Buying Advice Is there anything comparable to a Bobcat ToolCat (besides Power-Trac/Ventrac)

60047 · Mar 19, 2019

I live on 14 acres of ag-zoned land in suburban Chicago. The ToolCat is incredibly expensive, but I'm really attracted to the stability and general utility of the vehicle. It's known as a swiss army knife without being able to do anything particular well, which is just fine by me. I don't have any specific projects in mind, but I'll likely need to brush cut, mow, load/unload, take my kids to the bus stop (1/2 mile round trip).

Is there anything comparable on the market, at a lower price? These are the features I like the most: 2-seater, fully enclosed, front-mounted cutters, 14 MPH, 4WD.

Industrial Toys · Mar 19, 2019

It's a cool machine and I don't think there is anything else like it.

I test drove one years ago. I found it rode like a ton of bricks as it has to have a front suspension capable of carrying weight. Not, what I would consider a comfortable mode of transportation.

Also, I do believe that there are more and more failures of the rather complex electronics and sensors in Aging Bobcat equipment.

ruffdog · Mar 19, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
I test drove one years ago. I found it rode like a ton of bricks as it has to have a front suspension capable of carrying weight. Not, what I would consider a comfortable mode of transportation.

That is probably why they changed the front axle and suspension to full independent ~2006....the newer ones ride much better.

ruffdog · Mar 19, 2019

A few years back, Polaris had the Brutus that you could get a front bucket, blower, finish mower. They weighed 2150lbs for the HD PTO model while the Toolcat 5610 is almost 6000lbs.

Polaris BRUTUS - UTV Guide

60047 · Mar 19, 2019

Did Polaris discontinue the Brutus?

MossRoad · Mar 19, 2019

60047 said:
I live on 14 acres of ag-zoned land in suburban Chicago. The ToolCat is incredibly expensive, but I'm really attracted to the stability and general utility of the vehicle. It's known as a swiss army knife without being able to do anything particular well, which is just fine by me. I don't have any specific projects in mind, but I'll likely need to brush cut, mow, load/unload, take my kids to the bus stop (1/2 mile round trip).

Is there anything comparable on the market, at a lower price? These are the features I like the most: 2-seater, fully enclosed, front-mounted cutters, 14 MPH, 4WD.

You need to define your projects before you decide on a machine.

ruffdog · Mar 19, 2019

60047 said:
Did Polaris discontinue the Brutus?

BRUTUS has been discontinued as of January 2019. Polaris is committed to providing support for BRUTUS owners, and has a dealer channel dedicated to continue service and warranty support until 2027.

fishhead · Mar 19, 2019

The bobcat UTV 3650 is kind of a toolcat light, lighter, less powerful but still can power attachments with front PTO- not much of a bucket lift height but otherwise kinda cool
Looks like its half the price or so too

60047 said:
I live on 14 acres of ag-zoned land in suburban Chicago. The ToolCat is incredibly expensive, but I'm really attracted to the stability and general utility of the vehicle. It's known as a swiss army knife without being able to do anything particular well, which is just fine by me. I don't have any specific projects in mind, but I'll likely need to brush cut, mow, load/unload, take my kids to the bus stop (1/2 mile round trip).

Is there anything comparable on the market, at a lower price? These are the features I like the most: 2-seater, fully enclosed, front-mounted cutters, 14 MPH, 4WD.

Jchonline · Mar 21, 2019

How much are we mowing. How thick is the brush you want to cut with the mower? What type of surface are you removing snow from? How high can you foresee needing to lift things?

To me the toolcat is for paved roads. I cant imagine mowing an uneven pasture with it. Also the implements are hydraulic driven if you get the model with the bed (ie no 3 PT)...and expensive.

MossRoad · Mar 21, 2019

Also, consider this...

A local university here has about a dozen toolcats. They are used primarily with the bucket for hauling landscape materials from point A to point B and the bed has landscape tools or plants in it. They are never used for excavating. They do have a small backhoe attachment for one of them. And a nice stump grinder. And they use them to power sweep snow from many miles off sidewalks, and a couple have salt spreaders in the back in winter. No snowblowers or plows for the toolcats. They never use them to mow the lawns. They have many Toro Groundsmasters for mowing and leaf blowing.

