More Toolcat buying questions

Hay Dude · Jun 25, 2015

Looking and searching I'm in the "30k and under" price range.
I have found a lot of 2004-2006 units with 1,500-3,000 hrs for under 20k and a lot of 2009-2011 units with 1,000-1,500 hrs for ~30k.

Truthfully, I like newer lower hour units (who wouldn't), but I also like the idea of saving 10k for some attachments. Is there an ideal "year" to buy? Like for example, in a given year, was the Toolcat redesigned and made much better?
Given reasoable maintenance, is a 3,000hr machine something to be avoided?
These machines look very complex and prone to being unreliable, but running correctly look like a joy to own.
Need advice. Dealers not much help.

Xfaxman · Jun 25, 2015

Ours is a 2012 Series F, it has been very reliable. I have no experience with the earlier Series.

Here is an old thread with some good info: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/toolcat/159610-toolcat-series.html

yellowdogsvc · Jun 25, 2015

I liked my B series except for the stiffer ride and the bucket rollback was not as good as the C series and later.
It lifted more than my F series, had a PTO, and adequate high flow. It was also easier to get to the motor and do service (at least for me).
The ride of my F series is A LOT better.. more akin to my kawasaki mule or Bobcat UTV (polaris) but knowing what I know now, I would have kept my paid-off B series and skipped the F series. It's not that I don't love my F, it's that the B was plenty adequate and aside from the ride and better hydraulic response, the more I use the F (though the controls are "a little" more ergonomic), the more I don't see much difference in power or attachment performance. The F series' engine air filter clogs a lot faster than my b series did (though I had an air pre-cleaner) and if you have a/c, the F series and I assume G too have about the worst placement of the a/c fresh air filter (under the front, right fender). My cab is louder, too, in the F series than it was in the B due to engine placement (further up and to the right). I think the B series was better balanced with the engine placement but maybe I'm imagining it. I do know my F series has a "lean" to the right when you get close to ROC and it falls within Bobcat's "specs" for lean. Frustrating with 1500lbs on forks or when grading with a bucket full of dirt. F series has much colder A/C, though.

Hay Dude · Oct 31, 2015

Sorry I've been away from this thread so long. Still looking as time allows. As in another thread I demoed a Toolcat for a while and liked it. I live in the northeast part of the USA. Most units have a typical rust pattern. Lower doors, lower panels under doors. Access doors to compartments behind doors and maybe other places I may have not seen.
Has this been problematic for any of the owners here on the website? Have you had to repaint or fix rust?

Jabonee · Nov 2, 2015

I see a lot of Toolcats with rust issues. The steel can always be repaired and painted. Where I see the most problem is with the wiring. Plugs corrode and fail. Coils swell and burst. Look close!