Bought an L23 for my concrete specialty crew 2 years ago. Been running it daily for transporting trash, shoring and pallets through parking garages. Thing is a beast! Biggest complaint I get is that it wont lift a full pallet of mortar but that only takes about 2 minutes to split the pallet. I went for a lighter unit to limit point loading and make it transportable by our typical f-150's. I also had a project with speed bumps on every level which will rock your world carrying a pallet over however this unit is far smoother and far faster on the straight away than our skid steers. Very happy.
I ran a small rental construction loader with forks at a outdoor concert a couple of years ago. Once I figured out the controls, I found it to be very smooth, easy to use, and could pick up lots of weight. All four wheels turned (like Bobby) but the body didn’t articulate. I loved the way the boom the would go out. I could get near where the load was to be dropped, then boom out to the set the load down easily. I have lots of time on a skid steer and fork trucks. I have watched the dirt monkey with one up north. It looks like a handy tool. I don’t think it will replace the tractor just yet. That’s perfect for moving skids in a tight area like you have. A good operator can make these machines sing.
That is a cool machine, but as you said it seems like more of a specialty machine at this point. Maybe ideal for landscaping/hardscaping business owners? Or people who would use it indoors as a forklift on a regular basis The average tractor owner wants versatility and to be able to easily find inexpensive used attachments Thanks for showing it to us
Stan akadirt monkey has one of a different brand he bought last year & he loves it. Shortly after he got it they brought it in on a landscaping job tart had a narrow & awkward entrance to the side of the building where they were working. His smallest skid loader woul have fit through but would have really tore up the grass.
The reverse and foward are the right way in construction vehicules. They are always like that because the reverse would be like the brake. When on job sites we go fast, like really fast and reverse and foward are fast motions
Tree and landscape companies have been using the Avant loaders for years. That is who Bobcat copycatted for this machine. This loader seriously lacks in a lot of areas though. Weak hydraulics, poor visibility, cheap quality controls, etc.
Great info Tim, perfect compliment for anyone with a compact tractor, I could find a use in my barn with limited space moving pallets. For many I could see this replacing the skid steer...
Pardon my ignorance, but I have to ask: What is that spring attachment on the boom and what is it for? (It's about knee high in front of Tim at about the 20:00 mark) Thanks.
The thing with the cost of attachments in my opinion is it's negated by the wide availability of rental attachments for the skid steer platform at any local rental yard. So if it's a limited use tool just rent it for the weekend as apposed to purchasing it.
Tim try one of the 75 hp wheel loaders from JCB and Case. JCB has the extending boom and both have a road speed of 25mph. With full skid steer attachment compatibility
Great way to demonstrate and measure the turning radius and also good that you pointed out that the rear end sticks out beyond the outside radius. Looks like they engineered the heck out of the articulation of that machine.
Interesting... Maybe a better "compact tractor alternative" from Bobcat is the Toolcat 5610. 4x4. All wheel steer. FEL with higher capacity hydraulics and many different FEL attachments available. Much more HP. Lower gearing. A rear 3PH with PTO (albeit driven by a hydraulic motor). Nice two seat HVAC cab. Not a "cheap" alternative, but It'd be interesting to see if you could get one of those for testing. I do recall seeing a 5600 (utility dump bed vs 3PH version) doing some mowing/brush cutting on your channel at some point.
Hi you done a amazing job showing off This beautiful machine. I'm curious if the bucket that's all now if you could take up the ground like what a Bob cat can do. And if you could put a bacco bucket on it too. If you could let us know that'll be amazing
It's essentially a mini-payloader/mini-telehandler. My brother was actually part of the team designing these machines years, so he's always looking for feedback to make them better. Bobcat has good people working in the offices that have farming backgrounds or currently farm part-time. People have to understand in order to make them as compact as possible while trying to get all the essentials fitted, along with regulations and safety requirements, people shouldn't complain about the price tag. If they do come out with higher HP and more hyd power, it probably is going to be a little bigger and even higher price tag.
Thank you. I'd like to get your thoughts on the Bobcat Toolcat. I know you've had some seat time, but I'd like you to have one at your disposal for a few weeks, and then tell us all about it.
My dad just bought one this fall for are lawn care and snow removal business. I run a 48” hydraulic snowblower with it for clearing sidewalks and absolutely love it. The only thing I dislike is the placement of the one air vent blows right on my hand when driving. The foot pedals were confusing at first but u get used to them quickly
I find these articulated machines fascinating. Such a small footprint and lifts well beyond what you would think. Certainly they are for more specific operations and lack the versatility the compact tractor has. Despite the big price tag it was the versatility of the CT2040 that determined my choice. I think the day will come when one of these is in my yard but they are certainly great machines. Joe
Another great video Tim and Christy. I agree that this line is going to grow. Personally I am very interested in the JCB 1CXT but it is an $80k machine currently.
Mr. Tim - Question: On my 260 acre ranch in southern Colorado, I must clear a lot of deep mud and grade roads . Is this a possibility ? If not any suggestions for a machine ? Thanks - Digger Doug
My experience with a telescopic boom is on a JCB telehandler. Using a set of pallet forks on a telescopic boom definitely requires some skill. You're correct extending the boom is either on/off. Also if the boom is fully extended raising and lowering it tends to be jerky as well, especially if you have some weight on it.
Great review and analysis of a cool machine. Thanks for sharing your observations and videos. Fun to watch and I would think fun to operate as well. Blessings to you and Christie!
Bobcat (Kioti) compact tractors have almost double (unless it's being measured differently) the hydraulics comparably sized Deere and Kubotas have. Their CT20xx have 11.4 gpm total. Tim, where are you outlet covers?
@@TractorTimewithTim makes sense. I wasn't expecting paint on OSB. Smart tip I saw recently: write your paint color on the backside of a wall plate cover in case you need to buy it again for touch up years later.
As far as attachments you can rent them (at least in my area) at local rental yard and at the Bobcat dealer. So in theory you don’t need to own them all.
