Merlin Orr Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 A friend just had to have my Polaris Magnum 4x4.. I am replacing it with something a little more practical. A Kawasaki Mule is what I have been looking at but..A friend is pushing me to look at the Yamaha offerings. Anyone have the Yamaha version of the Mule? The intended use is for a working vehicle around my little "ranch." No bogging or difficult terrain on my place, just woods. Ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted February 3, 2006 Share Posted February 3, 2006 A friend just had to have my Polaris Magnum 4x4.. I am replacing it with something a little more practical. A Kawasaki Mule is what I have been looking at but..A friend is pushing me to look at the Yamaha offerings. Anyone have the Yamaha version of the Mule? The intended use is for a working vehicle around my little "ranch." No bogging or difficult terrain on my place, just woods. Ideas? Take a look at a Kubota. We've had 3 of their tractors over the years, and my dad couldn't break any of them It won't be cheap, I'm sure, but you probably won't ever need to replace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted February 4, 2006 Author Share Posted February 4, 2006 I called around and as far as I can tell they are diesel only...and a friend says he has heard one run - from about a half mile away.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Posted February 4, 2006 Share Posted February 4, 2006 The Kubota is a worker, no doubt. Heavy, expensive, and probably near impossible to break. 1 friend had one and traded it off as he said it was not good in mud. Another friend traded a Polaris in on one, loves it. The one who currently owns one does chores around the farm with his. Yamaha Rhino(?) very fast...an awesome off-roader. Probably the most "fun" you can have in one. Did I mention fast? Fast. Only 4x4 that has reminded me of the dirt bikes I once owned. Fast. http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outdoor/produc...e/318/home.aspx Mule...what I will buy next spring. The kids will use it, mainly for just playing around on the farm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokshwn Posted February 4, 2006 Share Posted February 4, 2006 Merlin, I haven't used the others at all but I can attest that the Kawasaki Mules are damn near indestructable. We use them as chase/utility vehicles when we are on USAR deployments. The diesel version is very quiet and is absolutely miserly as far as fuel consumption goes. During our deployment to Katrina in Mississippi we had myself, one doc, an 80gallon cooler full of ice and drinks, two medical bags, defibrillator, airway kit, 14 personal backpacks, two cases of MRE's, a searchcam box, radios, sat phones, gps, batteries, etc. etc. etc. all told I would guess at least 1000-1200 pounds of people and gear ( I won't even guess what they were carrying at the end of the day when our team guys would jump on and hitch a ride back to the trucks). Both our mules were beaten like stepchildren for fourteen days and the biggest problem we had was a couple of flat tires. In utility for us they were worth there weight in gold. Good Luck, Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted February 4, 2006 Author Share Posted February 4, 2006 A friend just had to have my Polaris Magnum 4x4.. I am replacing it with something a little more practical. A Kawasaki Mule is what I have been looking at but..A friend is pushing me to look at the Yamaha offerings. Anyone have the Yamaha version of the Mule? The intended use is for a working vehicle around my little "ranch." No bogging or difficult terrain on my place, just woods. Ideas? Take a look at a Kubota. We've had 3 of their tractors over the years, and my dad couldn't break any of them It won't be cheap, I'm sure, but you probably won't ever need to replace it. And dang your hide, Dan! Now that I looked at the Kubota Website I want to trade off the old John Deer and by a new tractor also! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sargenv Posted February 6, 2006 Share Posted February 6, 2006 An old jeep? Fold down the windshield.. put those old military tires on it and off you go? They can be outfitted with a drawtite hitch and it will probably out tow any smaller unit. Vince Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kurtm Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 Suzuki Samuri, about the same size as a mule. Very good fuel economy and in 4x4 low it is truely on of the off-road wonders. It will do things beyond belief and it is very narrow and WAY cheaper than a Mule! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted February 7, 2006 Author Share Posted February 7, 2006 An old jeep? Fold down the windshield.. put those old military tires on it and off you go? They can be outfitted with a drawtite hitch and it will probably out tow any smaller unit. Vince Vince HELL NO! Been there done that - 7 times....All CJs Just Empty Every Pocket Suzuki Samuri, about the same size as a mule. Very good fuel economy and in 4x4 low it is truely on of the off-road wonders. It will do things beyond belief and it is very narrow and WAY cheaper than a Mule! Quit whispering in my ear, Damn you... Another Jeep thing just smaller???!!! NOooooo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougCarden Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 Go with the Diesel Mule! My dad had a gas, and upgraded to the Diesel model. He loves it! He uses it to feed the cattle and put up fence, basically it took my place on the farm! I used the Mule a week ago when I was deer hunting and have no complaints other than it was cramped up front with me and my hunting clothes...(6'2 250) but other than that I would buy one in a heartbeat, and no, it is not noisy....DougC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dshooter3 Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 I use a mule on the 500 acher site that i work on. We have put 1011 hours on it in six months. It is not the fastest but i like it. It is a little cold blooded but onnce warmed up it goese fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 [And dang your hide, Dan! Now that I looked at the Kubota Website I want to trade off the old John Deer and by a new tractor also! Merlin, Is it an old 2 cylinder John Deere?? If it is, keep it and get the Kubota anyway! What size range you looking at? Our present one is 24 horse, I think. Hydrostatic trans, heated cab, front end loader. Nice tractor. The other 2 were an L285, 1976 model year, and a small 16 horse model. Like I said, my dad wasn't able to bread the darn things, although, he bent the loader frame on the L285 trying to push an "iceberg" rock out of the ground. The iceberg refers to it having been 90% underground Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted February 7, 2006 Author Share Posted February 7, 2006 Dan. After viewing the Kubotas I immediately drank myself into a jealous stupor and now have no recollection of the website. But were I to get one it would be one of the smaller ones with a front end loader. My little "hobby" ranch does not warrant anything else. Doug. The diesel units are great but the intial costs are sure up there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 Merlin, Should you even get a small one, it'll be a diesel. My brother-in-law has an older lawn tractor size one....it's a diesel. The started making the lawn tractors in gas engine too, at least they did. I think that was to compete with others like Cub Cadet, John Deere, Toro/ Wheelhorse. When my dad can't mow the lawn anymore, I plan on getting one of their zero turn radius mowers. An awesome machine! Just don't go look at them in person, you will bring one home with you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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