Toolcat for Spouse

Haoleguy · Oct 14, 2005

With every spare minute we can afford my spouse and I work our relatively new property(42 ac) to clear an overgrown field(6ac) and the trails around the property. I operate a JD 5325 with rootrake/grapple, BH, and rotary cutter to handle the larger jobs. I'm a lucky guy as my spouse has been manually clearing vines along the many rock walls. It looks great but with many long runs of wall my concern is that she is fighting an endless battle. I would like for her to have equipment that is multifunctional and relatively safe as she clears and rebuilds the walls. I believe the Toolcat may fit the bill now and move her into the future when she begins to build relative large garden areas. Most UTVs seem to be low in the U category. The other possiblities are a narrow tractor on tracks(New Holland) or a skid steere. Again functionality, easy use, and safety are in consideration. Is the Toolcat a good alternative to a tractor for the spouse? I want to make sure she stays engaged with the property work. Thanks for to the adminstrator for adding this category. Your suggestions/feedback is welcome....Aloha

Spiffy · Oct 15, 2005

functionality, easy use, and safety are in consideration 

I think you've done your analysis well. I'm far from an expert here, but having a huge respect for Bobcat (and less experience with other brands) skidsteers, slight secondhand on the toolcats, and now experience with an option I have to throw in...here's 2cents:

If turf damage is not an issue, you can't get more power for the footprint than a skidsteer.

For comfort, the toolcat sounds great and it does offer nice muti-function capability.

I just bought a PT, and think it fits your criteria well, but if either HP/footprint (I think the PT is a close second though) or Toolcat's cab are #1 on your list, those options become obvious.

Happy Shopping! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Rolando · Oct 15, 2005

Hi Gary,
Chad made some good comments that you want to consider. I'm not very familiar with the Power Trac, but I understand it is a very capable machine. You should also visit the Power Trac forum to investigate that possibility. That's the great thing about TBN, one-stop shopping! You'll be able to see all the options on this one great web site.

Since Chad has raised the subject of Power Trac units, it might be helpful to look at a Thread Brian (now a Toolcat owner) started comparing the Toolcat to the Power Trac 1850 when he was making his own purchasing decision.

My inclination is toward the Toolcat, of course, but it does have some merits in your situation. The Toolcat may well be a more comfortable choice for your wife is she's not comfortable with a large tractor. I myself didn't have any experience with tractors, so the Toolcat having more of a truck/car feel to it made that a more natural choice for me. While the Toolcat is not a tractor, it does have a very powerful engine and a front-end loader with a lot of lift capacity. With the addition of a hydraulic grapple, it will provide her with a very versatile tool to move all sorts of material. The Toolcat has the auxiliary hydraulics already built in and control on the joystick, so all you need to do is pick up your root grapple with its skid-steer connection, plug in two hoses and you're good to go. My need was for moving logs, but very large rocks are also candidates as well as vines and scrub brush. Of course, there are also all the other skid-steer attachments that you can buy or rent.

Another thing that I found to be a powerful incentive was that all the work is done in front of you, even the mowing and grading, no craning your neck looking back all the time to see what's going on, as you well know from using the 3PH on your John Deere. And the visibility is incredible! With the bucket flat on the ground, if you lean forward in your seat, you can actually see the edge of the bucket on the ground!

And if you have kids that may want to tag along, then the Toolcat offers an advantage that you can't find in a tractor with its passenger seat. The enclosed cab and HVAC will control temperature and dust if that's an issue for her.

The Toolcat is not a tractor, but it can do a lot of things that a tractor can do and some things that a tractor cannot.

BrianSouthernMD · Oct 15, 2005

Haoleguy,
A Toolcat work machine would be great for you and your wife to "tool around" the 42 acres and also eagerly tackle lots of projects. And comfort and safety are addressed with its nice sturdy 2-seater cab w/HVAC, cupholders, familiar steering wheel/ brake pedal /movement pedal/ rear view mirror, comfortable joystick, sound muffling, seat belt/ shoulder harness, and BOTH full FOPS (falling object protection system) and ROPS systems.

I've felt a lot safer pulling out vines and brush with my root rake brush grapple while inside my Toolcat cab, instead of having to be exposed to falling or pulled objects smacking me! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif And you also don't have the dust knicking up in your face while mowing or moving dirt.