At first, i was not on board with this unit. After thinking about it and seeing all the hydraulics, lift capacity and the turning radius, one could use this when putting in a fence, cleaning stalls, about any construction project, mulch, manure, any projects that require forks, moving dirt or gravel, or cleaning a driveway. But price is the deciding factor in the end. But you have made me think deeper into it.
Just finished a demo on the l28 it has some shortfalls but overall it’s a great machine. Looking to add one for snow removal and grounds maintenance work.
I agree with Rodney with a snowblower on the front or a post hole auger and as you have said Tim a set of forks. Big problem to me is cost. Thanks for showing how it works. Stay safe. Bruce from Mason Michigan
I would have loved to see it for snow removal. It would be ideal of pushing snow off the tops of large banks of snow with that extendable boom. Very informative video! Best Regards, Jay
I don't think I would use it for mowing anything, but brush. But it would sure work wonders on all the other jobs/chores. If I had a larger property, they would get my money. Best wishes, stay safe.
In some ways, LESS damage than a compact tractor, as the steering doesn't cause any damage. We show this in the prior episode where we grind a stump. even in bare ground which is somewhat muddy, it doesn't 'scuf' at all! it is heavier than a subcompact, so if the yard is muddy, it would cause more ruts.
The way the lift cylinder is mounted in relationship to the boom it is almost parallel to the boom. In that position it is trying to push the boom forward and not up. The more the boom raises the more the cylinder is under the boom pushing up that lift capacity increases.
I think the biggest selling point of that machine over a traditional skid steer is the whole turf protection thing. Doing mulch, plantings, and other work over a completed turf job would have a much easier time and less chance of turf damage. The question would then be - Does the articulated have that much more utility to justify the premium in price over a similar capacity tractor? If you look at a Kioti CK tractor, you would give up less than 100 lbs in total capacity (and as you know, lower lift is actually more) and with a cab would still be more than $10k less. $10k can buy you some significant attachments. In my mind, unless you have some really tight quarters you need to operate, I'd have a hard time justifying the price over a tractor. Of course, the use would then matter. Chances are the Bobcat would be running far more reliably once you have 600+ hours on it than any tractor. But who knows. If you are a small shop where the guy paying the bills is the guy running the machine, you know that the abuse will be a bit less.
I drove one a month ago. Very maneuverable and quick controls. However I tried driving and moving arms and bucket at the same time. The machine bogged down rapidly. This is not the case with a regular size articulating loader. I found that with the 25 hp. It is difficult to do two functions at one time.
We have actually been speaking with the same salesman that worked with you through this unit. One thing that I would point out to your discussion is that where I agree 100% on what you have illustrated especially regarding attachments in capability vs 3 point. Yes they are much more expensive for example the brush hog, 1 thing to point out is that by having a rotary cutter out front you are keeping the tractor out of the brush driving forward. That is a big deal considering I have caused extensive damage to my kubota BX2380 when in the field due to that point. Another big point to add would be that by having this bobcat L28 you have the option to rent a very very large range of attachments such as tillers, brush hogs, trenchers, and post hole diggers for a relatively affordable rate and use that attachment for your project then simply return it since a lot of property owners may not need those attachments very often. Say whipping their property into shape they may not need that brush hog but once a year. Or say a tiller. Why invest $3000 even for an American branded 3 pt tiller when you can day rent for $145 a day or $450 per week when that would take care of spring tillage on the property. That has been a big selling point for us and we too are considering for our operation. With that said we have elected at this time to hold off and allow the market to catch up a bit before diving in. Tim you inspire many of us to do things and think outside the box. We each make and form our opinions however you allow many viewers such as myself to see things in action and that helps tie all the specs and reading together which I think speaks louder at times. So I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication over these past years in keeping very informative and non bias videos.
hi there and got a cat scan , don 't think you can beat my A300 a lot stronger . think it was a big mistake to stop making the A models, also have a new toolcat , good show ,best to all john
I think that machine would be good for cleaning out stalls, tight spaces and general purpose stuff with other attachments. When you have something like that around you find so many uses for it that you never dreamed you would use it for.
Personally I disagree, I prefer something with four wheel steer like a tellahandler or a skid steer for stalls. The articulation of the machine would swing the body into the stall wall. That was my experience with a larger Kubota articulating loader in mulch stalls though..... maybe the bobcat is so small it wouldn’t be as bad......
@@elliottkeyes9448 It's set up different from most loaders the back moves but you'd get used to it if that was all you had. Tella handlers or all terrain forklifts are really nice but way more money.
@@bradh74 If you are going straight in and out it wouldn't be too bad. It's repositioning in the stall that you run into issues I just think the cab would swing out inconveniently.
In my area the Avant, the Bobcat, and Vermeer are all available. I'm leaning toward the Avant with one caveat, the ease of attaching attachments. It is my understanding the Avant is not standard to the industry. Is this a big problem?
Tim, I’m curious what your thoughts are on the articulating Avant Loader vs Bobcat loader. I’d be using it in the tree industry in residential backyards and loading a dump trailer
The avant- is more refined, having several models and a longer history. However, it has proprietary attachment mechanism. So if you are willing to spend the extra money to get specific attachments, the avant appears to be a good choice.
Would you guys (ttwt) ever demo a bobcat toolcat ( the one with the bed) and test the weightlifting on the loader and the dump capacity on the bed and just do any overall review.
THIS MACHINE IS THE FUTURE IT IS GOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY AND DEMOLITION. I WORKED ONE WEEK ON ARTICULATED LOADER AND I WAS AMAZED BY ITS CAPABILITIES.
Tim, I am a heavy equipment operator, the treble pedal on most heavy equipment is laid out the same way. Once you have driven lift trucks for 30 years you get use to it that way. It is a two hand and two foot operation at times. Hope this helps.
That machine was made for landscapers, construction sites, landscaping suppliers and the occasional person with a rural property. But the person who has a rural property he could buy a compact tractor with attachments AND a a commercial grade zero turn for the same money.
