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Kawasaki’s diesel Mule ready to conquer Africa!
Kawasaki firmly believes in horses for courses–that’s why their new Mule 4010 Diesel 4X4 is such a winner for those who want a solid no-nonsense pack-mule rather than a twitchy racehorse, or something between the two that tries to do both jobs and excels at neither. The Mule 4010 diesel, now available with seating for two or four people, joins the popular Mule 600 in the Kawasaki utility stable, providing an ultra-versatile heavy-duty workhorse for people needing a rugged but nimble utility vehicle for the farm or estate.
Lets start with size. Any beast of burden worth its salt has to have enough bulk to get the job done, and the Kawasaki Mule 4010 is a solid beast that’s bigger than and weighs significantly more than opposition 4X4 utilities, giving it the capacity to cope with a worthwhile load. The oil-burning Mule uses a gutsy, robust, and smooth 953cc three-cylinder liquid-cooled diesel engine, where most of its rivals feed petrol to one or, at most, two cylinders. Where utility vehicles like this slot handily into the gap between bakkie and quad, the majority are closer to quads in terms of work capacity. The Mule 4010 4X4 moves significantly into bakkie territory when it comes to load-carrying capacity, while retaining the advantages of the smaller machines.
The diesel Kawasaki’s maximum power output is 17,7 kW at 3600 rpm, but, more importantly, the peak torque of 52 Nm arrives at a lowly 2800 rpm, making the Mule 4010 a superb load carrier that’s capable of carrying 499kg in its massive bin without baulking. Add the 545kg towing capacity, and the Kawasaki can transport over a ton of freight across all sorts of terrain.
The Mule 4010 Diesel delivers superb off-road ability, thanks to its selectable 4X4 power delivery, ample ground clearance, short wheelbase when compared with a bakkie, and suspension that’s focused on crossing rugged terrain with ease. The Mule uses a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with high and low range selectivity, and a lockable rear differential. Used in unlocked mode, this, together with the vehicle’s fat tyres and light footprint, reduces terrain damage and crop destruction.
The Kawasaki’s body panels are made of durable colour-coded plastic, and the air intake is positioned at the top of the cab frame to prevent possible engine damage when crossing deep water. The front hood can be lifted at the touch of a button to give access to a healthy-sized stowage compartment, complete with D-rings for securing of cargo. The steel cargo bin measures 1175 x 1310 x 288 mm, and tilts for easy unloading. Its rated load capacity is 499 kg, a whopping 318 kg more than that of its lightweight Mule 600 stablemate.
The big Mule uses a ladder-type chassis riding on DeDion rear suspension that reduces unsprung weight and keeps the rear wheels parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground being crossed, irrespective of body roll. Long-travel MacPherson struts look after the front end, and rack-and-pinion steering retains feel and remains light and manoeuvrable, no matter how rough the terrain.
The four self-adjusting drum brakes are sealed against water and dust, and chunky 23” tyres provide excellent traction and comfort while reducing damage to the ground they cross.
Like its smaller sibling, the Mule 4010 Diesel 4X4 features a dual bench seat up front, while the Mule 4010 TRANS4X4 also offers a second row of fold down seats allowing for two more passengers. Both boast very user-friendly controls and instrumentation. The high/low range and forward/reverse shift lever, as well as the four-wheel-drive selector, are all within easy reach on the dash. The handbrake lever is positioned so as not to hinder entry and exit from the passenger area, and instrumentation includes an hour meter, a fuel gauge, and a hooter.
For the farmer, conservationist, or estate manager who needs a truly versatile go-anywhere utility vehicle that can do a solid day’s work at low cost without destroying the terrain it needs to cross, the Kawasaki Mule 4010 Diesel is hard to beat. It carries bakkie-class loads across terrain that would make a 4x4 pickup flinch, yet offers the nimbleness of a quad. As pioneers around the world have proven over centuries, when there’s real work to be done, you just can’t beat a good Mule!
PIC: For true versatility, Kawasaki’s unique Trans4x4 feature offers the ability to maximise carrying capacity with the extended cargo bed in 2-person mode or maximise personnel transport in 4-person mode.
PIC: For true versatility, Kawasaki’s unique Trans4x4 feature offers the ability to maximise carrying capacity with the extended cargo bed in 2-person mode or maximise personnel transport in 4-person mode.
Specifications
Kawasaki Mule 4010 Diesel 4X4 (also available as a four seater )
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Engine type
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953 cm3, liquid cooled, 3-cylinder OHV 4-stroke
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Maximum power
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17.7 kW (24 PS) / 3,600 rpm
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Maximum torque
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52 N·m (5.3 kgf·m) / 2,800 rpm
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Transmission
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2 speed automatic, selectable 4WD plus reverse
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Final Drive
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Limited slip front differential, Dual-Mode rear differential
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Electrical
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12V, 52Ah
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Drive Train
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Automatic torque-converter, dual-range,
forward, neutral, reverse
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Suspension, front
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Independent, MacPherson strut
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Suspension, rear
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Semi-independent, De Dion axle
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Wheel travel, front
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100 mm
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Wheel travel, rear
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70 mm
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Steering
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Rack & pinion
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Tyre, front
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23 x 11-10 (tubeless)
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Tyre, rear
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23 x 11-10 (tubeless)
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Brakes, front
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Dual hydraulic drums
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Brakes, rear
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Dual hydraulic drums
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Turning radius
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3.4 m
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Dimensions (L x W x H)
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2,861 x 1,440 x 1,930 mm
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Cargo bed (L x W x H)
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1,175 x 1,310 x 288 mm (two seater version)
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Wheelbase
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1,870 mm
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Track width, front / rear
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1,160 / 1,180 mm
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Ground Clearance
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175 mm
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Vehicle Load Capacity
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740 kg
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Cargo Bed Load Capacity
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499 kg
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Towing Capacity
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545 kg
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Fuel capacity
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20 litres
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Dry weight
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683 kg
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Top speed
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40 km/h
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