I picked up a new Bobcat T66 back in January. I've now had it a couple months and thought I'd post some feedback on it for others interested. A little background on me and my use for the machine, I'm a cattle rancher and my family has some timber as well. I wanted to get a compact track loader for heavy front end loader work, fence building, brush cutting etc. We have tractors with front end loaders but their lifting capacity is rather limited. I have a cousin who has a 299 Cat which he uses for mulching jobs. I knew I didn't want to get into anything that big or costly. I rented a Bobcat T595 to see how I could use a CTL in our operation and compare it to the other equipment we have.
When I was shopping, I looked into a Kubota SVL75, John Deere 325 and Bobcat. Kubota and Deere didn't have anything in stock. Bobcat had a few in stock. I credit this with my dealer who owns all of the locations in Florida just about so it gives them a lot to pull from. I also was most impressed with Bobcat's service. The local dealership has about 8 service bays with the location in Orlando having maybe triple that. Kubota has just finally started rolling out mobile service but the techs are not the best. Deere service is ok as well but the nearest dealer is over an hour away. I really liked the roll up door in the Kubota
2022 Bobcat T66, 74 HP, no DEF or DPF, DOC only, 8,927 lbs, 17.6gpm flow, 2,450lbs rated capacity, 7,000 lbs tipping load, 7.2/10.2mph travel speed. I also purchased a 74" bucket and post auger
The new R series Bobcats have quite a few changes. The loader arms were redesigned with cast-steel components instead of plate welded. This helps improve visibility. Coming from using a tractor for grading and loader work, the visibility from a CTL is awesome. The T66 I purchased has the deluxe package so it has a HVAC cab, touch screen radio with bluetooth, backup camera. My machine has standard flow of 17.6 gpm. I really wanted a high flow unit which is 26.9 gpm. There were no high flows available and I didn't really plan on buying any implements that used high flow so I settled for standard flow.
I really like the display! Its fast, functional and loaded with features.
After I zeroed in on Bobcat, I looked at the T66 and the T76. They share the same engine but the 76 is a little bigger so it boasts a high hydraulic flow, lifting capacity and overall dimensions (width, length, weight etc). Some reports on the T76 said it might be a little underpowered at 74HP. I believe Bobcat kept it at this HP because over 75 you have to have DEF. I decided with the T66 as it was more than big enough for what I was going to use it for. All things considered, I'd rather have a smaller machine thats overpowered than a bigger machine thats underpowered.
I had the salesman include wider 15.7" multi-bar/cat style tracks as opposed to the narrow C bar tracks that came on the machine. I was told they outfit the machines with the narrower tracks to keep them more comparable in price to Kubota. The multibar tracks are much more forgiving on turf so I don't have to worry about rutting up pastures. The wider tracks definitely increased flotation as well. One of the first things I did was dig post holes on a freshly plowed fire lane. I couldn't believer how a 9,000 lb machine floated on top of the soft soil compared to a wheeled machine like a tractor or even a fourwheeler.
The new R series loaders shifted the engine to be inline with the machine. This makes serviceability much better with plenty of access to the engine. The radiator and intercooler tip up to provide access to the top of the engine. There's enough side on either side of the engine to step into it which is unheard of in skid steers.
The joystick controls are very fluid and smooth. You can still get hand and foot control in Bobcat but I wanted the standard joystick control (loader control on the right, machine movement on the left). The loader joystick controls are identical to tractor loader controls. The difference between this machine and a tractor front end loader is you can make fine movements so much easier and controlled.
I picked up a Eterra Stump Planer which goes on the post auger. It works great for taking care of small stumps. Its not the same as a stump grinder but I really like the result. Anytime I've hired someone to grind stumps, they barely go below the surface which results in patch of ground that won't grow grass and eventually develops a hole from the stump rotting.
When I was shopping, I looked into a Kubota SVL75, John Deere 325 and Bobcat. Kubota and Deere didn't have anything in stock. Bobcat had a few in stock. I credit this with my dealer who owns all of the locations in Florida just about so it gives them a lot to pull from. I also was most impressed with Bobcat's service. The local dealership has about 8 service bays with the location in Orlando having maybe triple that. Kubota has just finally started rolling out mobile service but the techs are not the best. Deere service is ok as well but the nearest dealer is over an hour away. I really liked the roll up door in the Kubota
2022 Bobcat T66, 74 HP, no DEF or DPF, DOC only, 8,927 lbs, 17.6gpm flow, 2,450lbs rated capacity, 7,000 lbs tipping load, 7.2/10.2mph travel speed. I also purchased a 74" bucket and post auger
The new R series Bobcats have quite a few changes. The loader arms were redesigned with cast-steel components instead of plate welded. This helps improve visibility. Coming from using a tractor for grading and loader work, the visibility from a CTL is awesome. The T66 I purchased has the deluxe package so it has a HVAC cab, touch screen radio with bluetooth, backup camera. My machine has standard flow of 17.6 gpm. I really wanted a high flow unit which is 26.9 gpm. There were no high flows available and I didn't really plan on buying any implements that used high flow so I settled for standard flow.
I really like the display! Its fast, functional and loaded with features.
After I zeroed in on Bobcat, I looked at the T66 and the T76. They share the same engine but the 76 is a little bigger so it boasts a high hydraulic flow, lifting capacity and overall dimensions (width, length, weight etc). Some reports on the T76 said it might be a little underpowered at 74HP. I believe Bobcat kept it at this HP because over 75 you have to have DEF. I decided with the T66 as it was more than big enough for what I was going to use it for. All things considered, I'd rather have a smaller machine thats overpowered than a bigger machine thats underpowered.
I had the salesman include wider 15.7" multi-bar/cat style tracks as opposed to the narrow C bar tracks that came on the machine. I was told they outfit the machines with the narrower tracks to keep them more comparable in price to Kubota. The multibar tracks are much more forgiving on turf so I don't have to worry about rutting up pastures. The wider tracks definitely increased flotation as well. One of the first things I did was dig post holes on a freshly plowed fire lane. I couldn't believer how a 9,000 lb machine floated on top of the soft soil compared to a wheeled machine like a tractor or even a fourwheeler.
The new R series loaders shifted the engine to be inline with the machine. This makes serviceability much better with plenty of access to the engine. The radiator and intercooler tip up to provide access to the top of the engine. There's enough side on either side of the engine to step into it which is unheard of in skid steers.
The joystick controls are very fluid and smooth. You can still get hand and foot control in Bobcat but I wanted the standard joystick control (loader control on the right, machine movement on the left). The loader joystick controls are identical to tractor loader controls. The difference between this machine and a tractor front end loader is you can make fine movements so much easier and controlled.
I picked up a Eterra Stump Planer which goes on the post auger. It works great for taking care of small stumps. Its not the same as a stump grinder but I really like the result. Anytime I've hired someone to grind stumps, they barely go below the surface which results in patch of ground that won't grow grass and eventually develops a hole from the stump rotting.
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