Gator, Kawi Mule or Rhino? Our club looking for input.

Snowizard · Feb 25, 2009

The sno'bile club I belong to is looking for some kind of utility vehicle for hauling trail maint items in the off snowmobile season.
A buddy and I spent the afternoon looking at all 3 machines in the title above.

What experience does anybody on the forum have with any of these, and your recommendations.?

The full size Gator looks like a well made machine with well thought out features. Only two occupants, obviously. Has the same engine as the Kawasaki Mule. V-twin 4 stroke 617cc.

The Mule has the ability for 4 people. This is an attractive feature for us. The 2nd bench seat folds away so the cargo box can be used full length.

The Rhino isn't a big enough machine, for our application, I don't think.

We need to haul chain saws, pruning saws, gas cans, hand tools, cooler

etc. Might even pull a single place trailer to the trail work site. Might also pull the Vermeer stump grinder we own.

We might want a blade for plowing snow at the clubhouse parking lot.
Winch.
Some kinda cab and windshield, especially for winter.

What say?

Blu Du · Feb 25, 2009

hey wiz i got a rhino. 2100 miles on it no problems. my dad had one too until it was stolen from brothers 3 weeks ago. i really like the new ranger xp but power lodge sucks and i won't be goin there again.

Plowboy · Feb 25, 2009

Mule

I have a Mule with the Diesel motor in it on the farm. It packs around a 80 gal spray tank up and down some darn steep hills that I farm and it does not even break a sweat. So if your looking for pulling, pushing and over all a heck of a work horse I would go with the diesel motor, plus in the summer with dry grasses around the diesel is much less likely to start a fire from a hot motor. Only bad thing which I am sure can be changed if a guy wanted to is it has a top speed of 25mph. It has an elec hoist for the bed that allows for the dumping action. So far I have had no problems with it and it has many hours of use on it. The locking diff feature is great as well. I have had both the Gator and a Ranger in the place of the Mule in previous times and neither was really up to the job and neither could accomplish it like the Mule can.

Snowizard · Feb 25, 2009

Blu, I think the Rhino and Ranger, while prob'ly fine machines are not enough of a work vehicle for our app.
And, we have had issues with PL.

Snowizard · Feb 25, 2009

Plowboy said:
I have a Mule with the Diesel motor in it on the farm. It packs around a 80 gal spray tank up and down some darn steep hills that I farm and it does not even break a sweat. So if your looking for pulling, pushing and over all a heck of a work horse I would go with the diesel motor, plus in the summer with dry grasses around the diesel is much less likely to start a fire from a hot motor. Only bad thing which I am sure can be changed if a guy wanted to is it has a top speed of 25mph. It has an elec hoist for the bed that allows for the dumping action. So far I have had no problems with it and it has many hours of use on it. The locking diff feature is great as well. I have had both the Gator and a Ranger in the place of the Mule in previous times and neither was really up to the job and neither could accomplish it like the Mule can.

Great info PB, thats what I'm looking for. Thanks.

Anybody else?

Plowboy · Feb 25, 2009

Power Steering

I have seen advertisements for the Mules with Power steering now and I would really suggest investing in that as with all the weight of these machines a simple pot hole can jerk the wheel out of your hands and over all is a bit harder to steer. Would make it much more manageable for any of the ladies if they so chose to operate it as well.

Snowizard · Feb 26, 2009

Plowboy said:
I have seen advertisements for the Mules with Power steering now and I would really suggest investing in that as with all the weight of these machines a simple pot hole can jerk the wheel out of your hands and over all is a bit harder to steer. Would make it much more manageable for any of the ladies if they so chose to operate it as well.

Good suggestion. I'm making notes. Thanks.

Who else has ideas on these vehicles?

decarls · Feb 26, 2009

I've never been around any of these vehicles but what about the Honda Big Red? I'm guessing it doesn't have as many features as the other vehicles but in my experience & my famalies experience, it's awfull tough to beat a honda reliability.

Transporter · Feb 26, 2009

Mules are really slow from what ive seen.Workhorse mabye.

opus · Feb 26, 2009

Stay away from the Kubota hydro ones!

BossRev · Feb 26, 2009

I really like my 700efi Prowler.

Snowizard · Feb 26, 2009

opus said:
Stay away from the Kubota hydro ones!

