JD Gator

[roysallis]

Anyone got any experience with a John Deere Gator. I am thinking about buying one. I would like to get the 6x4 to get the 18hp engine. The 4x2 has a 10hp engine. I just do not know if the 10hp engine would be strong enough. I will be using it around the farm and maybe some for hunting. Also any info on prices.

 

[Bird]

roysallis, there are a couple of Gators in my area, and as far as I know the people who own them are happy with them. But my brother and my nearest neighbor bought Kawasaki Mules after comparing them to the Gator. You might want to check them out also.

Bird

 

[gerard]

I have a friend who has the 4 x 2 with the dump box. He uses it constantly and raves about the machine. Said it has a differential lock and doesn't need the 4wd. I go to equipment auctions regularly and the 4 x 2 w/ dump box usually go for $4500 - 5000 with less than 300 hours. Just saw two go last week for $4750, each had less than 200 hours. Think they are around 5500-6K new.

 

[roysallis]

Bird and Gerard, thanks for the feedback. I looked at the Mule briefly and I like the bench seat over the split seats in the Gator. The bench seat will let me haul more grandchildren (I have 9). I heard that the Gator was built heavier that the Mule. Also, the electric dump is not available on the Mule. My main concerns are the power and traction. Gerard, your reply answered my concern about traction. I did not know if I needed the 6x4 to get the necessary traction or not. The 6x4 is about $1500 more than the 4x2. I priced a basic 4x2 with electric dump for $5700 and the 6x4 with electric dump for $7200. The dealer offered to let me test drive one on the lot but it is level so I do not know if I could tell how the 10hp 4x2 would perform against the 18hp 6x4. My wife plans on hauling dirt, fertilizer, etc. around the farm and I will probably be hauling grandkids. I know she could use the tractor/FEL for some of this but the Gator would be easier. Besides, I need to be using the tractor will she is doing the gardening stuff.
Thanks again for the feedback.

 

[keitho]

In reference to the Kawasaki Mule, My friend has a model 2510 4x4 at his property. It's pretty beefy, we've even pulled 2000 pounds of boat and trailer up a steep, muddy ramp. It has a tight turning radius and maneuvers almost like an ATV on trails. For what it's worth, it has a sticker that says "made in Nebraska". Anyway, I like the JD Gators too. Just my two cents.

Keith

 

[Bird]

roysallis, <font color=blue>Re: the electric dump is not available on the Mule</font color=blue>

I don't know where you got that information, but my brother's Mule sure does have the electric dump. And it sure is nice, too. We've moved a lot of dirt by my loading all that could be loaded, with the front end loader of my Kubota, onto and spilling off the bed of the Mule, and he hauls, dumps, and comes back for the next load.

I believe his is a 20hp engine, two cylinder gas, but you know they now have a 3 cylinder diesel model, also. He'd love to trade up to the diesel, but just can't justify the expenditure.

Bird

 

[Blu21]

Have you checked out the Polaris 6x6,it has true 6 wheel drive and a 800lb.dump box, a option is available for electric dump also tracks for the rear four wheels.This thing is unstoppable.It is powered by a 500cc.4stroke.Tom

 

[PLOWER]

roysallis,
If i were you I would consider looking at the polaris ranger.It is a 6X6 double seater,and Ive drove one and it went 45mph that would be nice for somthings it has a 500cc
engine.But the only trouble list is 9,999 and the jd gator 4x2 is 7,000 and the 4x6 is 10,799. Hoped this helped a little.

PLOWER

 

[roysallis]

Thanks for all the feedback. The dealer told me that the Mule did not have an electric dump. Maybe he just wanted me to buy the one they had in inventory that did not have electric dump. Somehow he could not find a brochure on the Mule. I will definitely check out the Polaris. I forgot about them. I was going to buy a used Polaris 6x6 2 years ago for $4000 but my wife was against it at the time. It had only 350 miles on it.

 

[Branch]

My neighbor has a 4x2 Gator. His 4 acres of property is quite hilly with 230 lemon trees. He loads a 65 gallon sprayer in the back and is able to traverse all of his property spraying with two people on board. Also interestingly, when talking to my Deere dealer recently I noticed that they had a Mule in the shop that they were rebuilding. I asked their mechanic about it and he told me that both vehicles used the same motors and what appeared to be the same transmissions. Unfortunately the repair manuals call out totally different Part Numbers for identical parts. FWIW He also felt that the Gator was built more substantially than the Mule.
Branch

 

[Bird]

roysallis, I'm not sure now, but I think my brother told me the dealer told him there was a hydraulic dump available for the Mule when he bought it a few years ago, but he did not get any kind of power dump. However, he had the electric dump (screw type) added last year (by a Kawasaki Mule dealer), so I can't say for sure it's a Kawasaki option or whether this particular dealer just knew how to install an aftermarket power dump. I think Branch is right about the Mule and Gator using the same engine (a Kawasaki). The Mule specs say it's rated for 500# (3 people) on the seat, 800# in the bed, and tow a 1000# trailer; top speed about 25 mph. My old rancher neighbor, who wouldn't even think of buying a new car or pickup (let someone else take that first depreciation), and has 5 tractors with the newest one being over 20 years old, thought that Mule looked like a waste of money until his cattle started getting out and he knew he needed to do some fence mending in places he couldn't go with his pickup or a tractor, so I took him in my brother's Mule through the woods, brush, over brush piles and logs, through ravines, etc. and he promptly went and bought a new Mule; thinks it's the greatest ranch tool ever. And American Airlines uses a whole fleet of them at the D-FW Airport, 2WD models, some with cabs, some without.

