For more information, or to view the whole utility range from Kawasaki, visit: www. kawasaki. co. uk
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Kawasaki
| ATV
MULE Pro DX Diesel
Farming Monthly speaks to Fred and Monica Akehurst, long-time Mule owners who are now powering around their mixed farm in East Sussex on the new diesel MULE Pro-DX.
F amilies that have fun together, work and play together. They’ re also the kind to do fun things like naming their family cars. In the case of Fred and Monica Akehurst and their son Nigel, their newly acquired MULE Pro-DX( Kawasaki’ s most powerful sideby-side) has been affectionately named‘ Shrek’ after the big green DreamWorks character.
‘ Shrek’ replaces their outgoing MULE, which they bought in 2008, showing the type’ s ability to stand the test of time. As the Akehursts explain, having a MULE on the farm makes a huge difference to their working lives.“ It certainly saves a lot of walking and time and enables us to give better husbandry care to our animals,” they say.
As the photos show, the Akehursts use the MULE to keep tabs on their lamb, beef and arable farm.“ It is used on a daily basis,” they say.“ And there is plenty of room in the back for the dogs to hitch a ride, as well as carry feed bags, wormers or fly repellent plus any equipment that is required.”
The family regularly uses the MULE’ s one-ton towing capacity too:“ We tow a sheep handling system to wherever we need it, sometimes located in fairly inaccessible places as well!”
When it came to choosing a replacement UTV, the Akehursts did in fact look at other makes on the market. As Fred explains:“ We tried the new Pro-DX and we really liked the improvements. It has improved suspension( front and rear are independent) giving a much smoother ride over rough ground. It has also has a higher ground clearance which is useful. I really like the half doors and there is plenty of room along the bench seat. It also has improved towing power and better cleats on the tyres which gives it a more grip through mud.”
The Akehursts also drive their MULE on the road between farms, so they opted for a road legal kit, a windscreen and a roof kit as they use it in all weathers.“ This diesel MULE also has a faster speed of 30mph on the road,” Fred enthuses.
As the family start to work the winter months, they’ re now using the new MULE to take feed blocks to their breeding ewes. Monica says:“ When it is very wet or snowy we load the MULE up with a large round bale of hay in the back to place in feeders – that gives you some idea of the load space. The MULE’ s low ground pressure also minimises the damage to the soil.”
The family also use the MULE when they head out to put up or take down electric fencing.“ We have a Rappa system that attaches to the Mule,” says Monica.“ This works extremely well and makes light work of what would otherwise be an arduous task.”
Come the Spring the Akehurts say they can use the MULE to tow a small trailer which they load up with new born lambs with their mother to transport them to the sheds.
“ We’ re very proud to own a Kawasaki MULE,” they enthuse.
“ We bought ours from Ernest Doe and they’ ve just carried out the first service. We’ re very pleased with it and having efficient aftersales service is important to us – we’ re always so busy.”
For more information, or to view the whole utility range from Kawasaki, visit: www. kawasaki. co. uk
For more information
Contact your nearest dealer
C. J. Keitch Engineering Dunkeswell, Honiton Devon EX14 4LH 01404 891796 www. cjkeitch. co. uk
Southam Agri. Services Southam, Warwickshire CV47 2DH 01926 813426 http:// southamagri. co. uk
Day & Coles Ltd Newton Close, Park Farm Ind. Est. Wellingborough NN8 6UW 01933 673900 www. farmingmonthly. co. uk January 2017 | Farming Monthly | 51