Agreed. I just don't see a home owner realizing the potential of a skid steer for normal chores. If you are a contractor, maybe. Although, I still see that Tim has more than proven, a contractor can be very successful with a small investment of a 1025R! Now, the 2025R Gen 2 offer an even more robust option for not much more. For Bobcat to be viable to home owner market, the price would have to come down in half! I would never blow 45-50K on a base machine. For that much, I can buy a really nice 3 series or even go orange and have a beast of a compact machine with plenty of hydro power. Great review, but no, it's not really viable. To big, too bulky, too much money.
@Steve, Yes, price would need to come down. Agree on that. ...but it seems possible to me that the price can come down over time..and as the design evolves.
Good answer on the attachment front. My other thought was the difference between traditional skid steer attachments and compact track loader/mini skid ones. I almost want to think that the c.t.l. versions would match up better with one of these s.a.l. machines. How do you feel on that front? Also, would the forward/reverse be the same on their subcompact/compact tractors?
How is it going up hills with a load, I have heard that they lack power on hills. Ground clearance? I love the idea of the lift capacity but do see some quirks compared to a compact tractor. I'm intrigued though
I started watching for the sub-compact (1025R) and often skip through episodes that don't include the 1025. However, I have been intrigued by Bobby and watched those episodes with interest.
Could you get a in close cabin with windows and stuff like that it can you put a snow blower on the front of this please comment back on those 2 things thank you very much for this video it was very interesting
I have Heavy Hitch weight brackets on my X738 and 2025R. I like them both. I also have their skid shoes on my 54 inch blade. They are much better than production.
Very nice review of Bobby, I'm sure he will be missed. The greater capacities of this unit give it a lot of advantages over a compact tractor. To Christy's question of the rear end stickling out, the outside leading edge of the bucket would also have stuck out on the turn. It would have been interesting to see which stuck out further. To bad we didn't have a decent snow to test Bobby's ability.
I looked into buying one of these for my landscaping company last fall. I didn’t buy it because I heard from the dealer that some people think it’s under powered going up and down hills. Which concerned me for snow removal
Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t the Kubota compact tractors foot pedals for forward and reverse opposite that of the Deere’s? Bobcat and Kubota probably just follow that line with this Bobcat loader. I have been wondering how this would compare to a compact tractor in effectiveness, going to have to watch more of the vids on this. Been thinking of ditching my 1025r for a skid steer or something like this but hate to lose the readily available backhoe on the 1025r. Another random question Tim, I’m looking to build a building to keep truck and tools in, just wondering what size your garage building is?
What do you think of machines such as the Bobcat L28 or Skid Steer Loaders complementing rather than replacing Compact Tractors? I think that if the budget allows it may be worth having both types of machine in the fleet.
I have a 3pt and pto adapter for a skidloader it cost about $1000 and I can run any category 1 and 2 3 point and pto attachments. I have put a blade, mower, post hole auger, snowblower, and landscape rake on it and it doesn’t have to be an expensive attachment.
I agree with you, for what it is the price isn’t horrible. It is high but it’s a specialty machine. John Deere can make a 1025R and sell a bazillion of them in mass produce the parts and make it in enough quantity to give it a realistic price. They probably don’t make a ton of these at all in the amount of design and engineering that’s going into that is crazy and to produce stuff in that small of a quantity is always going to be expensive and if people want a very specialized machine they’re going to pay A lot of money for it. If they’re looking for a bargain just go buy a forklift or a small tractor with a bunch of implements but people who are buying that are probably buying it for a pretty specific reason it’s kind of built to be for a residential landscaper or something like that. I don’t know farm you can just have a big huge tractor in a warehouse you can just have a regular forklift. My guess is it’s kind of to replace a skid steer as far as the customer base but whoever it is I’m guessing they don’t sell a ton of these. Manufacturing is weird, if you want to buy 100 of a custom-made part it may cost you $3000 it may only cost you 3800 to buy 1000 of the same part because it’s all tooling and design and set up, once the machines are making the parts they can just keep them running it if the customers need volume. I’ve worked in machining and people come in all the time and want some custom part but only want 10 of them and they always get upset about the price because there’s several hundred dollars in tooling costs even if the parts only cost $.50/each after that. I’m sure if somebody wanted to order 50,000 of those and give them time to produce it they could cut the price dramatically but for the number of sales they’re going to get on something like that it’s just going to be expensive
that machine would be great on a construction site to unload pallets off a truck instead of a Lull or forklift. I'm sure it's a great machine as with most Bobcat equipment but not meant to replace a compact tractor to mow lawn or other jobs around the yard.
Great points and review of said equipment. I would encourage all to look at a few things that have been covered in other videos. Ergonomics, most equipment is being engineered from the manufacturer or by the person using it to minimize the time a operator is turned backwards to perform a task. Forestry equipment, large agricultural equipment and construction equipment. All the current sales pitches from all manufacturers are about operator comfort, for a multitude of reasons that have been proven. The real question is are 3 point hitch systems and uses on the decline of function and practicality? My answer would be there is still a place where they excel and are still needed, just like a manual transmission in a car. Is the PTO 's feature only going to only available to light duty equipment at entry level costs? As Tim mentioned hydraulic systems are very powerful and do a lot of work. Safety wise fewer rotating shafts to fail or get caught in, however pressurized fluids (hydraulic or coolant )are not for everyone to work with . Tim you hit the nail on the head. Cost; pay up front for engineered solutions when you buy the equipment or the "cost on your body" the data is out there from many individual sources and industries, shipping stuff across the oceans on vessels, mining: from fracturing to strip, driving piles, coffer damns oil rigs, logging or forestry general construction and agriculture. The technology is here, it's more about the size of your check book or bank account. Hydraulically driven attachments get buried in water or the earth completely and still function as designed.