With Muhammad's announcement of HorsesByNet, I'd venture to say a Toolcat might even require less care and feeding and stabling over the years than if your wife caught the horse bug! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif And a Toolcat certainly takes on a lot more attachments than a team of horses! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Rip · Oct 15, 2005

As a former CUT owner, current PowerTrac owner, and probable ToolCat owner, I'll chime in with a few comments.

When I got my NH TC-30 CUT I was quite pleased with those tasks that it made easier and/or possible. But as most of my property is very steep I was frustrated at what it could not do or could not go. I then discovered the PowerTrac 1845 (1/2 step down from the 1850 refered to above) and found it could do most everything the NH could do plus many it could not even dream of doing especially on 30 + degree terrain.

The PT is rather crude though. This is a plus with regard to maintanance, which with no dealer network, is a DIY task and the KISS philosophy becomes quite welcome. It is a very unique and capable machine (as are its smaller and larger kin), but may be of limited appeal to your wife. (The smaller PT-425 is quite popular however, check the PowerTrac forum above for many happy owners.)

The ToolCat is another unique and highly capable machine with significant European influence in its design. While not as extreme slope capable as the PTs, it should do as well in many catagories as a PT or CUT and better in many others. The dual seating with excellent cab, very good front lift and tool carier capability combined with rear bed capacity riveling a 1/2 ton PU is pretty much state-of-the-art for large property maintenence. The car-like feel and controls of the ToolCat will be very intuitive to get used to especialy compared to a SS.

Had the ToolCat been available when I got my PT I may have gotten it instead. As it is, I am seriously considering one now although I am spoiled with the steep terain capability of the PT and may just have to keep both at least for a while.

As a ToolCat is a rather large and expensive piece of equipment, I would suggest trying to arrange a several day or week long demo on your property to see how it would suit your needs and whether the wife would be comfortable with it.

In what is a "catagory of one" (at least in the US) there is nothing better than the ToolCat. For some it may be overkill however. A Utility vehicle such as the Kubota RUV, Polaris Ranger (I also have), or JD Gator may be all they really need and feel comfortable with.

Just my $0.02

Haoleguy · Oct 15, 2005

Chad - The PT looks excellent for use in rolling terrain. During a recent visit to "Sideways" country I saw a NH crawler tractor impressively working a steep vineyard. Our property is relatively flat but I have considered the NH unit because of its narrow width and light feet for "future" vineyard work. I believe the Toolcat has the same narrowness and light feet. The cab and its features sets up well for working in cold winter weather, including snow removal, and possibly some night work. The only unknown for me at this time would be what sprayer choices I could pull behind the Toolcat. Thanks for your comments...

Haoleguy · Oct 15, 2005

Rolando - How did you know that my neck is getting stiff from looking backwards on the JD? I need a rearview mirror. Your comments confirm what I have been thinking. Working in and around stone walls to extract the vines and invasive shrubs has been a bear to do for my wife. The nimbleness and strength of the Toolcat seems well suited for that work. I can only hope that the closest Bobcat dealer is as good and accommodating as my JD dealer...Thanks for the feedback.

Rolando · Oct 15, 2005

Gary,
Here is some information on the Bobcat Sprayer. I don't know what other third party products there may be out there.

Haoleguy · Oct 15, 2005

Brian - Thanks for your comments now and with the previous threads you have started and contributed to. Care and feeding is an important aspect along with dealer support. Bobcat has essentially been a equipment dealer for contractors...how have you found their support for private landowners? How well does the cab AC and heating work in the temperature extremes?....Cheers.

BrianSouthernMD · Oct 15, 2005

Haoleguy,
You can, but you may not need to pull a sprayer behind. Bobcat offers both 50-gallon and 75-gallon sprayer units for the Toolcat that sit on frame in the dump bed. See Bobcat Sprayer for Toolcat work machine. Sprayer includes 75-gallon tank, 14 gallon rinse tank, 2.5 gal hand/eye wash tank, mounted pump and 18-in. adjustable pattern wand with 50 ft. hose and reel for spot spraying. There's also an optional foldable 21-foot boom in three sections with 13 nozzles spaced 20 inches apart.

Also available is Plumbing Kit incl. harware and waterlines to plumb the front of the Toolcat machine for use with front-end attachments.