I've been toying with the idea of getting a side-by-side. The most common use would be to load feeders and transport myself, wife and dog (who may have to go in back).

I have never driven either one but I did sit in each today.

I went in thinking I favored the Ranger but its bed seemed a little high to work out of (or for an 8 year old dog to jump into) and it's finish seemed more designed to be car-like (meaning the tailgate latch was fussy).

On the other hand, the Mule felt just right on approach. It's tailgate was two no-nonsense latches and it felt better to sit in.

Either one must fit in a 5X8 trailer because I don't want to have to sell & buy one of those again.

I have been watching my truck speed while at the lease and I never exceed 25 mph. I suspect I'd drive a utv the same way. I would not leave dirt (sometimes muddy) roads with ruts or gravel roads.

To those of you who have driven both, does the Mule seem like the better choice for these conditions or did I miss something?

Thanks!

First off, if your getting a mule or ranger your only two options are the Ranger mid size (400 or 500) and the mule 610 due to trailer specs. I just bought the Ranger 400 due to ride quality, power and its liquid cooled for those hot summer days. The mule is built very nicely but the ride was not even close.

I am looking at used units. I failed to mention that. Sorry.

I measured a Mule 3010 & it seemed like it would fit as well as a Ranger 700. I was using a dinky 6' pocket tape measure, so there is a lot of room for error.

I am trying to keep my total cost as far under $5000 as I can. That seems to put me in the 2000-2003 model years.

I think the polaris ranger 400 is $8100 MSRP but have seen some end of year specials for $7600.

Good Luck,

Casey

Thanks. I need to look into that. For a few thousand more, I can eliminate a decade of unknown storage & use.

Pros and cons to both.

The ride and suspension on the Ranger is better.

I have had both. The Rangers have had less issues.

Ride and decide what suits your usage the most.

I have ridden in mules, gators, can am commanders, and rangers. IMO nothing compares to the ranger. But like bbqfan stated only the mid size ranger will fit your trailer specs. The full size ranger is 6' wide. Good luck with your choice both are fine machines...

My 2010 Ranger crew fits on a 60" (5ft) wide trailer.

I have a Ranger but have had both of them in the past. I like the overall feel of the Ranger and I have a 6 year old lab and he can jump in the bed(before I put high rack in it) but he just gets in the back seat now. Plenty of power to tow a small trailer around the ranch and plenty of room to carry things on the roof.

A Yamaha Rhino will fit on your trailer, no problem. When I bought new I chose the Rhino over Mule because of better ground clearence, larger fuel capacity, better top end speed and more aftermarket products. It has served me well for 3 years.

I have a gator and would not recommend it to anyone because of the cheap bucket seats. The Ranger has a flaw that I can not abide. You can't put a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood in the bed because of the wrap around taillights. Many things come in 4 foot sheets. I'd go for the Mule. It's been around longer.

I traded a Polaris 500 for a Ranger, and drove it for 5 years. It was fairly dependable, but it kept having timing issues. In January, I sat in and then drove the Can-Am Commander, and immediately traded the Ranger! The ride and stability was far superior to the Ranger, even when carrying a 1000 pounds of humans! (4 adults)

However, if you are wanting to go with a used UTV, you're best best is to check all of them, and get the best deal. You might want to check out the local John Deere dealers, since there are more of them around. They have new and often have used UTV's.

Make sure you get new seats if you go with the John Deer. They're cheaply built but not cheaply replacec.

I just bought a mule.. Never drove a ranger.

I bought the mule because it looked heavy duty were the ranger looked like plastic. I have had Polaris ATV's, and swore never to buy another.... to many problems.

I bought the mule to work out of at the lease and drive to the deer stand. If you want a race car don't buy one, but if you want tough & dependable... By the mule!

I have added the heavy duty roof, ranch hand bumper, & CV gaurds... Like having a little tank now, and the kids love to ride it.
My brother changed out his tires and the ride improved tremendously!

What year model is your Gator? I bought a new Gator this year and think the seat is more than adequate. I looked at all major brands and a few knock offs and liked the Gator the best and it was cheaper than the other major brands. XUV 550 I have 50 hrs on it and love it so far. This is my first utv so maybe I am easily impressed! lol

. I had an 01' and now have an 04. My neighbor has an 04. The seats separated on all of them after a few years. No other problems.

