Getting Closer

Rip · Jan 22, 2006

Got a good closeup look and test drive of a new C model a week or so ago and must say it was all I had hoped it would be. With nearly 90 acres in BC it is getting easier to justify such a machine.

Although we currently live in Colorado, a PU w/plow and a Power Trac 1845 are serving my needs pretty well. I will have a wider range of tasks, not to mention greater distances to cover in BC, so a Toolcat is looking better & better.

Up here at 8000 ft I would certainly get a turbo (although my PT is not), but the BC property is about 2000 ft. How do any of you with the standard 46 hp model feel about power? Plenty for all conditions or need more at times? Anyone with the turbo feel a need for more power at times? I probably will have no need for the high flow PTO option so I could go either way.

BrianSouthernMD · Jan 22, 2006

Rip,
I'm glad to hear your test drive demo of the Bobcat Toolcat C-series met or exceeded your high expectations! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif And with PT 1845 ownership and extensive TBN PowerTrac and Toolcat forum participation, you knew what you were looking for and testing.

Congrats on the new BC acreage. Tell us more. How steep are the slopes? Anywhere approaching the slopes on the Colorado property you're living on now?

I went with with the 56hp Turbo model since the price differential compared to a 46hp non-turbo was relatively small and I didn't want to be sorry I didn't have 56hp Turbo later. But I've appreciated having all the power available, esp. when I've been on 15+ degree slopes while cutting thick, dense materials with either the near-finish Bobcat 72" Mower or my heavy rotary brushcutter. Remember the Toolcat itself weighs more than your 45hp PT 1845. But generally I've been satisfied with 56hp rather than felt the need for more power.

Rip · Jan 23, 2006

Well Brian.... the BC property has cliffs (litterally) as well as flat land and much in between. In contrast to our Colorado property which is mostly in the 20 degree plus range other than where the house & parking area actually sits.

That is still one of my issues as there are certainly parts of the BC property too steep for a TC. I may end up with both yet. We're going to be putting up a prefab (not a mobile or manufactured) house later this spring, so there will be quite a bit of miscelaneous dirt work and landscaping yet I will still need the use of the PT here in Colorado. As the PT would be one of the last things to move, I will make the final determination at that time. It just may join a TC if I feel there are enough things it can do better up there.

You are right about the turbo, as in the overall scheme of things with attachments figured in, the extra power would be a very small part of the whole cost. The high-flow hydraulics is another issue, as you can not really add it later, yet I have no anticipated need for it at this point.

I'll have more questions and quandrys as I get closer to a decision and then order time. I know I can count on the folks here to come forth with advice, tips and other words of wisdom.

Rip