Quad or Mule?
- Thread starter GAM
- Start date
About 15 years we sold our quad and replaced it with a mule within a year of red faces and swearing we bought a quad again but as well as. Mule is useless for getting cattle and sheep in moving etc. We still have a Polaris and dad loves it for sheparding feeding etc he does everything on it but at 79 wouldn’t do it on the bike
Davey
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
I'd say they are two different tools really.
Quads are light, nimble and relatively cheap. UTVs are comparably slow and heavy but safer and higher payloads, basically a small farm truck.
As a single parent with two small children I'd be lost without my RTV as they can sit on the bench seat whilst I feed round. Also mine has a cab with doors which in the winter is a bonus (well for them, its still raining when you get out lol)
Quads are light, nimble and relatively cheap. UTVs are comparably slow and heavy but safer and higher payloads, basically a small farm truck.
As a single parent with two small children I'd be lost without my RTV as they can sit on the bench seat whilst I feed round. Also mine has a cab with doors which in the winter is a bonus (well for them, its still raining when you get out lol)
it's not over
Member
- Location
- thunder rd co.antrim
Sold our Polaris, never missed it,if the quad was stolen I'd have a new quad tomorrow. Although we have no sheeps
Last edited:
Tarw Coch
Member
- Location
- Bottom of Wats Dyke
We bought a Kioti after having our quad stolen 8 years ago and wouldn’t go back to a quad again.
Advantages include minimal fuel costs on red which is allways on farm, storage space so lots of stuff that might be needed e.g hammer and staples and electric fencing kit lives in the back along with the ability to carry anything needed such as bags of feed and the fact that it’s considerably warmer than a quad even though we have the drivers side door removed.
Biggest downside is speed, it will severely struggle to get past running cattle on the flat but hopefully that isn’t something required too often.
We did have a petrol canam on loan whilst the Kioti was in for repairs last year but despite its extra speed we were glad to get the Kioti back, the Kioti is more of a no frills rugged workhorse and after getting used to the low fuel requirements of a diesel I couldn’t go back to petrol.
Not particularly cheap things to buy and maintain but the Kioti has cost less in maintenance than previous quads and the fuel savings have more than made up for the extra purchase price.
Advantages include minimal fuel costs on red which is allways on farm, storage space so lots of stuff that might be needed e.g hammer and staples and electric fencing kit lives in the back along with the ability to carry anything needed such as bags of feed and the fact that it’s considerably warmer than a quad even though we have the drivers side door removed.
Biggest downside is speed, it will severely struggle to get past running cattle on the flat but hopefully that isn’t something required too often.
We did have a petrol canam on loan whilst the Kioti was in for repairs last year but despite its extra speed we were glad to get the Kioti back, the Kioti is more of a no frills rugged workhorse and after getting used to the low fuel requirements of a diesel I couldn’t go back to petrol.
Not particularly cheap things to buy and maintain but the Kioti has cost less in maintenance than previous quads and the fuel savings have more than made up for the extra purchase price.
betternextyear
Member
- Location
- salop
If you have livestock a quad is essential. A mule is a luxury that is too slow ,cumbersome and expensive.
- Location
- Scottish Highlands
Wouldn't be without the quad. If I was tempted by a mule, I'd be seriously looking at a KAP suzuki instead - well worth a look from what I've seen, but not driven one.
- Location
- northumberland
If you have a pickup/landrover buy a quad, if you don’t have a pickup/landrover buy a quad and a cheaper pickup
- Location
- Devon
As above, much prefer a quad for stock work. Bought an rtv few months back specifically for pig and chicken work, as well as passenger capability for other jobs. But kept the quad and would take that over the rtv for cattle/ sheep work every time.
ollie989898
Member
Very different tools as you say. UTVs seem hellish expensive for what they are but the added safety and utility for taking the kids around with you, getting the old man around the place etc has to be factored in. You can also have a sealed, heated cabin and carry a good payload with them. Not as handy as a quad but then neither is a pick up.
- Location
- South West
Kawasaki Mule is good. Diesel engine, decent 4WD, can fit a round bale in the back. We're using ours for lots of Stewardship jobs too. Much better than the Polaris and it just depends if you want to move away from a quad. Main benefits of quad are obvs speed and manouverability.
What sort of breakdowns what make?
engine Went bang, trans went bang, won’t run properly.
Polaris
I keep trying to get Dad to look at one but all of a sudden when you look at them the petrol mot and insurance they are not that cheap and a professional converted one is £16k ish