Thank you for doing this breakdown on bobby. At full articulation how far past the outside the outside of the rear end does it stick out? That might be an interesting numatic to know since Christie on how much it adds to the outside turning radius
Seems like it’s good for a land scape company. (Reduced tire marks over skid). Only thing that’s similar is the JCB Teleskid but it’s bigger. Good video
Looks like you havent heard of Avant. It's an identical tractor from Finland that has been on market well over 10 years. They even have really small version of it.
bobcat accounts for overhang when in comes to radius.. some of the from cylinders on a bobcat mini excavator are positioned unlike competitors to prevent overhang and keep the radius smaller for the exact reason the woman in the video mentioned.
I agree that there is a market for something like this! I would like a payloader style unit that is under the 7,000 lb mark. I use my 1025R to load brush. I picked up a 60" bucket just to have extra volume. But a light payloader style tractor would fit me perfectly. But it would definitely need the low torque to be able to pull and be able to load the bucket with ease
Cat disappeared, lol? Question is, do you need an articulated loader or skid steer? The articulated loader gets higher fuel economy. You need to turn the loader in and try a S450 Skid Steer, you’ll love it even more than the loader.
I like the small footprint of these along with the cab for snow removal. To be honest my open station tractor is not fun or comfortable for snow though it gets the job done
It's been a really good series and I opening on what this machine can do. The secret really is in the hydraulics, because there are probably 50 to 100 attachments that can easily be put on this machine. I might point out that from what I can see on RUclips, bobcat has had this type of machine in Europe for a while and even some larger models. The other point that I might make is that one of the European makers has teamed up with Vermeer to have them in there product line which should help push these out to the consumer. One question I had is do you think the center of gravity on this machine is higher than a conventional skid steer that is on the smaller side say between 25 and 45 horsepower.?
I'll confirm Tim's answer on this. It is a fixed frame and a low center of gravity. The Avant machines are who Bobcat is copying here and the Avant does a better job on their loaders so can get better hill performance and operation.
@@rcarlton7734 thank you for the information. We are still trying to decide which way we are going to go for a piece of equipment to take the place of our very old Kubota tractor with no loader on it. I have noticed that the bobcat and Avant compact loaders do look very similar so it doesn't surprise me that they have a lot in common. I'm kind of like Tim whereas I want equipment where I can find service fairly easy to get. I have checked out Avant and there just isn't a lot around in the area where we have our family property in rural Arkansas that could handle some of our needs for service.
@@TractorTimewithTim I honestly have no idea what brands are out there for ETs. I have only seen them on a couple of electric vehicle RUclips channels in a couple minute segments. They do look quite interesting in that they can self drive in the field and can follow you around without you being in the seat.
Intriguing unit. But like you said mid-episode, hydraulics are expensive so all those attachments are pricey. Plus, someone may already have a few 3 point attachments in their barn so they’d have to start over. The downside is the average person can’t make a new hose and the last I checked, PTO shafts don’t leak much. Don’t get me wrong, I love hydraulics. Forward and reverse is huge on a Hydraulic Post Hole Digger and 3 points don’t offer that, but there is something to be said for keeping things simple.
The turning should be comparable to a articulated field tractor I would think. It tends to change with the loading. With no load both ends plant equally. With a heavy load on the bucket the front may plant and the turning is done through the rear. With a load hitched to the rear (is that a 2" receiver?) the rear may plant and the turning is done through the front, more like a conventional steering machine. The overall radius is somewhat the same but the turning points change.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
These small wheel loaders are a godsend for landscapers. Definitely a great alternative to a compact skidsteer.
I love my l28 I use it for snow removal and loading dump trucks in residential jobs[landscaping/excavating]
yeah the 24.8hp kubota engines are great feul enfishiond in the l28 bobcat
Interesting. Martha just disappeared at 3:50 and the pops up at 4:11. I think she is a magician??? Good times. Thanks for sharing.
Bought an L23 for my concrete specialty crew 2 years ago. Been running it daily for transporting trash, shoring and pallets through parking garages. Thing is a beast! Biggest complaint I get is that it wont lift a full pallet of mortar but that only takes about 2 minutes to split the pallet. I went for a lighter unit to limit point loading and make it transportable by our typical f-150's. I also had a project with speed bumps on every level which will rock your world carrying a pallet over however this unit is far smoother and far faster on the straight away than our skid steers. Very happy.
I ran a small rental construction loader with forks at a outdoor concert a couple of years ago. Once I figured out the controls, I found it to be very smooth, easy to use, and could pick up lots of weight. All four wheels turned (like Bobby) but the body didn’t articulate. I loved the way the boom the would go out. I could get near where the load was to be dropped, then boom out to the set the load down easily. I have lots of time on a skid steer and fork trucks. I have watched the dirt monkey with one up north. It looks like a handy tool. I don’t think it will replace the tractor just yet. That’s perfect for moving skids in a tight area like you have. A good operator can make these machines sing.
That is a cool machine, but as you said it seems like more of a specialty machine at this point. Maybe ideal for landscaping/hardscaping business owners? Or people who would use it indoors as a forklift on a regular basis
The average tractor owner wants versatility and to be able to easily find inexpensive used attachments
Thanks for showing it to us
Stan akadirt monkey has one of a different brand he bought last year & he loves it. Shortly after he got it they brought it in on a landscaping job tart had a narrow & awkward entrance to the side of the building where they were working. His smallest skid loader woul have fit through but would have really tore up the grass.
It is a commercial machine, built and priced accordingly.
Best wishes, stay safe.
The reverse and foward are the right way in construction vehicules. They are always like that because the reverse would be like the brake. When on job sites we go fast, like really fast and reverse and foward are fast motions
Tim Christi thanks you are always so honest this is why everyone likes your channel
God Bless All
PaK
Thanks for showing this. Good to see alternative machines and capabilities.
With a grapple, this would be a fantastic machine for tree service companies...and it wouldn't tear up lawns. Use it for snow removal in the winter.
Tree and landscape companies have been using the Avant loaders for years. That is who Bobcat copycatted for this machine. This loader seriously lacks in a lot of areas though. Weak hydraulics, poor visibility, cheap quality controls, etc.
We have one and its great for not tearing up turf
That part. Avant 428 all day. Team green
Great info Tim, perfect compliment for anyone with a compact tractor, I could find a use in my barn with limited space moving pallets. For many I could see this replacing the skid steer...
