Kawasaki mule pro 2015

[ripHST]

Yeah, I agree about the tractor. We'll see how it goes. I actually looked at a used Kubota and the same place that had the Mule and Pioneer. I dismissed it at the time because of some comments I read about it being not so good in mud, but the more I thing about it, it might be a good choice for the money...it's an RTV1140 and they're asking around $10k. If I do go UTV first, I could trade the RTV in for something a little more sport once I have the tractor.

 

[Code54]

To answer your question, the Mule tows extremely well. Honestly better than I thought. This week I was digging a bunch of french drains and moving a lot of dirt. I have a l4 wheel ATV wagon dump cart that is supposed to dump 1000 pounds. I loaded it at least 10 times (as in stacked so high the wet clay was trying to flop out) - the cart dumped it every time but strained quite a bit. Don't know what the exact load is but with the weight of the trailer I would think I easily had 1000lbs. I would take this from my yard, into the woods up a 50 yard steep hill (as in walkable but you lean way forward and sure know you are climbing it) and then to the dump area 500 yards away. never the slightest problem. My son tried doing the same with our Pioneer 500 but it couldn't make it up the hill and I had to push the trailer with the tractors bucket so he could quit spinning and get up the hill.

I also have hauled a lot with it and in Low it does great (Never tried hauling in high - figured it is not the best idea). It will never set any speed records but in low I have had logs filling the bed and stacked to the top of the headache rack (with straps to hold them in) and drive right up the hill to the house. I do this on a gravel road that is steep enough that in my pickup wants to spin going up if I don't lock it in 4x4(about ½ mile).

High will get up to about 40 on the flat, on a hill it will be less. I would say I use low 75% of the time I am using the Mule, the 25% of the time I use high I'm on the road running to neighbors or going out the lane for the mail. The factory tires are ok - not the greatest in my opinion. For working on gravel or hard pack they would be fine but I am down in the woods enough I needed stronger and gripper tires. I bought the Pitbull Growlers and been real impressed. I can leave it in tuff mode and go places I would have kicked it into 4x4 mode with the stock tires. They also handle weight better and seem to reduce body roll.

I had a RZR in the past and the CVT on the Mule is a totally different animal - MUCH smoother and it never seems like it is slipping like the Polaris. Granted the Polaris was a sport machine but I can't say I was a big fan of their CVT.

 

[ripHST]

To answer your question, the Mule tows extremely well. Honestly better than I thought. This week I was digging a bunch of french drains and moving a lot of dirt. I have a l4 wheel ATV wagon dump cart that is supposed to dump 1000 pounds. I loaded it at least 10 times (as in stacked so high the wet clay was trying to flop out) - the cart dumped it every time but strained quite a bit. Don't know what the exact load is but with the weight of the trailer I would think I easily had 1000lbs. I would take this from my yard, into the woods up a 50 yard steep hill (as in walkable but you lean way forward and sure know you are climbing it) and then to the dump area 500 yards away. never the slightest problem. My son tried doing the same with our Pioneer 500 but it couldn't make it up the hill and I had to push the trailer with the tractors bucket so he could quit spinning and get up the hill.

I also have hauled a lot with it and in Low it does great (Never tried hauling in high - figured it is not the best idea). It will never set any speed records but in low I have had logs filling the bed and stacked to the top of the headache rack (with straps to hold them in) and drive right up the hill to the house. I do this on a gravel road that is steep enough that in my pickup wants to spin going up if I don't lock it in 4x4(about ½ mile).

High will get up to about 40 on the flat, on a hill it will be less. I would say I use low 75% of the time I am using the Mule, the 25% of the time I use high I'm on the road running to neighbors or going out the lane for the mail. The factory tires are ok - not the greatest in my opinion. For working on gravel or hard pack they would be fine but I am down in the woods enough I needed stronger and gripper tires. I bought the Pitbull Growlers and been real impressed. I can leave it in tuff mode and go places I would have kicked it into 4x4 mode with the stock tires. They also handle weight better and seem to reduce body roll.

I had a RZR in the past and the CVT on the Mule is a totally different animal - MUCH smoother and it never seems like it is slipping like the Polaris. Granted the Polaris was a sport machine but I can't say I was a big fan of their CVT.

Good good stuff. That's what I was looking for. Thanks Code. Does that Pioneer 500 have the DCT? If so, what do you think about it? It's probably academic at this point....I'm leaning toward the mule based on what you've reported. Gotta drive them first of course.

 

[Code54]

The 500 has the same basic transmission as the foreman ATV (5 speed electric shift - paddle shifter in the case of the SxS). I love the transmission for riding in the woods and having fun. 1st gear is low and works good for spraying but the Mule is a much better worker overall. Throw the Mule in low and it is always in the right "gear".

I never had to change a belt on mine nor has mine ever chipped or slipped but when I talked to the local kawasaki mechanic he said it in not bad at all and not overly expensive.