Trailering a Bobcat Toolcat

Rolando · Oct 1, 2005

Is anyone trailering their Toolcat? I have several questions:

How long a trailer should it need? The Toolcat is 15 ft. long with a bucket or grapple attached, but 17 ft. long with a pallet fork. Should I plan for the pallet fork and get an 18 ft.? Cost isn't a factor, because the 18 ft. is only about $300 more than a 16 ft. model. But will the 18 ft. be significantly more unwieldy to maneuver? Should I plan to get as short a trailer as possible?

Does the Toolcat have tie-down points? I didn't think to ask the dealer and the brochures don't say.

This may be a silly question, but will the ramp for a 7,000 lbs. aluminum trailer be able to take a rolling 5,600 lb load, which is the load capacity available after you take out the 1,400 lb trailer weight? They don't look that substantial. The trailer I've been looking at is the Model 8200 Series Trailer by Aluma.

Dargo · Oct 1, 2005

I would definitely go for at least the 18' trailer. I've looked and looked and looked at the Toolcats. I haven't checked in the last couple of months, but I am told that they will have a 3 pt. hitch available soon besides the currently available PTO. Anyway, if you ever wanted to carry anything else on the trailer at all, 16' will become cramped and you will have less an an "adjustment" range to move the Toolcat to achieve correct tongue weight. I doubt that you will be able to tell the difference in towing an 18' trailer vs a 16' model.

Depending on whether you may ever haul your Toolcat with anything in the bed of it, or with a relatively heavy attachment, like a front mower, you may even want to move up in weight capacity. Over the years, I went from a HD 16' trailer with a 7k capacity to an 18' model with 10k capacity to now a 25' gooseneck with a 16k capacity. Now, I don't think you'll ever really need a 25' trailer for the Toolcat, but my point was simply that I twice "under-bought" on trailers. I would have been money ahead if I'd stepped up to the plate at the beginning.

Make sure you post about the Toolcat. I will still likely buy one someday. I'd really like to hear the pros and cons of using one on a regular basis. Good luck!

Rolando · Oct 1, 2005

Thanks for the info Dargo,

I know what you mean about the higher capacity trailer, but the thing is my vehicle can only tow up to 7,200 lbs, it's only a 1/2 ton. I don't want to go into any bigger vehicle, so I'll need to work within that limitation.

Rolando

BrianSouthernMD · Oct 1, 2005

Rolando,

Following info is described and photographed and diagramed in detail in the Operation & Maintenance Manual that will come with your new Bobcat Toolcat Work Machine:

Loading Onto Transport Vehicle - Adequately designed ramps of sufficient strength are needed to support the weight of the machine! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Wood ramps can break and cause personal injury. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Fastening To Transport Vehicle - Fully lower any bucket or attachment.... Fasten chains at the front using the tie down holes in the Bob-Tach... Fasten the rear of the machine using the receiver hitch frame.

In addition to the provided Operator's Handbook and the Operation & Maintenance Manuals for the Toolcat and each attachment, I also bought the HUGE Bobcat Toolcat Service Manual, the large Bobcat Toolcat Parts Manual, the Volume 8 Attachments Parts Manual, and the Bobcat Mower Service Manual! I-R Bobcat extensively documents their product lines! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jmritter · Oct 13, 2005

Rolando,

I use an 18' 10,000# trailor. I would not buy anything smaller. When I pull my toolcat on with the finish mower in front, that leaves me maybe 6" to get the ramps up.

I would be concerned about a 7000#, because of total weight of toolcat ans attachments.

Mike

Rolando · Oct 13, 2005

Hi Mike,

I ended up ordering an 18 ft trailer with a 9,600 lb capacity. The trailer weighs 1,500 lbs, but my vehicle is rated for 7,200 lbs, so that only leaves me 5,700 lbs. I could have gotten an 8,200 lb rating if I'd gotten the 4.10 axle ratio, but I didn't. The Toolcat dry weight is 4,820 lbs (if the 'C' weighs the same as the 'B'). With 16 gal. of diesel, that ups it to 4,930 lbs. The mower, which looks to be the heaviest attachment, is 715 lbs. That makes it 5,645 lbs.

That's pretty close. Any comments? What about tongue weight? My manual says it should be 10 to 15% of trailer weight, which would make it 700 to 1,000 lbs. If you're carrying the mower, and only have 6 inches of play left, what tongue weight do you end up with?

