Any news on the 3-PT Toolcat?

[Rolando]

We're getting close to the February timeframe that someone had mentioned might be when they would become available. I won't be buy one of the first ones off the line this time, but I will be interested once there's some substantial real world experience out there.

 

[radman1]

I had my dealer call area rep 2 weeks ago. Production suppose to start in first quarter of 2008. I will probably be a buyer but still waiting on info. I am not too concerned about being one of the early buyers. The basic D series design is the same. I did already see the prototype. The 3 pt is all external including the lift cylinder. The rear pto has been used before and is basically a hydraulic motor. Repairs/maintenance on these items should be relatively easy. Baised on what I have heard, the dump box is gone.

 

[Rolando]

I had a chance to talk to my area factory rep when my drive motors were being replaced. I asked him to pass on some input to the designers that they keep some form of box over the motor for tool carrying. I hope they at least have an option for something like that. I don't have the expertise to jury rig one for myself.

 

[radman1]

I had a chance to talk to my area factory rep when my drive motors were being replaced. I asked him to pass on some input to the designers that they keep some form of box over the motor for tool carrying. I hope they at least have an option for something like that. I don't have the expertise to jury rig one for myself.

The cooling fan that previously was placed behind the spine frame on the D series, is now placed directly behind the cab glass. The 3 pt takes the place of the cooling fan. I would guess the fan is about 18" diameter and takes up most of the space behind the cab. There is no room to position the fan beside the spine frame without making the machine wider. One poster on TBN says he has seen 3pt version which had 2 large pockets in the back for storage. I assume these are placed on either side of the fan. I would guess each pocket could be about 16" wide, 24-30" long and several inches deep. Not near as big as the current cargo box. If a cargo box was placed over the fan which now sits behind the cab, the box would sit so high that it would obscure any reasonable view of the 3 point and attachment. On the prototype 3 point that I drove, the visibility of the 3 pt was very good, but not as good as a tractor. I think the current cargo box concept on the toolcat just isn't going to work with the 3 pt version-even if the box was made smaller. Remember, to gain access for repair and maintenance, the 3 pt toolcat will have a removable cap on the rear around the fan. Any type of metal or large cargo box built around the fan will be too heavy and cumbersome to remove. I could envision a mesh wire cargo box over/around the fan as an alternative to a standard cargo box.