Pardon my ignorance, but I have to ask: What is that spring attachment on the boom and what is it for? (It's about knee high in front of Tim at about the 20:00 mark) Thanks.
Holds hydraulic hoses when using a hydraulic attachment.
The thing with the cost of attachments in my opinion is it's negated by the wide availability of rental attachments for the skid steer platform at any local rental yard. So if it's a limited use tool just rent it for the weekend as apposed to purchasing it.
Tim try one of the 75 hp wheel loaders from JCB and Case. JCB has the extending boom and both have a road speed of 25mph. With full skid steer attachment compatibility
Great way to demonstrate and measure the turning radius and also good that you pointed out that the rear end sticks out beyond the outside radius. Looks like they engineered the heck out of the articulation of that machine.
Such concept isn't new. Finnish tractor Avant has identical features.
Interesting... Maybe a better "compact tractor alternative" from Bobcat is the Toolcat 5610. 4x4. All wheel steer. FEL with higher capacity hydraulics and many different FEL attachments available. Much more HP. Lower gearing. A rear 3PH with PTO (albeit driven by a hydraulic motor). Nice two seat HVAC cab. Not a "cheap" alternative, but It'd be interesting to see if you could get one of those for testing. I do recall seeing a 5600 (utility dump bed vs 3PH version) doing some mowing/brush cutting on your channel at some point.
Maybe at some point. Would love to try it.
Is the quick attach the same as a skid steer? I am wondering if you could hook up to a standard skid steer bucket?
Yes. I believe it is. However, it may be ‘mini skid steer’. So, I would recommend checking their website.
Hi you done a amazing job showing off This beautiful machine. I'm curious if the bucket that's all now if you could take up the ground like what a Bob cat can do. And if you could put a bacco bucket on it too. If you could let us know that'll be amazing
It's essentially a mini-payloader/mini-telehandler. My brother was actually part of the team designing these machines years, so he's always looking for feedback to make them better. Bobcat has good people working in the offices that have farming backgrounds or currently farm part-time.
People have to understand in order to make them as compact as possible while trying to get all the essentials fitted, along with regulations and safety requirements, people shouldn't complain about the price tag. If they do come out with higher HP and more hyd power, it probably is going to be a little bigger and even higher price tag.
💥 There’s definitely a market for those. I could see that being a great snow clearing tool.
*Keep on tractoring!* 👍
yeah there powered with kubota teir 4 final engine
Yeah, but it would be the most expensive snow tool a homeowner could ever buy and it is not tough enough or fast enough to clear roads with.
Thank you.
I'd like to get your thoughts on the Bobcat Toolcat. I know you've had some seat time, but I'd like you to have one at your disposal for a few weeks, and then tell us all about it.
I second this motion.
My dad just bought one this fall for are lawn care and snow removal business. I run a 48” hydraulic snowblower with it for clearing sidewalks and absolutely love it. The only thing I dislike is the placement of the one air vent blows right on my hand when driving. The foot pedals were confusing at first but u get used to them quickly
I find these articulated machines fascinating. Such a small footprint and lifts well beyond what you would think. Certainly they are for more specific operations and lack the versatility the compact tractor has. Despite the big price tag it was the versatility of the CT2040 that determined my choice. I think the day will come when one of these is in my yard but they are certainly great machines. Joe
Really loved learning about this machine! great work Tim
What tires are on that machine? Need to replace the turf tires
Another great video Tim and Christy. I agree that this line is going to grow. Personally I am very interested in the JCB 1CXT but it is an $80k machine currently.
Would be awesome for tree work. How much did the machine weigh ?
4200lb base weight I think.
Mr. Tim - Question: On my 260 acre ranch in southern Colorado, I must clear a lot of deep mud and grade roads . Is this a possibility ? If not any suggestions for a machine ? Thanks - Digger Doug
Id like to see this with a smaller 1/2 yard bucket and load mulch into pickups in a mulch yard. I think you'd be surprised how well it works.
I know of mulch yards using the Avant loader for years now. It is a much nicer machine then this copycat version.
11:45 wouldn’t the snow be perfect? It would leave tire marks showing exactly where the pattern is.
Yep...but we didn’t have any accumulation...just the annoyance!!
My experience with a telescopic boom is on a JCB telehandler. Using a set of pallet forks on a telescopic boom definitely requires some skill. You're correct extending the boom is either on/off. Also if the boom is fully extended raising and lowering it tends to be jerky as well, especially if you have some weight on it.
Great review and analysis of a cool machine. Thanks for sharing your observations and videos. Fun to watch and I would think fun to operate as well. Blessings to you and Christie!
Bobcat (Kioti) compact tractors have almost double (unless it's being measured differently) the hydraulics comparably sized Deere and Kubotas have. Their CT20xx have 11.4 gpm total.
Tim, where are you outlet covers?
We’ll get the outlets covered after we paint.
Work in progress.
@@TractorTimewithTim makes sense. I wasn't expecting paint on OSB. Smart tip I saw recently: write your paint color on the backside of a wall plate cover in case you need to buy it again for touch up years later.
As far as attachments you can rent them (at least in my area) at local rental yard and at the Bobcat dealer. So in theory you don’t need to own them all.
Good point! ...and it is harder to do that with 3 point attachments!
At first, i was not on board with this unit. After thinking about it and seeing all the hydraulics, lift capacity and the turning radius, one could use this when putting in a fence, cleaning stalls, about any construction project, mulch, manure, any projects that require forks, moving dirt or gravel, or cleaning a driveway. But price is the deciding factor in the end. But you have made me think deeper into it.
I was thinking exactly the same along the horse industry lines. This machine would be great in stall barns.
Regarding expense of implements, would attachments designed for compact tractor loader mounting be compatible with this machine?
Some of them, I think. However, the expense is in the hydraulic drive of more complex attachments that will not work on a compact tractor.
