utility vehicle..mule..ezgo etc

[popeye]

My mom made my Dad buy a Kawasaki Mule. Since then I have compared it with Gator and looked a Polaris but keep hearing about engine reliability of Polaris. I am pretty impressed with it, seems to be a pretty well thought out design. Co-worker has one and uses it as a chase vehicle when he hunts hogs with his dogs. Hasn't had any problems with it.
Mike

 

[Boone]

I had and sold a 2001 Polaris Sportsman 500 4x4. It was nice but I did have a concern about the belt drive. I had the belt slip and smoke once when I was attempting to get up on the blacktop lane.

The front tires where almost on the road, the back tires where down in the ditch and I was starting from a stop with the wife on back. It wouldn't go up and I had to back up and go at it with a rolling start. The belt wasn't out of adjustment and the unit only had a few hours on it. That really surprised me considering the amount of power the 500 put on the ground.

 

[Alan L.]

We've put about 90 hours on a Kawasaki Mule 550 that we got last November. It was about $6K, but if we got in trouble and started selling off stuff, it would be the last thing to go, right before the land itself. We love it.

It has a great suspension, is fun to drive, and the little truck bed will hold all we need to haul around the property.

I guess the only complaint I have is that the engine is maybe a little underpowered, it works fine and accelerates to the awesome /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif speed of 20MPH pretty fast, but grunts a little going up steep inclines loaded.

 

[MarkV]

Alan, I have heard a lot of good comments about the Mule. I was wondering if you would rather have the 4x4 model now that you have used one for a while? It looks like the 4x4 option adds about $1600 to the price and didn't know if it was worth it.

MarkV

 

[Hank]

Mark, out here in AZ the 4 wheel drive is a necessity. Even with 4x4, I have found myself having to change the angle of attack to get out of some washes. I generally leave my Mule in 2 wheel drive most of the time, though.

The top speeds of the various brands can affect your buying decision, too. The electrics and the Gators are governed about 18mph max, the Mule 25mph, and the Ranger 40mph.

 

[centex]

I had to stop at a Tractor Supply store yesterday and they had a new utility vehicle that looked similar to a Mule for $5200. I do not remember the brand but it was not Kawasaki.

 

[lschultz]

Thats probably Cub Cadets version of the Mule/Gator since TSC sells Cub Cadet mowers.I have a 550 Mule I got in 98 and I think it has 300+hrs on it.The only problem I had and am still having is with the starter.Sometimes it just clicks.Done replaced about everything that has to do with starting and it still does it.One day I will find what is causing it
New battery,starter relay,starter switch,starter solenoid.Even took the starter to shop and they supposely rebuilt it and it does the same thing.Some day I might get mad and just go buy a new starter/solenoid but last time I priced one it was 300+ /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gifOther than that no problems.Burns no oil and uses very little gas.Got it stuck several times.But I would buy another one.

 

[rlk]

I have had an EZ GO 480 for about a year now, and both the wife and I like it a lot. No problems at all, and is great on gas, has plenty of power to pull my utility trailer around. When I need lumber or something heavy, I pull the trailer to the store with the truck, then when back home, hook the trailer to the EZ GO and head for where ever the truck can not get to. It does not have 4 wheel drive, but has a locking differential you can engage. After a year, I have never engaged the differential.

If you are doing light hauling, I would seriously look at the EZ GO golf carts that have been "lifted", and had a hydraulic bed installed on the rear. The EZ GO dealers around here get in a bunch each year that are 1 - 2 years old (golf courses trade theirs in every couple of years). The dealers refurbish the golf carts, including new bodies, lift kits, larger tires, and the dumping bed. You can get them in gas or electric. Again, for light hauling or just transportation, they are the way to go, and much less expensive than what I have, or the Mule, Gator, etc.
Bob

 

[Alan L.]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Alan, I have heard a lot of good comments about the Mule. I was wondering if you would rather have the 4x4 model now that you have used one for a while? It looks like the 4x4 option adds about $1600 to the price and didn't know if it was worth it.

MarkV
)</font>

I really don't miss 4wd at all. The 2wd model that we have gets plenty of traction. We drive it uphill through the mud, and on the rare occasions where we get some wheel spin, we just engage the differential lock and it feels like 4WD. I'm glad I didn't spend the extra money.

 

[lschultz]

Correction on the Mule I have.It has 578 hrs.