From a B3030HSDC to a Toolcat?

Rolando · Sep 20, 2005

Hey Thom, good to hear from you again. Actually, there's also a more long term use that I hadn't thought about for a while. Initially, I'm just going to clear just enough for the building site 'cause I want to go ahead and get started with the construction, but there's going to be a lot more selective clearing that I want to do after the house is built. Right now my lot has full tree cover and while I don't want to clear the site, I also want more sunlight. One of my first reasons for wanting to do clearing myself was to be able to take down trees little by little as I determined how I wanted the lot to look. So I'm actually going to be pulling trees down for a long while after I finish building the house. I know the B3030 can also do this, but it would take a lot more effort.

Also, I'm going to need to do a lot of fill placing and grading around the house. I want to raise the area about 3 or 4 feet. Having the box blade in front with that great visibility will cut down on sore necks from needing to look back all the time.

It is a lot of money, but I had already gotten pretty high with the B3030 cab model. And adding a CarryAll utility vehicle that I also wanted on top of that gets it pretty close to the same money. The yacht would have to be pretty tiny!

SkyPup · Sep 20, 2005

No doubt that Bobcat high end RTV can do allot of work, but all things considered, I would stick with Henro's advice on this and take the initial B3030 with the attachments you had in mind for the long run.

flusher · Sep 20, 2005

Wow!!! $30K for a Toolcat to handle 5 acres? Sounds like a lot of bucks for such a small parcel. I have a $12.6K Kubota B7510HST with LA302 FEL and the usual implements (brush hog, box blade, rototiller, etc.) to handle your kind of jobs on my 10-acre place. If you're not in a big rush, my 21 HP tractor will get the job done.

Of course, 21 HP is too small for A/C, so I have a sunshade on my rig along with one of those magnetic beverage/tool holders you can get on this website. Gets me though triple digit summer days up here in the North Valley. The humidity here is usually less than 20% when it hits 100F+, so it's probably quite a bit more comfortable in the summer here than in north FL.

Gee, part of the fun of owning a tractor is that "tractor-feel" you get while tooling (or putting) around on your pride and joy. Don't deny yourself that pleasure. Most of the experienced folks in these forums evidently think tractorin' is (almost) better than sex.

BrianSouthernMD · Sep 20, 2005

Rolando,

Don't let conventional, old-style tractor owners dissuade you from your well-reasoned thinking that has led you to consider a nimble, 4-wheel steer Toolcat with Kubota diesel.

I just bought a Bobcat Toolcat for my 168-acre farm, but I believe the Toolcat could be a reasonable, even ideal, choice for as few as five acres, especially for forestry work as you described. You will find many reasons to use your versatile and comfortable Toolcat for years to come!

The Toolcat can do everything (with FRONT-mounted attachments) that would otherwise require purchase of a CUT and utility vehicle. See several of the recent Toolcat threads in the general Buying/Pricing/Comparison forum for more discussion on this and on pricing:Buying a Toolcat and Bobcat Toolcat 5600 or Power Trac 1850? + MUCH MORE

And PM me if you want to go over pricing details. Oftentimes you can get more of a discount off suggested list price for a unit purchased from dealer stock than for one that is special ordered. And some dealers quote you a complete price, but others add freight, fuel surcharge and dealer prep separately. And some will include free pickup and delivery for all service for X years, while others won't. The number of attachments bought can affect your overall discount, etc.

Did you demo a B series or a C series Toolcat? Have you arranged for them to bring it out to YOUR property to test it over several days? Happy tractor work machine hunting!

Henro · Sep 20, 2005

Don't let conventional, old-style tractor owners dissuade you from your well-reasoned thinking that has led you to consider a nimble, 4-wheel steer Toolcat with Kubota diesel. 

Well...I will tell you that my B2910 sure does tell the grass it was there when I drive over the grass. Now it does have loaded rear tires and the loader on...but still, it weighs less than the almost 5,ooo pounds of the toolcat bare...

I just mention this for the sake of mentioning it.

I mow with the smaller tractor...

Frankly, I think it is more weight. than being conventional, that is the issue...maybe the toolcat has wider tires than the 12.4 x 16 on my B2910... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

BrianSouthernMD · Sep 20, 2005

(
 Well...I will tell you that my B2910 sure does tell the grass it was there when I drive over the grass. Now it does have loaded rear tires and the loader on...but still, it weighs less than the almost 5,ooo pounds of the toolcat bare...
 )
Henro,
It is not just a matter of total weight, but how the weight is distributed and balanced. I also was surprised when I saw how the 5,000-lb. Toolcat had such a minimal footprint on turf, with R4 tires. But that Toolcat weight is well-balanced such that it is as turf-friendly at other machines weighing much less. That and the 4-wheel-steering and axle oscillation make it lawn-friendly in most conditions.

IslandTractor · Sep 21, 2005

Not that I am the most experienced user of tractors, but I know something about engines and gotta disagree with the notion that a Toolcat with 56 hp diesel engine is going to be either necessary or optimal for work on a 5 acre plot of land. Putting aside the design differences between a traditional tractor and the toolcat, that motor itself would seem to be inappropriate for 5 acres of what amounts to pretty light work in the long run. Diesels, unlike gasoline engines, really don't like to be run at idle or for short periods. How about a PowerTrac 422 or 425 instead if you are trying to break out of the traditional tractor mode? Sure you'd miss the A/C but the functionality would be almost identical and you'd save at least $20K, probably more considering the different prices of implements.

I do like the idea of articulated tractors with quick change front mounted implements for non farm related tasks in the homeowner/estate market. Too bad the bigger players in the field (JD, Kubota etc) haven't got 15-30hp diesel powered offerings in that category.

odleefs · Sep 21, 2005

Rolando,
I agree with IslandTractor, you would miss the A/C...stick with the Climate controlled 46 or 56Turbo Toolcat or B3030 HSTC! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
While the comfortable drive of the Toolcat may rob from you the "tractor-like" feel of a traditional choosing, don't let this "sway" you...what you don't know, you won't miss!

(Hey, I was kidding, the Toolcat runs on 4 wheels also, contrary to popular belief, it is not a hovercraft and bounces with the best of 'em! Take a few deep breaths, relax and control your blood pressure /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif) As Brian mentioned, the 4 wheel steer, axle oscillating Toolcat is turf friendly and agile; you've got to try it to believe it. The ride of the B3030 is great, but this model has some current problems/issues (FEL and vibrations), as you can see in the Kubota postings area.

Steve

Stef · Sep 21, 2005

I like the idea of the Toolcat... but how could you load the cargo bed of the Toolcat with heavy stuff if you don't have another tractor around?

As shown on the picture... you can load with the loader too. I moved around 105 000 lbs of dirt and 70 000 lbs of stone dust that way. There are things that you just can't do with only one tool.

Rolando · Sep 21, 2005

Yeah, I know what you mean. It would be nice if the Toolcat could reach around with the loader and load itself! But I don't actually envision needing to move much dirt that way. The truck bed on the Toolcat is nice, but the dump feature is not something that I was really looking for. I'm thinking the use will be more like carrying tools or other items, not material that would need to be dumped.

And I like the idea of having only one piece of equipment to look after. If the need arose later, for the limited amount of use I could always rent a small tractor with a loader for that purpose.