Mule vs. Gator

[GeneSimm7]

Does anyone out there have any idea how the Kawasaki Mule 3010 compares to the John Deere Gator XUV?? Both in Diesel. Any info will be much appreciated.

 

[weldingisfun]

Mule 3010 4X4 Diesel MSRP $10,099. John Deere Wen site doesn't show prices. Hmmmm, I wonder why???

 

[JayC]

Mule 3010 4X4 Diesel MSRP $10,099. John Deere Wen site doesn't show prices. Hmmmm, I wonder why???

Sure it does. It's at the bottom. You can also get a price from the Build Your Own tool.

John Deere products for homeowners: Features for XUV 850D 4x4

 

[GeneSimm7]

I got quotes on both with some extra equipment (same equip. for each) and the D-Mule was $12,400 and the D-Gator was $12,508 so there is not a big price difference. I am interested in how they compare in performance, power, ride, ground clearance, etc. Thanks!

 

[RollTideRam]

One has a bench seat, one has buckets. One is ugly and the other is not. That is my opinion. I know the gator diesel is a Yanmar and is proven. I don't know what make engine is in the Mule. I also know the gator does not have a clutch cover, but again don't know on the mule. JC

edit: I read up some on the mule. It has 100cc larger engine, it can haul more, but tow less than the gator. It also has power steering which the gator does not have. It does not have a locking front diff and the gator does.

 

[Skipholiday]

Gator has almost twice the ground clearance of the mule.

Mules appear to be well made.

 

[BrianW]

Does anyone out there have any idea how the Kawasaki Mule 3010 compares to the John Deere Gator XUV?? Both in Diesel. Any info will be much appreciated.

The diesel Mule has quite a good reputation. It has been out for a while. The power steering is something new for the Mule so there is no record of reliability for it. It is electric I believe.

The XUV has not been out long enough to say what kind of reputation it has, but it is generating one.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/atvs-utility-vehicles/105850-xuv-front-end-rattle-noise.html

Seriously though, I am sure JD will iron out the problems. The XUV has a lot going for it.

It would all come down to dealer support for me. If I were buying the Mule from a motorcycle dealer that also sold Mules then I would probably go for the XUV!

My brother has a 2005 diesel Mule and loves it. He has never had any problems with it.

 

[coobie]

Does anyone out there have any idea how the Kawasaki Mule 3010 compares to the John Deere Gator XUV?? Both in Diesel. Any info will be much appreciated.

I owned a 2002 mule 3010 4X4 (gasser) and it was flawless when I sold to my neighbor and bought a Diesel Kubota RTV 900 in 2006.I would think the diesel model 3010 mule would be very reliable also.coobie

 

[scesnick]

I have a Yamaha Rhino right now and I have been looking at buying another side x side. I need one that is more for farm use than playing on the trails. So, I have looked at both the JD gator and the Mule. I was partial to the Mule

Then, one day at was at my tractor dealer and he took me for a spin in his japanese mini truck. I have to say, it blows to doors off the Mule, Gator and even the rhino. It have 4wd. diff lock, and a 6ft dump bed.
AND, the best part is that they are roughly half the price of the RUV's and already come with a cab...

 

[Robert_in_NY]

It would all come down to dealer support for me. If I were buying the Mule from a motorcycle dealer that also sold Mules then I would probably go for the XUV!

Why? Do motorcycle dealers lack product support? If anything, a motorcycle dealer who sells ATV's would be better to buy from as UTV's have more in common with ATV's then tractors. Plus motorcycle dealers mechanics tend to have more finese when dealing with smaller equipment while some tractor mechanics like to use impact wrenches for everything

 

[GeneSimm7]

I have a Yamaha Rhino right now and I have been looking at buying another side x side. I need one that is more for farm use than playing on the trails. So, I have looked at both the JD gator and the Mule. I was partial to the Mule

Then, one day at was at my tractor dealer and he took me for a spin in his japanese mini truck. I have to say, it blows to doors off the Mule, Gator and even the rhino. It have 4wd. diff lock, and a 6ft dump bed.
AND, the best part is that they are roughly half the price of the RUV's and already come with a cab...

Where can I get info on the mini truck?