Besides being a fun toy, that Mule has sure helped us get a lot of work done. But like I said initially, you'll probably like either one; Mule or Gator. I don't know anything about the Polaris other than the fact that my brother looked at them and wasn't impressed.

Bird

 

[EddieW]

I have an old Gator model 622 with 1 front wheel in the center and 4 wheels on the rear w/dump bed. I put 5-6 lbs of air in the tire and it never leaves tread marks. It is probably about an '88 model and has had the engine replaced with an 8hp Honda engine. The bed will hold about 2 scoops of dirt from my JD 430 standard 5' bucket front-end loader. With that much dirt I usually have to help it a little to dump it but that consists of one hand lifting with steady pressure. I have driven it full of dirt up a slope that is about 10-15 degrees and 200 yards long to haul dirt to level my lawn and it does fine. It strains it but it does it. I paid $3200 for it about a year ago and it has saved so much work it is almost as good as my tractor.

 

[Boots]

I hate to add more choices and complication, but here are my observations.

Where I work, we have 1 diesel gator, several golf carts with rear bed, several mules, and one ingersol rand carryall. I have driven all of these, along with my co workers and we believe the carryall is the best overall unless you plan to do very heavy work. It looks more like an overgrown golf cart and has a manual dump bed rated at 800 pounds. The seat is much more comfortable, and it has better ergonomics than the others. Power, or traction has not been an issue with this machine (there is a manual differential lock if needed). It is a gas burner and is quiet and fuel efficient. $6500 if my memory is correct.

Happy Shopping!

Boots

 

[roysallis]

Boots, thanks for the observation. Where can I get some info on the CarryAll? Good picture too. Where are you in Alabama? I am in Alabaster.
Roy

 

[Boots]

roysallis,

Try this location: http://www.clubcar.com/products/turf/carryall272.htm

The carryall is made by 'Club Car', the same people who make golf carts. I'd bet there's a dealer in the B'ham area. Our's was purchased from Beard Equipment down in Pensacola, FL.

I'm actually in Gantt, about 75 miles south of Montgomery. If you have a good map, and a magnifying glass, you can probably find it. I grew up over near Tuscaloosa and immigrated here. Crazy Me!

Take Care,
Boots.

 

[Bird]

Nice looking machine, Boots, but underpowered, 2WD, and too slow. That would be worthless around here for the jobs we do with the Mules. My 10 acres is just about flat, but on my neighbor's little ranch and my brother's 10 acres, 4WD is essential. But you did say "unless you plan to do very heavy work"./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird

 

[Boots]

Bird,
Worthless? Ouch! Some farmers would say the same thing about a 2710, I suppose it's all a matter of perspective. You texans have to have everything bigger than the rest of us I guess. I say don't knock it till you try it. The mule is alright for work, just uncomfortable and cumbersome to operate in comparison. I do admit that I've not tried pulling the bass boat with the carryall so you might be right about it being underpowered.

Since I really can't afford any of these rigs, I'm glad they've got them at work where I can play on them.

Take Care,
Boots

 

[JimBinMI]

roysallis,

Can't remember where I read it, here or on another board, but someone was referring to the Gator as having worthless traction in snow/ice/winter! They loved it the rest of the year but found it unuseable in winter.

Good Luck, JimBinMI

 

[Bird]

Boots, I've never been on a Carryall, so I'll take your word for it being less cumbersome to operate (though darned if I can figure out how it could be any easier or simpler than the Mule). Since my brother's customers include both Mule and Gator dealers, he see both every week and just told me last week about the new Mules having some of the controls, like the 4WD and differential lock, located better, and a better tail gate latch, etc.

But like you said, it's a matter of perspective (or a matter of what you want to do with it). Most of the farmers in my area consider my B2710 to be a toy, and it really would be worthless for the jobs they're doing./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Bird

 

[LazyK]

Royasllis...I'm a Gator guy of the first water.
Our stable couldn't function w/o the 'Gate. I picked up a peach poosay 5-wheeler 600AMT w/pup trailer, hyd dump incl. for 2000. At the time, wasn't sure it was a good deal. The little Kawy 1-lunger and simple drive train is a dream. It's no stump puller but it works more horse pucky, fire wood, gravel and miscellaneous loads w/o a hitch. I've been to several auctions here in the
Puget Sound/Oregon area and Gators good only for parts go for 750-1000 bucks. There are several outfits in the Puget Sound area that rebuild the older, simpler AMT600's and sell them for +or- 3000-4000 gilders. There are few bargains in any of these transporters, but if the 'CHEAP-GATE' of mine ever went by-by beyond re-build....I'd pop for another, even a new guy! (B-4 a 4-trax or any of the non-green machines) Good luck.

Lazy K - Chip