urbanist
New member
I been following this site's Toolcat forum for the past month or two as part of my research into Toolcat, and I thank all of you for sharing your insights in, experiences with, and PICTURES of this amazing machine. They have all helped me decide that my work load is a good fit with a Toolcat.
Yet I now find myself in the most taxing part of this decision. In addition to justifying the purchase, trying to figure what attachments I need, finding a dependable dealer with solid service facilities, and the pricing of the equipment are important points to figure out before I sign on the dotted line. My questions will follow below.
But first, a brief background...the family spends more time in the great state of Vermont. We manage 60 acres, 16 of which is open, including the home site; the rest is forested. My first purchase was a 300cc ATV, a road-ready trailer and a manual push-mower, in addition to various other tools which followed, all of which have allowed me to mechanize some work.
I have rented various machinery to do infrequent tasks throughout the years: a Massey 1528 tractor and brush hog to mow open fields; 10,000 and 7,000 pound excavators to clear boulders and open paths, and prep for installation of culverts along paths; a DR brush mower to maintain grass paths in the meadows; and a Tiramite to open paths and haul debris. The hours spent on these machines gave me a better sense about what I need and what I can work efficiently and safely.
During the last two years I researched CUTs with a front loader, backhoe, and brush hog, and came close to buying one several months ago until I read an article about the Toolcat and your writings. I still feel that I have not scratched the surface of the world of farm equipment, and remain a novice. But I can easily say that Toolcat is a fine addition to the arsenal of equipment the property can use, and rentals will fill the gaps until the numbers make sense to add more machines.
Back to the Toolcat purchase. So far I have identified three dealers, all of them almost two hours away from my locale. I visited all three to get a sense of their set-up and obtained prices. Two of them had a Toolcat on the lot which I test drove. One had a test ground allowing me to test the Toolcat's climbing capability on slopes. Only one offered to drive one to my property for a test drive, which I appreciated but did not yet accept. I will negotiate with all of them but my final decision won't be based on price alone.
In the meantime, I would like to learn a little more about the latest on the following three topics by turning to you fine folks:
1) The financing and cash-back offers will end by the end of June. What other special offers were provided by Bobcat during the last two years? Are there any that are relatively better than the others and worth the wait?
2)How often do the 5600T's require to be hauled in, an expensive endeavor, for servicing? Is there an advantage of working with a Bobcat dealer that has a house-call service?
3) Has anyone used alternative fuel sources on their Toolcat 5600T (diesel at a Gulf station nearby sells for $4.89/gl)?
4) Are there recent 5600T purchasers who can share their buying experiences and price points and range of discounts?
My planned Toolcat line-up today is as follows: a 60" Brushcat mower with high-flow, either a Bobcat or WR Long combo bucket, and a Markham Welding grubber/stump bucket.
What would be most useful would be to hear from more recent purchasers, say within the last year, which would add to the great discussions of the past and reflect the current landscape for those pondering whether to buy a Toolcat given today's economic realities. Thanks in advance.
Yet I now find myself in the most taxing part of this decision. In addition to justifying the purchase, trying to figure what attachments I need, finding a dependable dealer with solid service facilities, and the pricing of the equipment are important points to figure out before I sign on the dotted line. My questions will follow below.
But first, a brief background...the family spends more time in the great state of Vermont. We manage 60 acres, 16 of which is open, including the home site; the rest is forested. My first purchase was a 300cc ATV, a road-ready trailer and a manual push-mower, in addition to various other tools which followed, all of which have allowed me to mechanize some work.
I have rented various machinery to do infrequent tasks throughout the years: a Massey 1528 tractor and brush hog to mow open fields; 10,000 and 7,000 pound excavators to clear boulders and open paths, and prep for installation of culverts along paths; a DR brush mower to maintain grass paths in the meadows; and a Tiramite to open paths and haul debris. The hours spent on these machines gave me a better sense about what I need and what I can work efficiently and safely.
During the last two years I researched CUTs with a front loader, backhoe, and brush hog, and came close to buying one several months ago until I read an article about the Toolcat and your writings. I still feel that I have not scratched the surface of the world of farm equipment, and remain a novice. But I can easily say that Toolcat is a fine addition to the arsenal of equipment the property can use, and rentals will fill the gaps until the numbers make sense to add more machines.
Back to the Toolcat purchase. So far I have identified three dealers, all of them almost two hours away from my locale. I visited all three to get a sense of their set-up and obtained prices. Two of them had a Toolcat on the lot which I test drove. One had a test ground allowing me to test the Toolcat's climbing capability on slopes. Only one offered to drive one to my property for a test drive, which I appreciated but did not yet accept. I will negotiate with all of them but my final decision won't be based on price alone.
In the meantime, I would like to learn a little more about the latest on the following three topics by turning to you fine folks:
1) The financing and cash-back offers will end by the end of June. What other special offers were provided by Bobcat during the last two years? Are there any that are relatively better than the others and worth the wait?
2)How often do the 5600T's require to be hauled in, an expensive endeavor, for servicing? Is there an advantage of working with a Bobcat dealer that has a house-call service?
3) Has anyone used alternative fuel sources on their Toolcat 5600T (diesel at a Gulf station nearby sells for $4.89/gl)?
4) Are there recent 5600T purchasers who can share their buying experiences and price points and range of discounts?
My planned Toolcat line-up today is as follows: a 60" Brushcat mower with high-flow, either a Bobcat or WR Long combo bucket, and a Markham Welding grubber/stump bucket.
What would be most useful would be to hear from more recent purchasers, say within the last year, which would add to the great discussions of the past and reflect the current landscape for those pondering whether to buy a Toolcat given today's economic realities. Thanks in advance.