I've drove a mule the past several deer seasons at a friends property in south tx. He lets us use it the entire 3-4 days we are there, and I have really come to like the mule. Never had to put it in mud or had to use 4x4, but I've really liked it for putting around the hill country.

But, last friday evening a buddy and I took his ranger riding. We didn't ride around near as much time as I've been in the mule, but the overall ride was amazing. And I mean amazing. Some really rough dropoffs, and it didn't feel like anything in the ranger. The mule is a little rougher riding, but maybe its not completely fair to compare because the mule is the crew cab version and the ranger isn't. But the ride was noticeable..

I owned a 3010 Mule Trans (4 seater) for 3-4 years and I have owned a 2009 Ranger 700 (only year they put the 700 in the new body style, I searched for a long time to get it).

Your initial impression will be the Mule is built tougher because the lack of plastic...this is where it stops. There is nite and day difference between the ride and payload between the two. The ride in the Mule will beat your fillings loose where the ride in the Ranger is more like a 4wd truck.

I didn't have problems with either one...I feel they are both built extremely well and are great machines.

I did upgrade trailers (went to 6.5ft wide) when I bought the Ranger because 5ft trailer is a lot tighter for the Ranger than it is the Mule.

The reason I sold the Mule and went with the Ranger is the difference that you can run in water. The Ranger you can run about 2" below the seat and the Mule you can't get over the floor board...reason why is the airbox sits right on top of the floor and has a dust cover coming off the bottom of it. That doesn't seem like that big of a deal but as a duck hunter it is important.

If my memory serves me correctly, Kawasaki built the mule as a utility vehicle and it has evolved to appeal to sportsmen. Polaris started with Jet Skis & wanted some of the Mule's sportsman action & came up with their ATV's & Ranger.

"Genetics" aside, how much of the Mule's harsh ride could be improved with lower tire pressures?

Many years ago I raced off-road motorcycles. Sometimes I rode them on the street. I ran about 22 psi on the street and 8-12 psi off road. I'd have been on my arse with higher pressures in the dirt.

Also, how much would you let fuel injection influence your decision over a carbureted model? These type of vehicles tend to have periods where they may sit for a few months & ethanol has a very short shelf life, so I've heard.

I have one of the first models of Mules ever made and it still runs great. I bought it used and have no idea how it was treated by it's previous owners but even if the motor blew tomorrow I've gotten my moneys worth out of it. I've never ridden in a Polaris or Yamaha but I know it rides decent to me; but to be honest I care more about what it does than how it feels. Great machines in my opinion. Heck they are all probably great machines.

I assume you when you say "Genetics aside" you are referring to the straight rear axle on the Mule vs independent suspension on the Ranger. No way to over come that in comparison...I never ran over 10lbs of pressure in my mule and if you run across a plowed or disc'ed field it hurt at anything besides a crawl.

The mule I owned was the last year for the carb...08 I believe and outside of the first starting of the day or after it had sat a while it started the same. That first start was significantly different. Never have to choke an EFI and it starts easy every time...the Mule wasn't that way but not a deciding factor on which I would buy.

Thanks. By "Genetics" I meant their history.

I have looked at a couple of Rangers but no Mules yet. The used Rangers both had Carbs & solid rear axles (pre-independent rear suspension). I'm sure the newer ones ride much better.

There may be a high-hour Mule available that I want to see. It has efi, but I know no more than that right now.

I want whatever I get to start when I turn the key and get me where I'm going and back. I'll probably park it next to my hunting trailer for deer season & bring it in for cleaning & tune-up in the spring.

Don't take this the wrong way because your entitled to spent your money how ever you'd like; but if your only going to use it a few times during hunting season it is a big waste of money. Any reason as to why you just can't use your truck? Or do you just really want a UTV?

Hmmm? Maybe $13k for a new Ranger running through brush, rock and mud vs a $40k truck may put a little more perspective on it. I leave mine on the lease year round in my toy hauler. I make the 900 mile round trip about once every 6 weeks to check on things and relax. Older trucks have had the dreaded "mesquite pin striping" and numerous $350 thorn in a sidwall truck tires from ranch use.

I know i could put a beater truck there and be fine but the summer months. But when the kids want to ride around in the highrack drive me around it is a little more enjoyable.