Author Topic: Kawasaki Mule (Read 2261 times)

bullet maker · « **on:** January 28, 2006, 07:38:11 AM »

Hey gang

Its been awhile since I visited this forum, but I want to tell you how well my Kawasaki Mule has lasted, and hope to hear from you guys about your rides, and how many hours, and how they have lasted for you, so we can compare the different rides we all have.

First of all I bought my Kawasaki Mule --Model 2510--August of 2001. It was a 2000 model--that had been used as a demenstration model at the 4 wheel shop . My Mule now has 760 hours on it, and still going strong. The only trouble I ever had with it was at 680 hours, by clutch belt broke. That wasnt surprizing to me, because I have really done some hard work with this mule. For instance--I haul a 1/4 rick of firewood on the bed, to get out of the thick bottoms where I cut my firewood for the winter, and have to drive up a steep hill to get it unloaded onto the truck. Once I get a rick loaded on the truck, I then drive the truck home and unload it and go back for more. I burn 8 ricks of wood a winter. I have also pulled a single axel trailer behind it several times with tower stands on the trailers, to place around the property, to deer hunt out of and the stands weigh about 800 lbs. So as you can see, I really work this mule out good. This August, I will have owned this mule for 5 years. I dont think you will find any stonger or better than this Kawasaki 4x4 mule anywhere.

bullet maker

Hey Mark C---I think you and I bought ours, about the same time.

markc · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2006, 07:18:23 AM »

you may be right. I bought my Mule in June of 2000, and just sold it about a month and a half ago. I bought a 2006 Yamaha Rhino. If I had bought a 2510 or owned a 3010 Mule, I would not have bought the Rhino, but I had a Mule 550. Very hard working, well made, durable, and very rough riding..

I agree with you. For day in and day out hard work, I don't think any RUV made today (except for diesel models) compare to the Mule. I got to do a good bit of driving off road on a new Mule Trans on a hunt recently and really enjoyed it..

The new Rhino I hope will last as long...For sure it is alot of fun and goes about anywhere...

jager · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2006, 05:27:04 AM »

Bullet Maker - I have considered getting a Mule and appreciate your info. What are the dimension's of the Mule, and can it be transported in the back of a standard 1/2 ton pickup like a "Silverado" or Ford F150? Thanks - Jager

markc · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2006, 06:51:47 AM »

I have replied twice to your question but for some reason, it never shows up. Only the 500 and 600 series Mules will fit in the bed of a full size pickup truck.

demented · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2006, 07:22:05 PM »

I have an '03 3010 that has been trouble free. My only problems with it are the low ground clearance and stiff springs, both together won't allow crossing a ditch or climbing over a log very well. I considered trading mine in on a Rhino, the bed on the Rhino is just too small for my needs. Essex manufacturing in Texas makes some neat stuff for Mules.

bullet maker · « **Reply #5 on:** February 18, 2006, 06:34:31 AM »

Quote from: jager

Bullet Maker - I have considered getting a Mule and appreciate your info. What are the dimension's of the Mule, and can it be transported in the back of a standard 1/2 ton pickup like a "Silverado" or Ford F150? Thanks - Jager

Hi jager

Mark C is correct, it is to wide to haul in the back of a pickup, however, the few times that I have hauled mine, I hauled it in a 10ft long by 5ft wide, single axle trailer. If you haul one for any distance, however, you need to take the windshield off and the top, it causes to much wind resistence, going down the road. You won`t be sorry if you buy one., they are great.

bullet maker

bullet maker · « **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2006, 06:42:07 AM »

Quote from: demented

I have an '03 3010 that has been trouble free. My only problems with it are the low ground clearance and stiff springs, both together won't allow crossing a ditch or climbing over a log very well. I considered trading mine in on a Rhino, the bed on the Rhino is just too small for my needs. Essex manufacturing in Texas makes some neat stuff for Mules.

Hey demented

two years ago, I bought some new tires for mine, it raised my ground clearance 3 inches. The tires were $44.00 apiece, and they looked like the tractor treads tires, the ones with the very deep V pattern to go through mud well, I also had the heavier spring put on, so I could haul heavier pay loads. I can climb over anylog, or go through anyditch their is, no problem. Now a buddy of mine has a ATV, 4 wheeler, and I can go anywhere he does, except, my mule is wider, and some places that I cant go, is because the trees is to thick, and he can go between them, no problem, I just go around them :-D :-D

bullet maker

jager · « **Reply #7 on:** February 18, 2006, 04:27:31 PM »

Bullet Maker and MarkC - Thanks for the replys

; the Mule sounds like the "ticket". Jager

bullet maker · « **Reply #8 on:** February 19, 2006, 04:19:46 AM »

Quote from: jager

Bullet Maker and MarkC - Thanks for the replys ; the Mule sounds like the "ticket". Jager

Your welcome jager

Remember to call several dealers, each dealer will have a different price, and you could save a bundle doing that. You might even do like I did and call em out of state, I did and it saved me $2000.00.
If you have a farm tax no. you dont have to pay tax on it, that equates to big bucks. Yes it is used on my farm. And finally, always ask for last years model, they dont want to have them takeing up storage space, and paying taxes on them, so they make a real sweet deal on them. That`s what mine was, a last years model when I bought it, a demostrater model, that every one drove around to see how they would like a mule.

These are excellent tips, and the money you save, you can forward to me, so I can put a hard body with heater on mine. :-D :-D :-D

In fact I`m starting to save my money for a hard body and heater now, so maybe by next year I`ll have one on.

bullet maker

bullet maker · « **Reply #9 on:** October 15, 2006, 03:07:29 AM »

I`d just like to say, that I now have 807 hours on my orginal mule, and have not had any problems with it.

wow, what a machine.

Also, the windshield finally had to be replaced, because it was getting hard to see out of, especially in the late evening, when the sun was in my eye`s. All the scratches from the windshield being smacked by the branches, and all the dust, sand, etc, had finally put to many scratches on the windshield, to see well. I went down to a local glass and mirror, co. here in Claremore, and had them to use my existing windshield as a template, and they cut me a brand new one, I took it back home and it fit perfectly. Total cost for the new one was $143.00, If I had went to the Kiawaski dealer, they wanted $400.00 for one. LOL soooooo- the $257.00 I saved, I can now spend on something else.

bullet maker

markc · « **Reply #10 on:** October 16, 2006, 03:41:50 AM »

Nice. It is good to read reports like this one. I love my Rhino, but if I had the $, I would have a new Mule Trans in the stable as well....