BrianSouthernMD
Silver Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2005
- Messages
- 227
- Location
- Southern MD
- Tractor
- 2005 Bobcat Toolcat 5600 Turbo 56hp, 2003 DR Field & Brush Mower 17hp, 1981 Cub Cadet 582 16hp
I want to maintain and enhance our 168-acre farm, incl. basic forestry management. I initially looked at CUT & ag/utility tractors such as Massey Ferguson 15xx & low-profile 4xx series (as well as skid steer loaders), but TractorbyNet forum reading over past six months and demos (thanks Charlie & TBNers!) point me to either the Bobcat Toolcat 5600T all-wheel steer, axle-oscillating 4WD utility work machine or the Power Trac 1850 articulated and oscillating 4WD loader tractor.
F/t farmers provide equipment for field crops raised on 65 level acres. My equipment will cover rest on 20 acres of hilly lawn & pasture (hills have 10 to 21 degree slopes), 60 acres of woodland and heavy brush (flat, gently sloping & steeply sloping; half harvested 7 years ago), 20 acres of marsh, a 7500 ft.-long gravel road, own gravel pit, 3500 ft. of shoreline, plus other field, forest and road edges/trails.
You can get an idea of initial projects by machines & front-mounted attachments I'm considering:
***Bobcat Toolcat 5600 Turbo [56hp Kubota diesel, 18gpm @3000 psi aux. hyd., w/opt. 26gpm high flow?, 1500 lb. ROC lift arm to 84", 4/wheel steering, oscillation, 4WD, HST, cruise control, passenger seat, w/free cab & HVAC]
**Bucket, 62"
**Box Scraper, 68"
**Pallet Forks, 48" teeth
**Auger Drive Unit w/6" bit
**TBD Root Rake Brush Grapple, 60"
**Bobcat Mower, 72" or 90" 3-spindle finish, or Bobcat Flail Cutter, 79"
**Ammbusher Brushcutter, 60"
OR ***Power Trac 1850 Slope Mower [65hp Deutz diesel, 18gpm @3200psi, 1200 lb. lift to 72", oscillation, 4WD, HST, duals] with seven front-mounted hyd. attachments similar to those listed for Toolcat.
TOOLCAT ADVANTAGES:
-Bobcat dealer full-service support;
-Rental of addl. attachments from dealers & rental shops;
-Many skid steer attachments work on Toolcat;
-Passenger seat so my aging father or other assistant can get all over the farm during projects (later for me!);
-Enc. cab with great HVAC, visibility & sound muffling;
-Dump bed to carry tools, fence posts, etc.
-More maneuverable in woods at 61" wide w/4-wheel steering;
-Just light enough to mow on turf, but heavier and well-balanced for more lift, push and pull capabilities;
-Has new 3ph rear PTO option if ever decide to pull 4000-lb. hay mower, conditioner or small baler.
POWER TRAC 1850 PLUSES:
-Purchase / communicate directly with manufacturer;
-Navigates steeper slopes with wider stance/duals;
-Lower COG, shorter;
-Lighter by 1000 pounds (4000 v. 5000) for turf work;
-Simpler design and less electronics for repair ease;
-TractorbyNet PowerTrac forum support;
-Most attachments a bit less expensive.
Beacuse of current Bobcat incentives and dealer discounts, price of the Toolcat package w/attachments above is only a couple thousand dollars more than the Power Trac 1850 package, even though list price difference is $9,000+.
Would you go with Toolcat 5600T or Power Trac 1850 or something else for our farm?
F/t farmers provide equipment for field crops raised on 65 level acres. My equipment will cover rest on 20 acres of hilly lawn & pasture (hills have 10 to 21 degree slopes), 60 acres of woodland and heavy brush (flat, gently sloping & steeply sloping; half harvested 7 years ago), 20 acres of marsh, a 7500 ft.-long gravel road, own gravel pit, 3500 ft. of shoreline, plus other field, forest and road edges/trails.
You can get an idea of initial projects by machines & front-mounted attachments I'm considering:
***Bobcat Toolcat 5600 Turbo [56hp Kubota diesel, 18gpm @3000 psi aux. hyd., w/opt. 26gpm high flow?, 1500 lb. ROC lift arm to 84", 4/wheel steering, oscillation, 4WD, HST, cruise control, passenger seat, w/free cab & HVAC]
**Bucket, 62"
**Box Scraper, 68"
**Pallet Forks, 48" teeth
**Auger Drive Unit w/6" bit
**TBD Root Rake Brush Grapple, 60"
**Bobcat Mower, 72" or 90" 3-spindle finish, or Bobcat Flail Cutter, 79"
**Ammbusher Brushcutter, 60"
OR ***Power Trac 1850 Slope Mower [65hp Deutz diesel, 18gpm @3200psi, 1200 lb. lift to 72", oscillation, 4WD, HST, duals] with seven front-mounted hyd. attachments similar to those listed for Toolcat.
TOOLCAT ADVANTAGES:
-Bobcat dealer full-service support;
-Rental of addl. attachments from dealers & rental shops;
-Many skid steer attachments work on Toolcat;
-Passenger seat so my aging father or other assistant can get all over the farm during projects (later for me!);
-Enc. cab with great HVAC, visibility & sound muffling;
-Dump bed to carry tools, fence posts, etc.
-More maneuverable in woods at 61" wide w/4-wheel steering;
-Just light enough to mow on turf, but heavier and well-balanced for more lift, push and pull capabilities;
-Has new 3ph rear PTO option if ever decide to pull 4000-lb. hay mower, conditioner or small baler.
POWER TRAC 1850 PLUSES:
-Purchase / communicate directly with manufacturer;
-Navigates steeper slopes with wider stance/duals;
-Lower COG, shorter;
-Lighter by 1000 pounds (4000 v. 5000) for turf work;
-Simpler design and less electronics for repair ease;
-TractorbyNet PowerTrac forum support;
-Most attachments a bit less expensive.
Beacuse of current Bobcat incentives and dealer discounts, price of the Toolcat package w/attachments above is only a couple thousand dollars more than the Power Trac 1850 package, even though list price difference is $9,000+.
Would you go with Toolcat 5600T or Power Trac 1850 or something else for our farm?