Demo'd a CAT 297 C today

BamaContractor · Apr 5, 2008

I got a chance to demo the CAT 297C today with a FAE mulcher today. I was impressed with the machine but not so much with the mulcher...in it's defense I think it's a little overdo to have the carbide teeth replaced but being as it's a rental and it cost 3k to replace the teeth I guess I can understand the dealer wanting to stretch that out a bit. The 297 was pretty tough. The dealer told me 70k for the machine with the forestry package included with warranty up to 2400 hrs. This was my first demo so I really don't have any other experience with the competition to compare it to but I hope to also demo bobcat and asv even though I don't think I will buy one but who knows...that's what demo's are for right? The pressurized cab was pretty sweet with ac/heat, cd player, joystick controls. The high flow was 33 gpm at 4,040 psi and 94 net HP according to the dealer. I took it to the job site about 3 pm being that it rained hard all morning...I think we got 5 inches. The jobsite was pretty wet but the Cat did really well in it with the track system and all. This was my first time operating a mulcher but I had fun with it, took my time and tried my best to figure out what it could handle and what it couldn't. After a couple hours my wife called and was broke down at mcdonald's so I had to pack up and go. I was just getting in to it so I was a little ill but hey, I get to keep it for a couple more days so I think it'll be alright. Can anyone tell me how the asv and bobcat compare to the CAT ...I'm sure you guys have much more experience with these machines than I do.
Bama

Cat_Driver · Apr 6, 2008

i have a CAT, co I'm biased. I wanted an ASV, but my local dealers were non existent, and when I say local, I was stretching to 200 miles.

So for me it was service, and CAT prides it's self in service. When I needed the 500 hr service, a 250k truck pulled up to the job, had all the filters and fluids. The service guy changed all the fluids, filters,greased it and gave it a once over, man was I impressed.

The "other guys" had no such service, and wanted me to drive 100 miles each way to drop it off for a week to perform the same services - no thanks.

I have a 287B, and the AC is freezing, power to spare, can lift things beyond my needs,and the joy stick operation is great.

I can't help you with the mulcher head, but the tractor is top of the line.

JDPN · Apr 6, 2008

how much does a CAT service plan cost?

Digdeep · Apr 6, 2008

BamaContractor said:
I got a chance to demo the CAT 297C today with a FAE mulcher today. I was impressed with the machine but not so much with the mulcher...in it's defense I think it's a little overdo to have the carbide teeth replaced but being as it's a rental and it cost 3k to replace the teeth I guess I can understand the dealer wanting to stretch that out a bit. The 297 was pretty tough. The dealer told me 70k for the machine with the forestry package included with warranty up to 2400 hrs. This was my first demo so I really don't have any other experience with the competition to compare it to but I hope to also demo bobcat and asv even though I don't think I will buy one but who knows...that's what demo's are for right? The pressurized cab was pretty sweet with ac/heat, cd player, joystick controls. The high flow was 33 gpm at 4,040 psi and 94 net HP according to the dealer. I took it to the job site about 3 pm being that it rained hard all morning...I think we got 5 inches. The jobsite was pretty wet but the Cat did really well in it with the track system and all. This was my first time operating a mulcher but I had fun with it, took my time and tried my best to figure out what it could handle and what it couldn't. After a couple hours my wife called and was broke down at mcdonald's so I had to pack up and go. I was just getting in to it so I was a little ill but hey, I get to keep it for a couple more days so I think it'll be alright. Can anyone tell me how the asv and bobcat compare to the CAT ...I'm sure you guys have much more experience with these machines than I do.
Bama

The 297C is a real nice looking machine, but it only has 90 net hp (217ft lbs of engine torque) and the hyd. pressure is 3,335psi when the loader arms are moving. Most of the CAT salesmen don't even know that. Make sure you demo the other models (Bobcat and ASV) so you have a reference. I do know that the ASV RC100 has more engine hp (92 net hp) and engine torque 304ft lbs and will run a mulcher better, but it in the end you need to go with the machine that fits your needs best. I'm betting the Bobcat T300/320 will perform at a lower level with a mulcher than both the CAT and the ASV machine. Good luck.

Landwise · Apr 6, 2008

I own an ASV (used to own two...) and demo'd the Cat 297 C against the ASV and the Supertrack Tak 150.

Out of the box, the ASV is stronger, but not reliable. The CAT is cool, and I love the cab, but.... the forestry package is a joke, and no winch available at the time of my demo. Also, I was lucky enough to have an engineer that designs heads with me, and he ran hyd tests. The CAT has load sensing Hyds that slow the flow and increase the pressure when the mulcher is put under load. You may like that or may not. I didn't. I like to run my head right up to the point of stall, and then back off slightly.

I ended up with the TAK because it is built like a tank.(Rides like on too, but oh well.)

Robbie Hegwood · Apr 6, 2008

I have not had the pleasure of running a Cimaf head on a ASV. So I can't comment on that one yet.
As for the CAT running it with our head you wouldn't know it is down on torque. I ran the 297C without the load sensing stuff and it kept the head turning good. The tractor as a package is well balanced, not a big butt like the ASV. Visibility is the best I've seen in a skid steer. They have changed the radiator arrangements some to help cooling and it works. We saw 100 degree temp reduction through the hyd cooler.
Now I ran the 256C with the sensing hyd and it did help. It had a setting to slow the travel and that helped as well. I ran it faster than the other operator.
But alot of it has to do with dealer support and price. I would like to run our head on several other brand skids to see what happens. I kinda know the answer, our head is so tunable and so efficient that it will make use of every drop of h.p. it is given. And I welcome side by side demo's.

Yes, I like the bigger options as well. You can always sub to guys running smaller units and hopefully they can use you for larger jobs. With the right guys it works well.