It's made by Kawasaki.

Sorry for the silly reply but you're going to have to be a LOT more specific with your question.

 

Ok, Does they have any reliabiality issues? What size engine does it have? How fast will it go? Would it be a good addition to my fleet for yard work and light trail ridding? How does it compair to the mule 1000?

 

Your question is so broad that you can anticipate that responses will be all over the map. My personal experience is based on a '97 Model 2510 4x4. My unit was purchased used off e-BAY so I have no clew regarding prior owner's maintenance practices. My mule is uses for general utility work, hunting support etc in northern Wisconsin on moderately rugged logging road terraine. That said, I have been generally pleased with its overall practicality, load carrying ability and general durability. I am not mechanically inclined myself and limit myself to oil/filter/fuel filter level of maintenance. I use it on heavily wooded trails where top end speed is simply not an issue. Even with 4WD I find that it high centers in about 5 inches of snow. I find that most of my problems center around carberator issues, rust in the fuel tank, etc. Not major mechanical issues; more of the pain in the butt level. I absolutely would buy another one.

 

They have a lot of reliability issues but they are generally minor annoyances, caused by sitting a lot, or come from having the crap beat out of them...nothing you're not going to get with any other machine as capable...

Engine size depends on the options during purchase. The base gas engine is a 620cc v-twin liquid cooled gasoline engine. RCW swears by his 3010 4x4 diahatsu diesel although he has had some issues with their crankshafts on the older models I think that's been resolved on the newer models.

They'll run about 30 mph safely. Anything more and you need to get a dune buggy not a mule...

A mule is an excellent addition for towing, hauling, and general utility use. Light trail riding it will also excel at, although as shink mentioned, they are not too much on ground clearance. There have been some attempts at lifting the mules to get more ground clearance and larger tires on them but with any modifications, they shorten service life. Lifts and larger tires wear out bearings, ball joints, and other steering components at an alarming rate

The mule 1000 was a strange beast... sort of a mix between a motorcycle and a golfcart. The mule 1000 used the engine out of a Kawasaki LTD440 cruiser motorcycle complete with twin vacuum carbs (which are apparently a sore point with most mule 1000 owners as they are VERY expensive to repair) mated to a mule-like transmission.

Apparently they had the possibility to be VERY fast if properly modified, although apparently equally as unsafe as the new ones much above 35 mph....

The mule 1000 had a few model specific problems as well as the normal host of mule general problems. I've seen a few posts lately about shift forks in the mule 1000's. Those apparently give some trouble, as well as the aforementioned vacuum diaphragms inside the carburetors.

Then there's the host of mule problems... Sticky or ineffective drum brakes, grinding while going into gear, steering unresponsive/makes noise, general creaks/cracks/moans/groans, and carburetor gumming/blockage issues.


If you are not going to be using the machine for the utility it was designed for, perhaps you should look into the Teryx. It has the 750cc v-twin engine out of the Brute force and the suspension and brakes to go with it. It would be MUCH more capable off-roading and playing in the mud.