 

[GeneSimm7]

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE JAPANESE MINI TRUCK.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE JAPANESE MINI TRUCK.

About 5-10 post down from this one in this forum is a thread titled "MINI TRUCKS". DarinRay started it and sells some mini trucks up here in WNY. You didn't fill out your profile so I do not know where you are from but you could put a post in that thread or contact Darin and see if he can help you. Darin is a great guy and I would not hesitate to buy from him.

 

[GeneSimm7]

One has a bench seat, one has buckets. One is ugly and the other is not. That is my opinion. I know the gator diesel is a Yanmar and is proven. I don't know what make engine is in the Mule. I also know the gator does not have a clutch cover, but again don't know on the mule. JC

edit: I read up some on the mule. It has 100cc larger engine, it can haul more, but tow less than the gator. It also has power steering which the gator does not have. It does not have a locking front diff and the gator does.

WHICH ONE DO YOU THINK IS UGLY??

 

[BrianW]

Why? Do motorcycle dealers lack product support? If anything, a motorcycle dealer who sells ATV's would be better to buy from as UTV's have more in common with ATV's then tractors. Plus motorcycle dealers mechanics tend to have more finese when dealing with smaller equipment while some tractor mechanics like to use impact wrenches for everything

By "also sold Mules" I meant sold Mules as a secondary part of their buisiness. My local dealer "also sells Mules." They have never sold a diesel Mule and their support I am sure would reflect that. They sell a lot of motorcycles though.

I have worked as an auto mechanic at a fairly unique Honda dealer that sold both cars and motorcycles. This was in a colder climate. Winter time was slow so many of the M/C mechanics were laid off for the winter. The shop tried to keep the good ones employed over the winter. Needless to say, the good to bad mechanic ratio in the summer was low. Many of the good mechanics moved over to the auto side because of this.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

By "also sold Mules" I meant sold Mules as a secondary part of their buisiness. My local dealer "also sells Mules." They have never sold a diesel Mule and their support I am sure would reflect that. They sell a lot of motorcycles though.

I have worked as an auto mechanic at a fairly unique Honda dealer that sold both cars and motorcycles. This was in a colder climate. Winter time was slow so many of the M/C mechanics were laid off for the winter. The shop tried to keep the good ones employed over the winter. Needless to say, the good to bad mechanic ratio in the summer was low. Many of the good mechanics moved over to the auto side because of this.

How many motorcycle dealers don't sell ATV's now? I know around here the only ones that don't sell ATV's are places like Harley Davidson or BMW or other high end places. Usually, the dealers who sell Mules also sell ATV's. I would be surprised if a motorcycle dealer would just decide to sell the Mule and not the ATV's.

I still think a motorcycle mechanic would be good working on UTV's and such.

 

[BrianW]

How many motorcycle dealers don't sell ATV's now? I know around here the only ones that don't sell ATV's are places like Harley Davidson or BMW or other high end places. Usually, the dealers who sell Mules also sell ATV's. I would be surprised if a motorcycle dealer would just decide to sell the Mule and not the ATV's.

I still think a motorcycle mechanic would be good working on UTV's and such.

Not many diesel ATV's or motorcycles. I agree though, if the mechanic is good on ATV's or even motorcycles he would probably be OK on the gas Mules. I guess we could start over and say I would buy at the dealer with the best service reputation. That would be comparing service on Mules at the M/C shop with service on XUVs at the JD shop.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

Not many diesel ATV's or motorcycles. I agree though, if the mechanic is good on ATV's or even motorcycles he would probably be OK on the gas Mules. I guess we could start over and say I would buy at the dealer with the best service reputation. That would be comparing service on Mules at the M/C shop with service on XUVs at the JD shop.

With anything mechanical it always comes down to the service department. If you do not have a good service department then you are stuck. But I would not handicap a dealership just because they sell motorcycles instead of tractors. From the top of my head only John Deere and Kubota make UTV's and Tractors yet neither of them make an ATV Its kind of funny in a way how everything is all mixed and matched (well, its funny to me in my strange little world )

 

[TOMMYHPX4X4]

the deisel mule has a clutch enclosure and the deisel xuv don't.