Just finished a demo on the l28 it has some shortfalls but overall it’s a great machine. Looking to add one for snow removal and grounds maintenance work.
Do they have a float function?
I agree with Rodney with a snowblower on the front or a post hole auger and as you have said Tim a set of forks. Big problem to me is cost.
Thanks for showing how it works.
Stay safe.
Bruce from Mason Michigan
I would have loved to see it for snow removal. It would be ideal of pushing snow off the tops of large banks of snow with that extendable boom. Very informative video! Best Regards, Jay
Yes, we never had a chance to try it with snow. Sorry!
I don't think I would use it for mowing anything, but brush. But it would sure work wonders on all the other jobs/chores. If I had a larger property, they would get my money.
Best wishes, stay safe.
Neat machine! How gentle would it be on home lawns? Less damage than a skid steer, but more damage than a 1 series Deere?
In some ways, LESS damage than a compact tractor, as the steering doesn't cause any damage. We show this in the prior episode where we grind a stump. even in bare ground which is somewhat muddy, it doesn't 'scuf' at all!
it is heavier than a subcompact, so if the yard is muddy, it would cause more ruts.
The way the lift cylinder is mounted in relationship to the boom it is almost parallel to the boom. In that position it is trying to push the boom forward and not up. The more the boom raises the more the cylinder is under the boom pushing up that lift capacity increases.
That's a neat machine, but I'll stick with my John deere tractor!
cant go wrong
I think the biggest selling point of that machine over a traditional skid steer is the whole turf protection thing. Doing mulch, plantings, and other work over a completed turf job would have a much easier time and less chance of turf damage.
The question would then be - Does the articulated have that much more utility to justify the premium in price over a similar capacity tractor? If you look at a Kioti CK tractor, you would give up less than 100 lbs in total capacity (and as you know, lower lift is actually more) and with a cab would still be more than $10k less. $10k can buy you some significant attachments.
In my mind, unless you have some really tight quarters you need to operate, I'd have a hard time justifying the price over a tractor.
Of course, the use would then matter. Chances are the Bobcat would be running far more reliably once you have 600+ hours on it than any tractor. But who knows. If you are a small shop where the guy paying the bills is the guy running the machine, you know that the abuse will be a bit less.
I drove one a month ago. Very maneuverable and quick controls. However I tried driving and moving arms and bucket at the same time. The machine bogged down rapidly. This is not the case with a regular size articulating loader. I found that with the 25 hp. It is difficult to do two functions at one time.
3:48 that cat just casually slipped into another dimension
We have actually been speaking with the same salesman that worked with you through this unit. One thing that I would point out to your discussion is that where I agree 100% on what you have illustrated especially regarding attachments in capability vs 3 point. Yes they are much more expensive for example the brush hog, 1 thing to point out is that by having a rotary cutter out front you are keeping the tractor out of the brush driving forward. That is a big deal considering I have caused extensive damage to my kubota BX2380 when in the field due to that point. Another big point to add would be that by having this bobcat L28 you have the option to rent a very very large range of attachments such as tillers, brush hogs, trenchers, and post hole diggers for a relatively affordable rate and use that attachment for your project then simply return it since a lot of property owners may not need those attachments very often. Say whipping their property into shape they may not need that brush hog but once a year. Or say a tiller. Why invest $3000 even for an American branded 3 pt tiller when you can day rent for $145 a day or $450 per week when that would take care of spring tillage on the property. That has been a big selling point for us and we too are considering for our operation. With that said we have elected at this time to hold off and allow the market to catch up a bit before diving in. Tim you inspire many of us to do things and think outside the box. We each make and form our opinions however you allow many viewers such as myself to see things in action and that helps tie all the specs and reading together which I think speaks louder at times. So I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication over these past years in keeping very informative and non bias videos.
hi there and got a cat scan , don 't think you can beat my A300 a lot stronger . think it was a big mistake to stop making the A models, also have a new toolcat , good show ,best to all john
I think that machine would be good for cleaning out stalls, tight spaces and general purpose stuff with other attachments. When you have something like that around you find so many uses for it that you never dreamed you would use it for.
Personally I disagree, I prefer something with four wheel steer like a tellahandler or a skid steer for stalls. The articulation of the machine would swing the body into the stall wall. That was my experience with a larger Kubota articulating loader in mulch stalls though..... maybe the bobcat is so small it wouldn’t be as bad......
@@elliottkeyes9448 It's set up different from most loaders the back moves but you'd get used to it if that was all you had. Tella handlers or all terrain forklifts are really nice but way more money.
@@bradh74 If you are going straight in and out it wouldn't be too bad. It's repositioning in the stall that you run into issues I just think the cab would swing out inconveniently.
In my area the Avant, the Bobcat, and Vermeer are all available. I'm leaning toward the Avant with one caveat, the ease of attaching attachments. It is my understanding the Avant is not standard to the industry.
Is this a big problem?
Tim, I’m curious what your thoughts are on the articulating Avant Loader vs Bobcat loader. I’d be using it in the tree industry in residential backyards and loading a dump trailer
The avant- is more refined, having several models and a longer history. However, it has proprietary attachment mechanism.
So if you are willing to spend the extra money to get specific attachments, the avant appears to be a good choice.
@@TractorTimewithTim hey Tim, any experience with the Giant 254 tele ?
No, but I have used the Bobcat L28.
Tim try to get a tool cat , not as much lift height but they can use any attachment that a skid can use.
I loved the tutorial for Martha!
Would you guys (ttwt) ever demo a bobcat toolcat ( the one with the bed) and test the weightlifting on the loader and the dump capacity on the bed and just do any overall review.
Yes, we would love to do so!
great review.thank you for this review. i just happen to be interested in this machine and looking to buy one..
Are the drive wheels hyd. motors?
THIS MACHINE IS THE FUTURE IT IS GOOD FOR CONSTRUCTION AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY AND DEMOLITION. I WORKED ONE WEEK ON ARTICULATED LOADER AND I WAS AMAZED BY ITS CAPABILITIES.