Agree'd Opus. Even the Kubota tractor dealer said he wouldn't recommend that model.

Transporter said:
Mules are really slow from what ive seen.Workhorse mabye.

That one was new to me. Googling came up with a modified EZ-GO golf cart chassis with a utility body. Too small for our app.

decarls said:
I've never been around any of these vehicles but what about the Honda Big Red? I'm guessing it doesn't have as many features as the other vehicles but in my experience & my famalies experience, it's awfull tough to beat a honda reliability.

Not too familiar with that one. Looks similar to the Rhino in size. Brothers Motor sports didn't mention that one, although they sell Honda. Prob'ly too small.

BossRev said:
I really like my 700efi Prowler.

I looked at the Prowler specs online. No objections , but prob'ly too small for our app.

Comes down to Gator or Mule, looks like.
Biggest concern in pulling our Vermeer stump grinder. The thing is a hassle to hookup behind a pickup as is, and needs to be maneuvered on a worksite hooked to a vehicle. Its not a stand alone machine like newer stump grinders.

It has two fat terrain-style tires that have a lot of rolling resistance. The machine has a Wisconsin V-4 engine. The whole thing is pretty heavy.

Vermeer doesn't list our model on their website. Ours is prob'ly 10-12 years old. I like their new self propelled models better.

Anyhow, looks like a Diesel Gator or Mule for us.

Is the Gator the same machine as a Mule? Both have the same engine and drive train?

Thanks so far.
More suggestions/comments?
'wiz.

niner49 · Feb 26, 2009

question

Hey Mr Wizard I am just going to throw this out there...why not just pick up an older 4X4 Suzuki Samuri? I picked one up to use as a hunting rig for $1200put tires on it, and absolutely trash the little beast and it goes everywhere!

I could buy 4 of these little machines for the price of the Rhino and do just about everything I want, plus I do not have to haul it to the trail? and if its for a club could save you tons of Money.

Just a thought?

Snowizard · Feb 26, 2009

'49er.
That's an excellent suggestion, and would solve the problem.
....But....
Here's what we ran into. A club member would have donated an older F-150 4x4, 6-cyl. to the club. That would have been perfect.

Our club is a 501c3 non-profit org, but insurance on the pickup would have been prohibitive, even tho it wouldn't be used all that often.

Because its a road vehicle, that 'could be' driven by a number of different club members, however unlikely, the insurance cost was very high.

So that's why we're looking at 'work vehicles'. We can afford the $12K cost of a work vehicle, and it wouldn't take too many years to eat up almost that same cost in insurance on a pickup.

So it goes.... but I like '49ers suggestion. :beer;

TAV · Feb 26, 2009

have a look at joyners. they well built products. might work.

www.teamjoynerusa.com

GMCRMK · Feb 26, 2009

I've got over 3,000 miles on my Ranger XP and it has been great. Clutching is like a sled and it can haul a bunch but is also a lot of fun. Only issue were 1st year model issues that have been fixed since.

Blu Du · Feb 26, 2009

wiz look at the specs they all are the same size with in a couple of inches. the ranger and honda have a much bigger box then the rest. the honda has a hydralic drive tranny and may be more of a work machine. they make the new ranger in the hd model. you can even mount a heavy duty boss v plow on it. brothers can't sell the big red for now since they have other utv brands. they make the ranger in a 4 seater all so

Snowizard · Feb 26, 2009

Blu Du said:
wiz look at the specs they all are the same size with in a couple of inches. the ranger and honda have a much bigger box then the rest. the honda has a hydralic drive tranny and may be more of a work machine. they make the new ranger in the hd model. you can even mount a heavy duty boss v plow on it. brothers can't sell the big red for now since they have other utv brands. they make the ranger in a 4 seater all so

I looked at Big Red specs on line. Didn't know Bro's couldn't sell it. A Ranger would mean dealing with you-know-what dealership.

Fosgate · Feb 26, 2009

4wd dessert buggy

Rhino with 4 seat kit. http://www.beaverpro.com/

3 other nice 4 seaters, 650cc, 800cc & 1100cc Nice lookin units.
http://www.joyner-atv-utv.com/

RMK Junky · Feb 26, 2009

www.bobcat.com They have utillity vehicles with all sort of attachments.

Gator, Kawi Mule or Rhino? Our club looking for input.

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