They also have several Toro workmasters(?) that are like golf cart trucks. They use those to tow leaf blowers and one has a sidewalk edger (very nice!).

So by looking at that, they are pretty adamant that the toolcats has its uses, but there's better machines for a lot of the tasks.

ruffdog · Mar 21, 2019

My 5610 toolcat had been used for one year at a school. I don't think they ever used the the 3pt on it. It looked like it was just driven around the campus. I have a bucket, grapple/bucket, and a 72" finish mower. For the rear I can run all my 3pt equipment. This thing runs circles around my TC33D tractor for field mowing. It rides way better, has a comfy cab, and is quiet. I did like the belly mower on the tractor better though for maneuvering. The toolcat's all wheel steering makes a huge difference getting around. With a plow on each end, I can plow snow 50% faster. So far so good.

Xfaxman · Mar 21, 2019

Jchonline said:
To me the toolcat is for paved roads. I cant imagine mowing an uneven pasture with it. Also the implements are hydraulic driven if you get the model with the bed (ie no 3 PT)...and expensive.

The PTO on the 5610 is also hydraulic driven. I had no problem Digging post holes in the clay here with an old 3pt post hole digger.

The 7' brush hog is hydraulic driven and does great on uneven ground:

The view from the seat in the air conditioned cab. So nice to have the brush hog out front:

Another advantage of 4 wheel steering is you can set the rear wheels to the desired angle and Crab steer away from or up to something:

I aso offset the rear and go straight with the brush hog offset to keep the cab farther from the trees at the edge of the pasture:

MossRoad · Mar 21, 2019

Holy %^$! I just looked at prices!

MossRoad · Mar 21, 2019

And they were for used machines, too....

https://www.tractorhouse.com/listin...e/list/manufacturer/bobcat/model/toolcat-5610

ruffdog · Mar 21, 2019

I had been looking for a while and I found a 2017 for $40k and they gave me 50% more for my trade-ins than I thought I would get. My wife said "go for it!" It is easier for her to drive too.

groundcover · Mar 21, 2019

https://www.toro.com/en/sports-fields-municipalities/outcross/outcross-9060
Looks interesting

MossRoad · Mar 21, 2019

ruffdog said:
I had been looking for a while and I found a 2017 for $40k and they gave me 50% more for my trade-ins than I thought I would get. My wife said "go for it!" It is easier for her to drive too.

I know the OP doesn't want to consider a Power Trac, but jeez, a PT1460 is $26,000 new. A new 5610 toolcat is pushing $50 grand!

That's a heck of a lot of money left over for attachments and beer.

The PT1460 lifts 2400# while the toolcat is rated at 1500#(if equipped with optional counterweight option). They have similar GPM and pressure on the standard hydraulics. The PT has 33% more ground clearance at 12" VS 9". The 3pt hitch is optional. The PTO is optional. The high flow hydraulics are optional. It brings the price to $50K.

I can't find the lift height for the 5610. The PT1460 is 8'.

Look, the two machines are apples and oranges. The toolcat looks really good. I'd like to be able to justify one in my garage. Moreso than a conventional tractor, that's for sure. Put an implement on the front and another on the back and you have two machines at your fingertips. But it's darn near the price of two machines, so there you go.

ruffdog · Mar 21, 2019

groundcover said:
https://www.toro.com/en/sports-fields-municipalities/outcross/outcross-9060
Looks interesting

With loader and cab, it looks like it weighs 500lbs more than the toolcat. I see it has a 51HP mechanical PTO vs a 25HP hyd on the TC. The toro doesn't have HO hydraulics and other standard features like on the TC5610. I tried finding a price but couldn't.

http://www.turfproductscorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Outcross_Sell_Sheet_6-12-18.pdf

ruffdog · Mar 21, 2019

Sounds like we have to test drive!!!!!!!!!

MossRoad · Mar 21, 2019

ruffdog said:
With loader and cab, it looks like it weighs 500lbs more than the toolcat. I see it has a 51HP mechanical PTO vs a 25HP hyd on the TC. The toro doesn't have HO hydraulics and other standard features like on the TC5610. I tried finding a price but couldn't.

http://www.turfproductscorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Outcross_Sell_Sheet_6-12-18.pdf

I was under the impression that the HO hydraulics are an option on the toolcat, not standard.