Tim, I am a heavy equipment operator, the treble pedal on most heavy equipment is laid out the same way. Once you have driven lift trucks for 30 years you get use to it that way. It is a two hand and two foot operation at times. Hope this helps.
That machine was made for landscapers, construction sites, landscaping suppliers and the occasional person with a rural property. But the person who has a rural property he could buy a compact tractor with attachments AND a a commercial grade zero turn for the same money.
Yes, you are correct. However, as I explained, there is a reason for the extra cost. All of the extra and beefier hydraulics cost money!
Agreed. I just don't see a home owner realizing the potential of a skid steer for normal chores. If you are a contractor, maybe. Although, I still see that Tim has more than proven, a contractor can be very successful with a small investment of a 1025R! Now, the 2025R Gen 2 offer an even more robust option for not much more. For Bobcat to be viable to home owner market, the price would have to come down in half! I would never blow 45-50K on a base machine. For that much, I can buy a really nice 3 series or even go orange and have a beast of a compact machine with plenty of hydro power. Great review, but no, it's not really viable. To big, too bulky, too much money.
@Steve, Yes, price would need to come down. Agree on that. ...but it seems possible to me that the price can come down over time..and as the design evolves.
@@TractorTimewithTim I'd have to think a smaller frame might be needed as well. The weight could be an issue as well. It is interesting.
Can u put grapples on for tree service pick up logs and brush
Would you consider having one on long term lease
Oh yea! I really enjoyed using it.
Good answer on the attachment front. My other thought was the difference between traditional skid steer attachments and compact track loader/mini skid ones. I almost want to think that the c.t.l. versions would match up better with one of these s.a.l. machines. How do you feel on that front? Also, would the forward/reverse be the same on their subcompact/compact tractors?
How is it going up hills with a load, I have heard that they lack power on hills. Ground clearance? I love the idea of the lift capacity but do see some quirks compared to a compact tractor. I'm intrigued though
I started watching for the sub-compact (1025R) and often skip through episodes that don't include the 1025. However, I have been intrigued by Bobby and watched those episodes with interest.
I think that the wheel minimum turning radius and the actual required radius must be measured on the outside of the car body. So is AVANT.
Could you get a in close cabin with windows and stuff like that it can you put a snow blower on the front of this please comment back on those 2 things thank you very much for this video it was very interesting
Not sure about a blower...but check out our other episodes on this machine to see the fully enclosed cabin.
This was a great video. Thanks for the detailed review. This helped a lot on my decision.
I have Heavy Hitch weight brackets on my X738 and 2025R. I like them both. I also have their skid shoes on my 54 inch blade. They are much better than production.
Good Morning Tractor Time With Tim would you ever consider in testing a cat mini loader.
Cat doesnt make a mini loader like this.
Very nice review of Bobby, I'm sure he will be missed. The greater capacities of this unit give it a lot of advantages over a compact tractor. To Christy's question of the rear end stickling out, the outside leading edge of the bucket would also have stuck out on the turn. It would have been interesting to see which stuck out further. To bad we didn't have a decent snow to test Bobby's ability.
I looked into buying one of these for my landscaping company last fall. I didn’t buy it because I heard from the dealer that some people think it’s under powered going up and down hills. Which concerned me for snow removal
Hi Tim an Christie, I think bob would be beneficial in a large scale landscape company such as new subdivisions .Have a day love from TEXAS
Pretty good for these little buds
Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t the Kubota compact tractors foot pedals for forward and reverse opposite that of the Deere’s? Bobcat and Kubota probably just follow that line with this Bobcat loader.
I have been wondering how this would compare to a compact tractor in effectiveness, going to have to watch more of the vids on this. Been thinking of ditching my 1025r for a skid steer or something like this but hate to lose the readily available backhoe on the 1025r.
Another random question Tim, I’m looking to build a building to keep truck and tools in, just wondering what size your garage building is?
54x36.
Kubota uses an entirely different setup with their ‘treadle pedal’.
@@TractorTimewithTim thanks Tim, appreciate the info. Love the channel, it helps me so much.
What do you think of machines such as the Bobcat L28 or Skid Steer Loaders complementing rather than replacing Compact Tractors? I think that if the budget allows it may be worth having both types of machine in the fleet.
I have a 3pt and pto adapter for a skidloader it cost about $1000 and I can run any category 1 and 2 3 point and pto attachments. I have put a blade, mower, post hole auger, snowblower, and landscape rake on it and it doesn’t have to be an expensive attachment.
I like it! Who is the manufacturer?
@@TractorTimewithTim HH fabrication makes it and I’m sure there are others. It runs on standard flow hydraulics and is a 540 pto
I agree with you, for what it is the price isn’t horrible. It is high but it’s a specialty machine. John Deere can make a 1025R and sell a bazillion of them in mass produce the parts and make it in enough quantity to give it a realistic price. They probably don’t make a ton of these at all in the amount of design and engineering that’s going into that is crazy and to produce stuff in that small of a quantity is always going to be expensive and if people want a very specialized machine they’re going to pay A lot of money for it. If they’re looking for a bargain just go buy a forklift or a small tractor with a bunch of implements but people who are buying that are probably buying it for a pretty specific reason it’s kind of built to be for a residential landscaper or something like that. I don’t know farm you can just have a big huge tractor in a warehouse you can just have a regular forklift. My guess is it’s kind of to replace a skid steer as far as the customer base but whoever it is I’m guessing they don’t sell a ton of these. Manufacturing is weird, if you want to buy 100 of a custom-made part it may cost you $3000 it may only cost you 3800 to buy 1000 of the same part because it’s all tooling and design and set up, once the machines are making the parts they can just keep them running it if the customers need volume. I’ve worked in machining and people come in all the time and want some custom part but only want 10 of them and they always get upset about the price because there’s several hundred dollars in tooling costs even if the parts only cost $.50/each after that. I’m sure if somebody wanted to order 50,000 of those and give them time to produce it they could cut the price dramatically but for the number of sales they’re going to get on something like that it’s just going to be expensive
Very interesting. Thanks for being open-minded to unique equipment. Wish I could afford one!
that machine would be great on a construction site to unload pallets off a truck instead of a Lull or forklift. I'm sure it's a great machine as with most Bobcat equipment but not meant to replace a compact tractor to mow lawn or other jobs around the yard.
