Where is the excitement?

[jmfox]

I guess everyone is doing chores this time of year, so the TC reports will wait for a rainy day. I'm just burning up sunshine here, no TC for me. I trust that all those with the new D-Series will share their experiences soon. We can't expect Panther1400 to do all the heavy lifting?

jmf

 

[radman1]

jmfox
I really think you should just go ahead and get the toolcat! You know you want one. I am waiting for a 3 point version? What is holding you back?

 

[jmfox]

Until the ducks line up I will be enjoying my TC vicariously. What are the chores you have in mind for the 3 point hitch?

jmf

 

[radman1]

I want it to replace my CUT. I already have rear box blade, brush mower, seeder, finish mower, tiller and don't want to buy new $$ equipment to work on the front of a bobcat toolcat. I currently have bobcat trencher, PHD, and tree shear that need the higher flow than my CUT can provide. I have separate farms and don't like to haul my bobcat 873 skidsteer back and forth. With the speed of a toolcat, the tree shear should work fantastic to cover the open spaces and to pile up the trees when done.

 

[jmfox]

You could just sell the back mounted stuff and buy front mounted stuff, so I assume you see an advantage to pulling for some operations rather than pushing?

jmf

 

[radman1]

Selling off the CUT stuff is really not an option. I also have other smaller tractors that can also use the attachments. SS front attach stuff is just too expensive and sometimes impractical. Some of the front attachments never really made sense to me. Why would I want to use a tiller or seeder on the front of a toolcat and then have to drive to drive over my freshly prepared ground with the wheels. Angle type rear blade, IMHO, just work poorly on the front of a skid steer. I used a box blade on the front of skid steer once and did not like it.
I also don't see how front mounted brush mowers work well on skid steer. No wheels on mower makes turning more difficult. If raise mower, the blades stop.

 

[radman1]

I think using a toolcat with front snow plow and rear 3pt pto driven snow blower would be the ultimate snow removal machine. Or consider a front snow blower with rear mounted blade for snow removal.

 

[jmfox]

You bring us some interesting questions, that I assumed were not an issue since Skid Steers have been around from some time. From an operator's perspective front mounted tools make sense, but then there is the roll over. My experience with machines is many years of landscaping and excavating with an industrial Ford tractor with ag type tires. The box scraper, that we called hyteco, had a blade that was designed to work forward and backwards. So I was leveling dirt in both directions and never had a problem with tire marks. It may well of been because I invariably finished on the forward storke, but this same result could be obtained by a front mounted box scraper on a TC that is capable of finishing in reverse. There were actually many times when using the box scraper in reverse was preferred like knocking down and spreading piles of topsoil.

Speaking of working in reverse, one thing that always bugged me was trencher attachments, but now there is at lease one company that is making front mounted trenchers that are designed to be pushed rather than pulled. I too am interested in a 3 pt hitch, but more so to have tools on both ends and the option to pull tools that don't require constant attention. The one thing I want to avoid is watching where I'm going in one direction, while montoring the tool in another. I believe head spinning is okay for girl watching, but inefficient and often painful on those sun up to sun down work days.

jmf

 

[radman1]

Head spinning is for girl watching! I like that comment. I agree, it is much nicer to be looking forward rather than back. IMHO, some attachments just work better pulled than pushed. Maybe it is part of my farming background. Most SS attachments were originally based on 3 pt versions. They were adapted to meet the specialized requirements of the SS. Box blades work ok on the front of a SS but don't have the finess of a 3 pt version for final grading, especially with hydraulic tilt. (Although you can buy an $1800 tilt-tatch for the SS).
If they ever manufacture the 3 point toolcat, I will have TNT on the 3 point. I think the 3 point version will be available later this year. The prototype I saw is not difficult to put on the D series. The new design allows a 3 point to be mounted easily to the central, boxed in spine and close to the rear axle for maximum rear lift. The lift arms and 3rd link looked just like parts off a CUT. It used a single external cylinder similar to Kubota L series CUTs for the lift. The dump box was completely omitted to get the 3 point close to the rear axle and the prior dump box can't really dump over/on the 3 point. I hope they will consider at least a fixed, smaller cargo box for tools, shovels etc. since there is plenty of open space between the cab and 3 point. Hydraulic pto and rear draw bar were also on it. Told them they needed an option for 1-3 rear hydraulics to run implement hydraulics or TNT. The rear visiblity was very good for seeing the 3 point and equipment. I hope with the delete of the hydraulics on the dump box, the 3 pt version doesn't get too spendy with the rear lift and pto.

 

[jmfox]

Tilt-tach will would be help panther1400 push himself out of the mud. A good box requires 6 way hydraulics and and I prefer hydraulic scarifiers as well; so the tilt-tach is 4 , lift is 6 and scarifiers makes 8.

I have an idea for the box. A side dump. Could also extend the cab and add a sleeper unit. This might add up to be wee bit more $$ but if you're getting a skid steer and a tractor it would be worth it.

jmf