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Kawasaki mule vs Kubota UTV

W

WNYBill

Member
Have had a 2010 Kawasaki Mule Trans, good machine but not bulletproof. Have had fuel delivery and clutch problems, 2010 was the first year
for fuel injection. Thinking about trading, we use, not abuse it daily, but never loaded anywhere near capacity. The built in braking of
the hydrostatic drive Kubota is a selling point, we have hills and you have to use the brakes for the Mule. The Kubota is way more money and
I question if it is worth it. Anybody with experience with both?
 
I have a Kubota RTV900. It has been a very reliable machine and is built for work. The hydraulic braking takes some getting used to how you let off the throttle. The range transmission can be hard to shift until you learn how to do it, you cannot shift it when a load or hill is pushing against the gears and lots of people have messed up the shifter and cables jerking on the handle when all you have to do is read the owners manual. Ours has been relatively trouble free. A few electrical gizmos, u-joints in the rear axles, belts and hoses,, about it. Best quality side by side work vehicle out there. I wouldn't own anything else over it.
 
between a Mule and a Kubota, the Kubota is light years above the Mule,, I would own a Kubota one if they had the travel speed I require for my application, I know a couple guys here who bought Mules new,, to me they are ok but not the quality I want,, everyone I knew who had one has since long traded them off and upgraded, I have over 6K on my Ranger,, when its time I will again stay with Polaris,, I am 99% satisfied with it,, not that you asked so disregard this info,, just threw it in,, I have only heard two things against a Kubota and it is going on 10 years old, that one heats if you are running at full speed or working it hard in the summer,, also seems to plug the air filter fast,, again I think both of those issues have been fixed by now from what i was told,
cnt
 
Know nothing of the Kawasaki but have seen the Kubota RTV 900 used and abused by trainman at our RR switching yard. flat ground mostly but run hard at least7-8 hours in a 24 hour period 7 days a week numerous operators get in, foot to the floor usually and not gentle with it but they hold up.a battery operated utv was brought for them to “try out”(no idea the brand) and didn’t last 3 weeks!
 
looked at 2019 bota very uncomfortable very little leg room , its not a true hydastatic you still have to shift it and if your plowing snow that gets old fast , we bought a BOBCAT 3600 its a true hydrostatic , diesel , A/C and heat , 4x4 with a turf mode as not to tear up good lawn , down fall its slow around 25mph tops but I knew this going in and love it so far , when I plow I do so in low range at up to 8mph fast enough for what I do
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X2....Polaris is light yrs. ahead of either one. Mule & Kub. are both slow and ruff riders. SIL has a Honda and it's been a good machine. Just my opinion...you asked.
 
The Kubota diesel UTV is a commercial machine and built accordingly. The Mule is not.

Yes, it's slow and expensive but it will hold up to commercial use.

Dean
 
Actually the RTV is a true hydrostatic drive. Has a range transmission same as your Bobcat does and many other H-D hydrostatic applications. Differance being Kubota decided to reverse the RTVs with the the transmission instead of reversing the swash plate in the hydro pump. Agreed that in many uses it would be handier to reverse it with the hydro, that complaint is aired often on the RTV forums,, always by people plowing snow with one.
 
Polaris also has independent suspension. A lot better than straight axel on hillside. Far more stable than the earlier machines. You might want to check this no mater what you buy.
 
We have a pair of RTV 1140's at the tree farm when I work part time. The machines get used HARD by a variety of operators ranging from 16 year old kids to the owner's octogenarian father.

As other's point out the RTV's hydrostatic engine braking takes a bit of getting used to. But once understood it works great.

Both have been pretty much trouble-free. Each has accumulated 1,000+ hours with only one half-shaft joint failure and a bunch of flat tires.

Yeah the Kubota's are spendy. But for us it has been worth it.
 
I do not understand your message it is NOT A TRUE HYDROSTAT , It definitely is a true hydrostatic that also has a three gear transmission behind it.
 
I had a 900 rtv in the shop last winter. The dang thing has the radiator under the bed where it will pack with mud. The engine got hot and was ruined. I will stick with Polaris. Have 5 on the farm and they are fast and smooth riding.
 

Its a good thing you don't need the brakes on a bota other than for parking. The brakes are a P.O.S. in my opinion... They could have done better : (
 
I agree with grizzo2. I own 3 hydrostatics, 2 Kubota and one JD. If you have to shift a lever other than the foot controls to reverse, if isn't true hydro to me. In my way of thinking, with a hydro your hands should be free to steer and hold a beer/coffee.
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