I think you need to do a review of the Bobcat 5600 Toolcat or Bobcat 5610 Toolcat. Might be an interesting piece of equipment.
We’ve shown the toolcat in one video.
Interesting little machine
Great points and review of said equipment. I would encourage all to look at a few things that have been covered in other videos. Ergonomics, most equipment is being engineered from the manufacturer or by the person using it to minimize the time a operator is turned backwards to perform a task. Forestry equipment, large agricultural equipment and construction equipment. All the current sales pitches from all manufacturers are about operator comfort, for a multitude of reasons that have been proven. The real question is are 3 point hitch systems and uses on the decline of function and practicality? My answer would be there is still a place where they excel and are still needed, just like a manual transmission in a car. Is the PTO 's feature only going to only available to light duty equipment at entry level costs? As Tim mentioned hydraulic systems are very powerful and do a lot of work. Safety wise fewer rotating shafts to fail or get caught in, however pressurized fluids (hydraulic or coolant )are not for everyone to work with . Tim you hit the nail on the head. Cost; pay up front for engineered solutions when you buy the equipment or the "cost on your body" the data is out there from many individual sources and industries, shipping stuff across the oceans on vessels, mining: from fracturing to strip, driving piles, coffer damns oil rigs, logging or forestry general construction and agriculture. The technology is here, it's more about the size of your check book or bank account. Hydraulically driven attachments get buried in water or the earth completely and still function as designed.
Thank you for doing this breakdown on bobby. At full articulation how far past the outside the outside of the rear end does it stick out? That might be an interesting numatic to know since Christie on how much it adds to the outside turning radius
A short nice compact tractor 👍👍
Tim, very helpful thank you.
Seems like it’s good for a land scape company. (Reduced tire marks over skid). Only thing that’s similar is the JCB Teleskid but it’s bigger. Good video
Looks like you havent heard of Avant. It's an identical tractor from Finland that has been on market well over 10 years. They even have really small version of it.
If Bobcat can come up with heavier capacity loaders and attachments like the Avant, they will have a winner and dominate the US and Canada markets.
I agree!
bobcat accounts for overhang when in comes to radius.. some of the from cylinders on a bobcat mini excavator are positioned unlike competitors to prevent overhang and keep the radius smaller for the exact reason the woman in the video mentioned.
3 pt hitch?
Discussed.
You can buy a 3 point hitch that fits bob tach not sure why unless you wat to disc in reverse lol
I agree that there is a market for something like this! I would like a payloader style unit that is under the 7,000 lb mark. I use my 1025R to load brush. I picked up a 60" bucket just to have extra volume. But a light payloader style tractor would fit me perfectly. But it would definitely need the low torque to be able to pull and be able to load the bucket with ease
Cat disappeared, lol? Question is, do you need an articulated loader or skid steer? The articulated loader gets higher fuel economy. You need to turn the loader in and try a S450 Skid Steer, you’ll love it even more than the loader.
I like the small footprint of these along with the cab for snow removal. To be honest my open station tractor is not fun or comfortable for snow though it gets the job done
It's been a really good series and I opening on what this machine can do. The secret really is in the hydraulics, because there are probably 50 to 100 attachments that can easily be put on this machine. I might point out that from what I can see on RUclips, bobcat has had this type of machine in Europe for a while and even some larger models. The other point that I might make is that one of the European makers has teamed up with Vermeer to have them in there product line which should help push these out to the consumer.
One question I had is do you think the center of gravity on this machine is higher than a conventional skid steer that is on the smaller side say between 25 and 45 horsepower.?
Seems like low center of gravity...the ballast weight is all very low...as is the engine.
I'll confirm Tim's answer on this. It is a fixed frame and a low center of gravity. The Avant machines are who Bobcat is copying here and the Avant does a better job on their loaders so can get better hill performance and operation.
@@rcarlton7734 thank you for the information. We are still trying to decide which way we are going to go for a piece of equipment to take the place of our very old Kubota tractor with no loader on it. I have noticed that the bobcat and Avant compact loaders do look very similar so it doesn't surprise me that they have a lot in common. I'm kind of like Tim whereas I want equipment where I can find service fairly easy to get. I have checked out Avant and there just isn't a lot around in the area where we have our family property in rural Arkansas that could handle some of our needs for service.
New Sub thought I was already subscribed !
Thanks!
At some point would you consider doing a review on the new electric tractors?
No idea if I would have a chance to do so. Do you have a particular brand in mind?
@@TractorTimewithTim I honestly have no idea what brands are out there for ETs. I have only seen them on a couple of electric vehicle RUclips channels in a couple minute segments. They do look quite interesting in that they can self drive in the field and can follow you around without you being in the seat.
I found the electric tractor I had seen. It is the Monarch 634.
You said you had to have left arm rest down to operate, did also have to have seat belt on, I would, many sceed steer loader. .. spelling. .. do.
Seat belt not required to operate.
Intriguing unit. But like you said mid-episode, hydraulics are expensive so all those attachments are pricey. Plus, someone may already have a few 3 point attachments in their barn so they’d have to start over. The downside is the average person can’t make a new hose and the last I checked, PTO shafts don’t leak much. Don’t get me wrong, I love hydraulics. Forward and reverse is huge on a Hydraulic Post Hole Digger and 3 points don’t offer that, but there is something to be said for keeping things simple.
Looks like a great machine but I’m sticking with the dream of a John Deere 3 series someday
The turning should be comparable to a articulated field tractor I would think. It tends to change with the loading. With no load both ends plant equally. With a heavy load on the bucket the front may plant and the turning is done through the rear. With a load hitched to the rear (is that a 2" receiver?) the rear may plant and the turning is done through the front, more like a conventional steering machine. The overall radius is somewhat the same but the turning points change.