Buying a toolcat am I making a 100k mistake ? Golf course use, rental properties ect

[yellowdogsvc]

Well, There ya have it! Sounds like the more experienced Toolcat owners think it would work well. :thumbsup:

Yellowdog, are you able to run a mulcher off the high flow hydraulics on the TC?

You could run a low flow mulcher or Bobcat's small flail mower but I wouldn't. There's a lot of glass...

The toolcat has more horsepower than the s185 I owned had but it's still not a skid steer. While it's heavy and built well, it's applications are more for lift and carry functions..a "tool carrier". I used my high flow stump grinder yesterday on a 12" oak stump. While it's on the low end of what that grinder is rated for, it knocked it out quick but again, I point to the glass.. I was nervous about pieces of rock breaking or dinging the glass even with the guarding on the stump grinder.

For mowing high grass with a brushcat or similar, finish mower, etc., it will do fine. I imagine it will run a flail but my experience with flail mowers is that a lot of debris exits the mower and the potential for glass damage increases. The toolcat does set the mower further out than a skid steer does.. maybe that would help.

I think it excels at post holes, the lift and carry of heavy objects, mowing, (I use 4n1 bucket to assist digging or pulling out posts and small trees), and towing. You could probably use a small tree shear. I've used my 20" 2000 lb. shear (not lifting it much) for splitting firewood with toolcat powering it. It uses pallet forks good because visibility is good.
It also runs a vibratory roller well and I've seen a lot of other attachments like harley style rake, box blade, grader, etc. I imagine you can find a lot of uses and the best part is, you can use it when you don't want to tear the ground up. For example, I took mine to a job that normally would only have my Bobcat on. I needed to carry a lot of brush to set up for the mulcher but it's been raining. Job needed to get done and toolcat barely left tracks. My bobcat would have torn the place up.. I used the grapple that's not rated for it (industrial fork grapple) but it worked very well.

It just depends on your needs as to what it can and can't do. I've owned one since '07 and though I only have about 700 hours on one, I feel like I've learned a lot.

 

[JTS51]

I would highly recommend the Toolcat 5610. Mine is at 800 hrs. I think I have worked it pretty hard. Repairs to date are mirrors, visor, windshield, tires and one shock absorber. I wouldn't be without it.

 

[keeko785]

Alright to answer a few questions and comments

To the people that brought up, multiple employees, good point, I should have cleared that up first. We do have a small army of employees some days but most days its just a few guys.

As this machine doesn't contour a second mower is required which we will keep.
This machine is a bit too heavy for greens so would only be used to spread sand on the green once every few years.
As far as flooding goes, good point, but we wouldn't really be driving any of the machines out on the course when its wet enough to cause ruts.
We would have a dedicated machine for the fairways and the greens.

I am wondering what mowing with the finish mower will be like. Can you mow for 6 hours with out fatigue? Our equipment has problems with dry grass getting into the vents, so we are accustomed to checking the intakes, radiators very religiously. I do notice they have a raised intake for the toolcats that might be a smart option.

Another good point is who will be running the machine, well the answer is me and me alone for atleast the first few years(especially when a few of the mowers have already been dumped into the river over the years. I might send some of my guys out to the driving range to mow the flat areas but i'll be its primary user.

Im concerned if I buy the 5610 if the PTO HP will be enough for the aerator. Tractor PTO 540 RPM
Tractor Size 30 hp (22.4 kw) @ PTO minimum, 35 hp (26.1 kw) @ PTO recommended
Weight 1,575 lbs. (714.4 kg)
Width 67" (170.2 cm)

 

[keeko785]

Also to the guy who has the monster grapple on the front? How have you not bent or broken your lift arms? Besides being very careful?

I like the idea of snow pusher out front but I would be afraid of hurting my lift arms. I would probably do blower out front and snow pusher outback.

 

[Xfaxman]

Alright to answer a few questions and comments
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Im concerned if I buy the 5610 if the PTO HP will be enough for the aerator.
Tractor PTO 540 RPM
Tractor Size 30 hp (22.4 kw) @ PTO minimum, 35 hp (26.1 kw) @ PTO recommended
Weight 1,575 lbs. (714.4 kg)
Width 67" (170.2 cm)

The PTO is a hyrdraulic motor, rated at 25 hp, but the way Bobcat under rates treir machines, it might handle it just fine. I have never used the PTO on mine.

Also to the guy who has the monster grapple on the front? How have you not bent or broken your lift arms? Besides being very careful?

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I put the Monster Grapple on the Versahandler for the heavy work.





The Versahandler is 6' wide, 6.5' high and 13' long. Tire size is 14x17.5. Top speed is 15.5 mph, drawbar pull is 7,000 pounds and it will lift over 5,000 pounds!

 

[yellowdogsvc]

I mowed all day with my B series.. just blow out radiators occasionally in really dusty conditions... that's it.
My F series saw just a few hours of mowing. Looks like it will be the same.. just blow out radiators. I use a cut to fit AC filter on top to catch most of the "grass fluff" and that helps a lot. I did that for years running a mulcher on a Bobcat. I now use a metal screen on the Bobcat and it helps so it would probably help on the Toolcat.
Fatigue isn't an issue in the F series.. It really is that smooth and I'm comparing it to my 4x4 truck, Kawasaki mule, B series Toolcat and my Bobcat with ride control option. It's a pleasure to operate so far.

 

[Xfaxman]

keeko785, we need an update please.

Did you demo any machines?