What do you guys think of the Bobcat tractors?

jimgerken · Oct 2, 2009

My buddy is looking to get a CUT and is looking at the Bobcat line, the CT122 , or maybe the CT225. His other possible choices are the John Deere 2320 and 2520. Problem is nobody around here has one to get their impressions after they have owned the Bobcat tractor for a few months at least. He sure would appreciate some unbiased input on quality, traction, dependability, ergonomics, durability, loader function, etc. One of his concerns is getting enough tractor to do meaningful loader work but not getting so much weight that it has to stay off his lawn, so he has about a 3000 lb limit, practically.
Thanks for anything you can offer.

MESSMAKER · Oct 2, 2009

I am pretty happy with my 225 but I can't imagine mowing a yard with it unless it was large and open. The loader is good but not great. but it is easy to expect too much.

MrBobcat230 · Oct 2, 2009

I've got a CT230 . It's very reliable, fairly easy on fuel, weight is about 3069 lbs. I have been using it to cut my lawn and with the R4 tires does not seem to hurt the lawn at all. Best of all it was way less money than a Deere.

jrtpro · Oct 2, 2009

Nothing runs like a Deere being chased by a Bobcat. My Bobcat is is great so far.

Mike Fortner · Oct 2, 2009

I love my 235 so far . Just did 50 hr. service and every thing looked good. It has plenty of power and the front end loader is strong for it's size. I blows the doors off of my neighors kubotas and uses less fuel.
I may have to sell it though been out of work a couple of months and just heard today my next job starts in Jan.at earliest. I know I could never afford to get another tractor this nice if I have to sell it as I am sure Bobcats will get more expensive as they get more known.
Any way I am a big Bobcat tractor fan for CUTs . I do prefer my Gehl over their skid loaders however.

good luck

LBrown59 · Oct 2, 2009

jimgerken said:
My buddy is looking to get a CUT and is looking at the Bobcat line, the CT122 , or maybe the CT225. His other possible choices are the John Deere 2320 and 2520. Problem is nobody around here has one to get their impressions after they have owned the Bobcat tractor for a few months at least. He sure would appreciate some unbiased input on quality, traction, dependability, ergonomics, durability, loader function, etc. One of his concerns is getting enough tractor to do meaningful loader work but not getting so much weight that it has to stay off his lawn, so he has about a 3000 lb limit, practically.
Thanks for anything you can offer.

Kioti also comes in white with a Robrt Kittey label on it.

Bama67 · Oct 2, 2009

LBrown59 said:
Kioti also comes in white with a Robrt Kittey label on it.

who is Robert Kittey?

LBrown59 · Oct 2, 2009

Bama67 said:
who is Robert Kittey?

Can you say Bob Cat?

Z RENCH · Oct 3, 2009

So far so good with my CT335. No real complaints about the tractor itself. Now as for the dealer, that's another story! I know we're not suppose to whine about things here so I will leave it at that. As far as mowing a manicured lawn, it weighs a little too much, coming in at aprox. 5000 lbs with the loader and bucket on it. The price was right, the features and power are awesome--- all in all I give it a thumbs up

CT230 Fan · Oct 4, 2009

I have been satified w. both my CT230 and my dealer to this point. The tractor is very strong. The hydro stat drive is very nice, and make operating the tractor very simple, especially for mowing and loader work. I run a 6' finish mower, and it mow's very nicely. I have a 5' brush hog, and have mowed some pretty tall and thick grass with it, along w. brush, and have hardly bogged down. I think it is a lot of tractor for the HP rating.

galaxie428 · Oct 5, 2009

I have a ct230 and this has been my first tractor so I don't really have anything to compare it to but I am very happy with it. I use it to mow with a 6' 3 point finish mower. I mowed some pretty tall grass yesterday in high gear and didn't have any problems. My ground is mostly flat though (some people have complained of lack of power in mid/hi on hills). The tractor is heavy which is good for loader work but it mashes my grass down so when I mow it doesn't get the grass in the tire tracks cut as well.