What about the width? Will 82 inches work alright? I notice the mower is 76 inches wide. That's also close.

Thanks for the input,
Rolando

BrianSouthernMD · Oct 14, 2005

( Rolando,
I use an 18' 10,000# trailor. I would not buy anything smaller. When I pull my toolcat on with the finish mower in front, that leaves me maybe 6" to get the ramps up.
I would be concerned about a 7000#, because of total weight of toolcat ans attachments.
Mike )
jmritter/Mike,
Welcome to TractorByNet's new Toolcat forum! Do you trailer your Toolcat with finish mower attached because you have a landscaping business or because you have multiple properties? We're interested in hearing how you use your Bobcat Toolcat work machine, what your favorite attachment is, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

BTW, it'd be great if you'd take a minute to fill in a few things on your TBN profile, like location (at least the state), your lot size acreage, and what year & model Toolcat you have. But mostly we hope see more forum posts asking or answering questions! Thanks. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jmritter · Oct 14, 2005

Brian,
Thanks for asking. This is my gig...I live in central Ohio. My wife and I own 4 Subway Sandwich shops. I just bought 10 acres behind my house. It was the last hunk of land in the valley around my house and I have always wanted a pole barn/workshop. It was buy this or have little other opportunity.

The toolcat became an option because we do a lot of our own building of our Subway stores. We purchased a parcel of land with 2 acres and a "Magic Mountian" Putt-Putt course on it. After we built our new store on one parcel of this land, that leaves another 1 acre parcel to mow.

Since we own the buildings of three of our four stores, the next need was snow removal. Last year was a big snow removal year in Ohio. I paid $3000 for it. I decided that I can do all that with the toolcat this year.

The 10 acres is getting ready to be built on. I am looking at a 42x72 pole barn. I want to have a pond built and store the Toolcat there. Maybe add horses or something later.

I bought the Toolcat in June and love it. The "A" class has one problem. It overheats when mowing in dusty areas. I have had the screen put on, I don't run the A/C but the Toolcat would overheat about every 45-60 minutes. I finally found the work around. Keep an eye on your gauge, and when you see it moving up, Raise the bed, clean off the screen, raise the oiler cooler, and clean underneath it. I don't even shut the vehicle down to do this, and I could clean the dust out on under two minutes. That is my only aggrevation. I Love My Toolcat.

Mike

BrianSouthernMD · Oct 14, 2005

jmritter/Mike,
Our Toolcats are versatile! And the manueverability will be great for clearing your parking areas this winter.

The enhanced radiator screen kit captures a lot, but it is amazing how many fine particles find their way through the screen with a mower operating in dusty conditions. I don't get Bobcat's estimated eight hours of mowing between cleanups, either, in very dutsy conditions. I also find the overheating warning guage helpful to take action in time. At least they made it relatively quick and easy to get underneath there, and to do so without needing tools!

Also, when prefilter area is occasionally clogged (from stuff in air intake), a red indicator light comes on. But the prefilter does its job keeping stuff out and its cover is easy to open and clear out, with a reset indicator.

I bought seven attachments, but I don't have the auger (yet)or snow blade, so we'll be interested to hear how they do for you. And that pole barn project sounds promising on your new acreage!

DaveWeaver · Nov 11, 2005

Brian,
Last year I purchased a V-Blade for my Toolcat. It works great for the snow. The joystick controls all of the blade, except to move one of the V-Blade wings I have to use a toggle switch. Not really a big deal, just something they have to work out in the software.
It seems that because the toolcat is pretty new that they are still working on how to adapt the attachment controls to the joystick. They may have worked this out already and I just need an upgrade in my control software.

Has anyone with a toolcat had any problem with the cat not "going into gear" when the shift lever is engaged either up or down? I have this as an intermitten problem. It has been to service to check the lockout arm and other safety switches but they still have not found the problem. When I first had the cat it had a few times when it left me stranded but for the last year and a half all I need do is play with it. Shut it down, raise the lockout arm, get on and off the seat. Whatever is the cause it always seems to be OK after I play with it. Does not happen a lot. Maybe once in every 15 hours of operation.
Is there a shut out/safety switch under the drivers seat? My wife seems to have the problem more than I do and whenever she has had a problem I jump in and it works just fine.
Thanks!