Considering getting a Kawasaki Mule - any experiences to share?

[GoodLineNotSquare]

Our property came with a quad bike, a small tractor and a topper, and basically I'm looking to trade the whole lot in for a 4x4 Mule, and pay a contractor to do the paddocks when needed. (Backstory: Mrs GLNS refuses to drive the quad, which in any case has needed increasingly expensive monthly repairs, and I have no experience of driving tractors and think that learning about PTOs the hard way is not attractive.)

So- any good or bad experiences of Mules, which seem to offer all the trailer-dragging, hay-moving, poo-shifting jobs we need without the drama of a quad? Anyone use a Mule to harrow an arena?

 

[Rowreach]

Fantastic beasts, and a lot lot safer than a quad. And more practical because you can put lots of stuff in it. The NFU Countryside magazine machinery review chappy did a spread on the various alternatives, don't know if you can find it online.

Tractors are only worthwhile if you are going to make use of them, and depending on your acreage it's a lot more cost effective to get someone in to do your work than to do it yourself.

 

[FfionWinnie]

Yes they are great utility vehicles but not as manoeverable as a quad so it might be annoying in the arena.

 

[Rowreach]

I gave up harrowing the arena with the quad after nearly killing myself, and now do it with the jeep, and rake the corners by hand.

 

[benz]

We have mule and quads, pros and cons to both - mule is useful if its raining for sure it can pull more weight, you can fit a few people and dogs and all equipment in, pop to the shops in it etc. Quads are lighter so better on wet ground, and easier to manoeuvre, can get through narrow wooded tracks better with quad and its just more fun

Unless you have a large arena mule will be difficult to turn in there.

Our mule is about 5 years old, gets used daily for heavy duty work and is not treated with a great deal of respect and is in and out of mechanics. Always something going wrong with it but as i say its not well looked after!

Personally i find a good quad and trailer more useful than the mule.

 

[blitznbobs]

We have a mule it's a great bit of kit we also have a compact tractor and together there isn't a job they can't do - mule is used for poo Hoover and shifting stuff but we use the tractor for the ménage (this is because the harrows and leveller have the right hitches for the tractor tho)

 

[Morag4]

We have a small mule and it's brill, poo picking, shifting sml bales of hay, carrying all the elec fence bits and bobs, it tows a small topper easily absolutely brill bit of kit.

 

[turnbuckle]

Lose the vile quad, keep the tractor. PTOs are really very easy. A cheap alternative to a mule is a small 4x4, Suzuki sort. Buy an MoT failure for not much at all - although if you're not mechanical that may not be the best idea.