I have used it for loader work, dirt, rock & mulch and I am impressed though with a full load of dirt or rock, you need a ballast of some sort in the back or you will be riding on two wheels (the front). It has sure save me a lot of back pain from shoveling.

I have the teeth added to my bucket for digging and while I suppose it depends on your soil type, mine is a little rocky/sandy, I was able to dig a 7' deep hole and trench for a little project of mine. It did take a while though.

At the time I bought mine, bobcat was running some fantastic deals and I just could not pass it up. I could not find any other tractors that were comparable in size for the price I got this one. That is the reason I went with Bobcat.

chazzy · Oct 5, 2009

I racked up 20 hrs on my new CT230 and here is my impression:

> Fit & Finish - It's like typical Huyndai cars (if you owned one you would know what I mean). Satisfactory but not the greatest. But you didn't pay for the greatest either.
> Features - Again, like Hyundai cars, you get more than what you paid for.
> Hydrostatic transmission is awesome for what I use - cleaning up dead tress/brushes, moving dirts around, etc.
> Engine - Smooth, reliable (so far!), nice layout under the hood, economical, etc. I was very impressed with the air-intake system. Twin-filter snorkel like system using GENUINE Donaldson filters! BUT the 30-hp rating was not as powerful as I expected (maybe I would have felt more power if it was a gear-driven)... For example, it can barely move itself in Hi gear even on level ground with no load at all. If it's an uphill, forget it. I think Hi gear is for Highway-use and for downhill only. If I would be using a box scraper or loader to push around the dirts, I have to use LO gear. For cruising and light work, I use Mid gear.
> Would I buy again? For what I paid, **** ya!
> Does anyone have any idea why the exhaust tail pipe is not at the tail, instead it is pointing toward the front?

kraazie8 · Oct 5, 2009

my 230 is a great tractor, i have a 5' woods bb60x and it works great, medium gear is fine for flat mowing and slight inclines, but if you have some steep hills as i do, you do need to use low gear. for loader work it has been great as well, again low for heavy work and med. for light work. you have to remember that it is a 30hp cut, its not a D9, and its not gonna push or dig like one. but it does a great job for what work it is designed to do.

YotaBota · Oct 21, 2009

A collegue of mine has a Bobcat. Tractor didn't run right from the git go. Dealer ended up doing a valve job on at about 30 hours. Slow delivery time for implements as well from manufacturer. Runs great now, my question is for how long. Usually you can't compare manufacturer assembled and in the field assembled. He's happy, and I'm happy with my new Kubota though.

YotaBota · Oct 21, 2009

Just checking with him again, he 's got a C225, with a 5' tiller, and 6' finishing mower, FEL and backhoe. + 100 hours, rotovator works most excellent, and the mower came from the factory and supplier with the blades not properly torqued to 600 pound, so he shearred off a couple shear pins, and had to buy a torque wrench to the tune of about $600 to remedy the blade problem. Like I said before, he's a happy camper now that a few problems have been worked out.

CT230 Fan · Oct 21, 2009

I have about 35 hours on my CT230. I really cannont complain about anything. As I said in the past, I had a leak where the QD's for the loader connect to the valave. My dealer fixed it the same day I called about it. That involved nearly a 90 mile one way service call.
I fell like my unit has ample power. Runs my 5' brush hog, 6' finish mower great. I bought an old 9' pull type disk, and the tractor has handled it well in the limited use I have had a chane to use it.
The loader is very strong. I have had the bucket heaping full w. Lime, and it didn't even hesitate.
I'm very pleased with mine.

Bama67 · Oct 23, 2009

Well, so far I have put 20 hours on my CT440 clearing out several acres of woods. It has done great, especially considering i have been doing things with it, that no one should be doing on a 40hp tractor, bulldozing and pushing down some 6''-8" trees, which if you work it just right, can push down and pull up. I was under the impression that the paint is low quality, but after having tons of limbs hit the tractor, and drag across the hood, I have yet to knock any paint off the thing. So far I feel like I got a whole lot of tractor for my money. And am looking for a grapple now, to continue clearing the woods.