the pastures and fields which he really enjoyed.
The bench seat models tome are the easiest to get into and out of.

Added;
there is no way a jeep or pickup can go where these can and especially not be tearing up the ground.

 

[Rock Crawler]

And this is why I auestion how hard you worked your Rhino?

And what basis are you using to state your Mule has the best powertrain on Earth?

Never said best on Earth. That's a silly statement. I do feel that Kubota, Kawasaki and Yamaha are about the most reliable and reputable engine/driveline packages in the market.

My Rhino was used only to work, I took it trail riding 3 times in over 12 years. It plowed snow, hauled wood, hauled many many tons of river rock through woods, plowed and hauled many many dump truck loads of mulch... I don't know what to tell you. It was bought as a tool, it was used as a tool. It pushed a number of diesels up into my shop... It pushed, pulled and carried everything and anything that I needed pushed, pulled or carried. I felt often that I was abusing it far outside of it's designed intent, I often said that it owed me nothing and should be broke. But yet it really never shed a tear. It was the most surprising purchase of my life so far.

I was never easy on it, I never held back so that it wasn't over loaded or over used. I almost dared it to fail me.... Many times over.

 

[Rock Crawler]

If you are buying for a working vehicle I feel it's hard to beat the old Kawasaki Mules we have two in use at the farm along with several atv's.
The mules that we have have the bench seat in them so you can slid in and go. A small person can be in the middle if wanted.
Many times if the driver needs to step out for something the passenger can reach over and use the throttle or brake which can be handy.
They are not fast or sporty by any definition but they are work horses, fixing fence, checking on animals, bringing a calve back to the barn, to running parts or a relief operator out to a tractor.
The bench seat and no door in the way makes them easy to get in and out of even for a large slightly older individual.
The last couple of years my father was alive the mule was the only way to get him out to the pastures and fields which he really enjoyed.
The bench seat models tome are the easiest to get into and out of.

Added;
there is no way a jeep or pickup can go where these can and especially not be tearing up the ground.

Sounds exactly like the wide flat bench in the new Mule Pro, it's stated as seating for 3, but we've already had 2 adults and 2 kids in the bench seat. It also rides super soft and smooth compared to the Kubota. It's also slow as molasses like the Kubota.

2 big advantages of the Kubota are the limited slip front differential and the HST transmission.

I looked at this though.... The HST is great and bullet proof up until the point it does fail. And if you read around, they do fail once in a while. When they do, it's a lot more than a $100 belt and 2 hours.

My Rhino with the Ultramatic, my opinion the best belt drive on the market, went 12 years on the factory belt.

My Kawasaki, maybe I'll replace it every 5 years.... Likely not though. Mules are known to be really tough, robust and reliable.

 

[ededic]

Gator has served me well since 2002.

 

[atsah]

Gator has served me well since 2002.

My sister also, belt and all, the trans bangs in once in a while but it always works. I have no idea the hours she has on that thing but it has to be an insane amount..

 

[Rmally]

Wow! Guys thanks so much for all the info. After looking at what I'll need it for I think I'll plan on the Mule.

I was originally going Ranger or Mule because they fit my budget, but after this thread and some additional research I think the Mule will be better in the long run.

I don't need speed and the UTV will never leave the farm to go on joy rides, and I can get this 3 year warranty. I also had no idea on the belt or overheating issues with the Ranger.

Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[atsah]

I looked at the mules years ago, if I'm not mistaken at the time the price on them was a lot less than others, probably because of the utility, slow etc of the machine.. Speed and ride was not something that concerned me either as I was looking for a farm rig..

 

[ovrszd]

Never said best on Earth. That's a silly statement. I do feel that Kubota, Kawasaki and Yamaha are about the most reliable and reputable engine/driveline packages in the market.

My Rhino was used only to work, I took it trail riding 3 times in over 12 years. It plowed snow, hauled wood, hauled many many tons of river rock through woods, plowed and hauled many many dump truck loads of mulch... I don't know what to tell you. It was bought as a tool, it was used as a tool. It pushed a number of diesels up into my shop... It pushed, pulled and carried everything and anything that I needed pushed, pulled or carried. I felt often that I was abusing it far outside of it's designed intent, I often said that it owed me nothing and should be broke. But yet it really never shed a tear. It was the most surprising purchase of my life so far.

I was never easy on it, I never held back so that it wasn't over loaded or over used. I almost dared it to fail me.... Many times over.

I was referencing your last paragraph in post #33.

I struggle to see how 12yr old original tires survived your heavy use?

I think your Mule is more than up to the task of handling your work.

 

[ovrszd]

Sounds exactly like the wide flat bench in the new Mule Pro, it's stated as seating for 3, but we've already had 2 adults and 2 kids in the bench seat. It also rides super soft and smooth compared to the Kubota. It's also slow as molasses like the Kubota.

2 big advantages of the Kubota are the limited slip front differential and the HST transmission.

I looked at this though.... The HST is great and bullet proof up until the point it does fail. And if you read around, they do fail once in a while. When they do, it's a lot more than a $100 belt and 2 hours.

My Rhino with the Ultramatic, my opinion the best belt drive on the market, went 12 years on the factory belt.

My Kawasaki, maybe I'll replace it every 5 years.... Likely not though. Mules are known to be really tough, robust and reliable.

I see no reason that you'll ever replace the Mule belt. I think this machine will serve you very well.