Toolcat demo

[Hay Dude]

My local bobcat dealer rents Toolcats to college campuses primarily for snow removal. During the warmer months they sit more that winter, so they offered to let me demo one for a month free.
I used it with a smooth edge bucket to clean barn stalls and do some light digging. I really liked it. It'll pick up 4x5 round bales no problem and theres 7' of room under them fully raised. No quite certain it can load them 2 layers high on my 32" high trailer though. I thought it dug fairly well. Love the way the loader works.
Heres my list of jobs:
1. Snowplow 22 driveways grouped within a 2 mile radius of small back roads with a 90" Artic ploy snowplow (700lbs)
2. Handle a Snow Ex tailgate salt spreader with the 2" receiver and 80lb bags of rock salt in bed.
3. Unload 4x5 round bales and stack 2 layers high in barn.
4. Load 4x5 round bales 2 layers high onto 32" high flat trailer.
5. Cut moderate brush with 6-7' brush cutter
6. Cut 2-5 acre paddocks with 90" finish mower.
7. Auger fence post or smaller tree holes.

I only got to use the loader. Have an email into dealer to see if they have a brush cutter attachment I can use to see if I like how it cuts brush.
The model they loaned me is a 2012 and a NOT high flow. It has 890 hours and they want $39,000. Way too much, IMO.
I'm almost certain Id like to have the taller tires to improve GC and ride a little more. Also might give me a few more inches of load height. Definately want hi-flow.

I cant afford new. Looking in 30-35K range. What early models should be avoided?

Can anyone thats an owner comment on the tasks I want to do? Will I be disappointed?
and does anyone have the taller tires?

 

[DEWFPO]

I found digging with a smooth edged bucket to be a bit frustrating and I would suggest using a toothed bucket edge for this type of work. I have taller tires and when the attachments are horizontal (bucket, snowblower) they aren't level with the ground obviously so you have to tilt them down if you want a good scrap on pavements or concrete. Just realize that as you hit expansion joints or cracks in the pavement it's quite jarring and can cause damage to the machine and/or the pavement. The snowplow doesn't care and works fine.

DEWFPO

 

[Hay Dude]

How did you get taller tires? Order with machine, or add later?
Can you post some pictures of your TC with taller tires?
What do you think about 90" snowplow? Too big?
Thanks for the info!

 

[DEWFPO]

I ordered the Toolcat from the dealer with the taller tires. Stock tires were 27" and the larger are 29". They're the AG tires on the same rims. At the time I bought mine it cost an extra $250.

I have an 84" Bobcat Snowblade and I have no issues with it at all even with heavy wet snow on steep slopes. It makes quick work of a lot of snow. Where I live, I run out of room to push the snow and have to resort to the snowblower to blow the snow over the built-up windrows or blow the piles back out of the way to make more room.

Here's a pic with the 72" SB200 on the Toolcat (click on it for a bigger pic). I don't have any pics of the Snowblade on the Toolcat.

DEWFPO

 

[Hay Dude]

I ordered the Toolcat from the dealer with the taller tires. Stock tires were 27" and the larger are 29". They're the AG tires on the same rims. At the time I bought mine it cost an extra $250.

I have an 84" Bobcat Snowblade and I have no issues with it at all even with heavy wet snow on steep slopes. It makes quick work of a lot of snow. Where I live, I run out of room to push the snow and have to resort to the snowblower to blow the snow over the built-up windrows or blow the piles back out of the way to make more room.

Here's a pic with the 72" SB200 on the Toolcat (click on it for a bigger pic). I don't have any pics of the Snowblade on the Toolcat.

DEWFPO

Thanks. So the rims are the same, but the tires are taller? So obviously, just a taller sidewall? Your rims actually look taller than the rims on the TC I'm demoing right now.
Reason I ask is because if I buy a used TC with bad tires, I assume I could simply replace tires with taller tires?
That could be a big plus for me.

 

[Hay Dude]

How is this TC deal?:
2012 TC 5600, High flow, 950 hrs, looks like its in VG condition.
Does NOT have road package or power bob tach. Really wanted those.
$29,500

 

[Spudgunner]

Many folks, myself included, have posted a fair amount of information regarding aftermarket (taller) tires. Right now, my TC has some 30" tall tires off of my Toyota Tundra. The TC seems to be pretty flexible when it comes to tires and wheels.

 

[DEWFPO]

Thanks. So the rims are the same, but the tires are taller? So obviously, just a taller sidewall? Your rims actually look taller than the rims on the TC I'm demoing right now.
Reason I ask is because if I buy a used TC with bad tires, I assume I could simply replace tires with taller tires?
That could be a big plus for me.

I'll check the rim diameter and get back to you.

I don't know enough about the resale market to comment on pricing.

I don't have the Power Bob-Tach option either. It was almost $1k option when I bought mine and I couldn't justify the cost to myself, although at times it would be nice to have.

Depending on your uses, the road package may not be necessary or even wanted.

DEWFPO

 

[Xfaxman]

I ordered the Toolcat from the dealer with the taller tires. Stock tires were 27" and the larger are 29". They're the AG tires on the same rims. At the time I bought mine it cost an extra $250.
---------------------------------

Here's a pic with the 72" SB200 on the Toolcat (click on it for a bigger pic). -----

DEWFPO

They are not AG, R1 tires. They are R4 tread Industrial tires. This is copied from the Order sheet

Factory Installed

29 x 10.5, 8 PR Trac Tires

M1003-R05

CO4 1

$250.00

The same tire is on my wife's 5610.

I was disappointed they were not tractor tires. :thumbdown:

 

[Xfaxman]

This might help since you are looking for a used machine. I Snipped it from this Forum.

You mentioned a brush cutter, here is what we have, it was recommended by my Bobcat dealer: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/toolcat/275578-5610-cutting-brush.html

7', weighs 1800 pounds.