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

[Xfaxman]

If you have lots of money and a budget to replace machines sooner rather then later, it's no biggie what you choose. My concern with the Toolcat would be the complexity of the four wheel steer and all those U or CV joints that you are applying torque through. Could be very, very expensive, in the long run in my thinking. These things always sound great in the brochures and in the videos!

Why are you so negative on Toolcats? How many have you owned? You are entitled to your opinions, but I value opinions and experiences of owners over speculation. Anything can break at anytime and you hear more about the ones that do, than the ones that don't, so a good dealer is important.

I have had my F series for over a year now with no problems. If it has some weaknesses I think they would have showed up by using the 1800 pound brush hog on the lift rated at 1550 pounds. ----------------------------- And the view from the seat.

No overheating issues when mowing.

Or problems when using the forks.


Or the 6' boxblade on a Tilt-Tach and the 8' boxblade on the 3 point hitch.


Measured 3000 pounds of lift with no attachment on the SSQA. And here is the Monster Grapple.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I was going to mention the people thing as well. Whenever I drive by the course I'm always gawking, looking for machines being used and often I see various different things being done at any one time. And, I can olny see a small part of the course from the road.

When I was kind of thinking of a Toolcat, I would have gotten rid of my Kawi Diesel Mule. But it's a support vehicle a lot of the time for other machines. And now that a friend of mine drives it a lot, that wouldn't work at all, if the Toolcat was tied up.

 

[Scooby074]

My brothers a super. Im real familiar with the needs of a course when it comes to equipment, we talk it all the time.

Youre not planning on mowing turf with the TC I hope.

A Toolcat would be rather hard on turf relative to a Gator, Workman or Cushman type utility vehicle. So if youre thinking that use, I likely wouldnt.

As to a multipurpose machine, you'd be further ahead with a tractor like a L3700SU (or thereabouts) sized machine. With large turf tires and a backhoe. You can tow your Buffalo (my brother uses a Metalfab blower), run other attachments, trench and ditch, blow snow. etc etc. It'll do all you need, cheaper than a TC, relatively easy on turf.

Mowing is best done with dedicated turf mowers, although growing up, our course used to mow with an old MF135 with a tow behind 5 gang reel!! Not anymore though (thankfully)

 

[Xfaxman]

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Youre not planning on mowing turf with the TC I hope.

A Toolcat would be rather hard on turf relative to a Gator, Workman or Cushman type utility vehicle. So if youre thinking that use, I likely wouldnt.

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Turf tires are an option on the Toolcat, why would it be hard on the turf?

My F series has R4's and it doesn't tear up the grass when making sharp turns.

 

[Piston]

Xfaxman,
You certainly have more experience with a variety of Bobcat equipment than most of us do.

In your honest opinion, if you owned a golf course, would the single machine Toolcat be your first, and best, choice for a setup? Or do you see a multiple machine scenario as a better/more efficient fit?

 

[Xfaxman]

Xfaxman,
You certainly have more experience with a variety of Bobcat equipment than most of us do.

In your honest opinion, if you owned a golf course, would the single machine Toolcat be your first, and best, choice for a setup? Or do you see a multiple machine scenario as a better/more efficient fit?

That is a tough question, since I don't even play golf. :laughing: I use mine in the pasture and in the woods and it is great for my needs.

I went back and read the list in the first post and a Toolcat 5610 will do everything listed. The one thing that concerns me is that keeko785 mentioned cleaning up after flooding. The Toolcat is heavy and would leave ruts depending on soil type and how soon it dried out.

Here is his list of other options:

My other options are as follows:-Kubota Tractor (product is good but our dealer sucks)
-John Deere Tractor (Good product but on the pricey side, will not let me demo a snowblower till February?.)
-Mahindra (appears to be a good product)
-A wacker neisen or Cat compact wheel loader with cab(volvo also makes one)(this would not mow)

I don't see any thing there that would do everyting a Toolcat 5610 will do.

I don't have to deal with snow, but from what I have read in forums, the Toolcat is well liked by the professionals in snow removal.

There are several companies that specialize in Golf Course equipment, like: Toro | Golf Course Mowers, Golf Equipment, Turf Equipment, Irrigation , but I think multiple machines to do everything on the list might cost more than a Toolcat 5610.

 

[yellowdogsvc]

Xfaxman,
You certainly have more experience with a variety of Bobcat equipment than most of us do.

In your honest opinion, if you owned a golf course, would the single machine Toolcat be your first, and best, choice for a setup? Or do you see a multiple machine scenario as a better/more efficient fit?

I'm a Toolcat owner and I used to work at a famous golf course. Back in the day, we only had dedicated machines, Cushman's and golf carts to do all the maintenance. We were lucky if there was a tractor.

I'd not hesitate to have a Toolcat as my only tool for golf course except I don't think I'd use it on the green even with turf tires (5800 lbs is a lot for a green in my opinion).

The toolcat won't do well in a deep sand trap so that is a thought but the ease of hooking up attachments and the almost endless types of attachments make it very versatile despite some of its limitations.

Could I live without my Toolcat, yes. I can do almost everything i do on my ranch with a Bobcat or a backhoe but it wouldn't be as much fun and I can't bring anyone with me (training, help, or otherwise).

There are 3pt hitch and pto options for the Toolcat. My b series has a PTO with dump bed and high flow front hydraulics and rear hydraulics with tractor-style fittings. My F series doesn't have a PTO or rear hydrualics but there are options for that if I wanted them.
It also has a 2" receiver hitch for pulling trailers which I do use.
Overall, it's a good tool. Kind of expensive tool but I like it.

Someone mentioned that the 2006 C series was a rough ride. I'm guessing the C series had the same suspension as my B? It is rough compared to a mule or a later Toolcat with independent but on normal terrain, cart paths, mowing the rough, etc., B and C series would be fine and someone could save about half the cost of a new one and get a very capable, comfortable machine (cabs are almost identical in creature comfort) and still have money left over for a bunch of attachments that will run just as good (GPM, hp, and psi from B through G all very close I believe).

 

[Piston]

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?

 

[Industrial Toys]

I'm not "DOWN" on toolcats at all. As I mentioned, I enjoy evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of various equipment. I was VERY interested in a toolcat at one point. It's a VERY attractive machine from an operators standpoint. It's also very unique, which might make one question, if it's really the cat's meow, why does no one have something similar? I do see it as a bit of a Rube Goldburg (sp?). I would be very interested to know what sales numbers are. Governments, institutions and municipalites are hardly shy about spending our money, yet you don't see a lot of these "do everything" machines. Why?

Just as a side note. I received the Bobcat magazines for years. It's amazing how the Bob Cat line was just so superior to a compact tractor. Constant testimonials of how people ditched their compacts in favour of a skid steer or toolcat. Funny how all that changed when Bob Cat got bought (again) by a compact tractor manufacturer.

 

[DEWFPO]

RE : Snow Handling

I have a 2009 D series and use a 84" snow blade and a 72" SB-200 Snowblower (besides my bucket as needed) to manage snow on our property and nothing here is flat, level or even. The 84" snow blade is a bit wide for this uneven (paved) terrain but it handles any amount of snow, dry or wet and heavy with ease even pushing up steep (12%) grades.

I like the fact that you can rent attachments as needed.

DEWFPO