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Is Caterpillar really the best track loader?

Shimmy1

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2014
Messages
4,257
Location
North Dakota
Can't wait to hear all the comments from everyone. We bought the Bobcat T770. Really liked the Kubota, but in the end the dealer made the difference.
 

Georgia Iron

Senior Member
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
871
Location
USA - Georgia
Occupation
Concrete building slab and grading contractor
Shimmy1,

Congratulations on the new machine. I have never owned a new piece of iron. I know you know we are all dying to see some pics of the tractor. I have friends that use and love bobcat machine's. Give us some feed back as time goes on. I am guessing that the price was the deal maker? Whats the warranty on the machine? Tell us what made up your mind. I see you already have a 773, was it the controls being the same?

Regards
 
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pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
Can't wait to hear all the comments from everyone. We bought the Bobcat T770. Really liked the Kubota, but in the end the dealer made the difference.

In the infamous words of somebody,
"Pictures or it didn't happen"...
Congrats on the Bobcat...at least you got your purchase partly right....ha ha
 

Shimmy1

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2014
Messages
4,257
Location
North Dakota
Georgia, the Bobcat was actually about $4000 more. In the end, the cab and serviceability sold the Bobcat over the Kubota. When I asked the Kubota salesman where the oil filter was he couldn't find it. Then the Bobcat guy says that if my machine goes down, unless it's midnight, he will load one up and have it there in 2 hours (he's 60 miles away). He said he's done it several times, if I want the guys numbers he would give them to me so I could ask them myself. He showed up exactly when he said he would with the machine to run, the Kubota guy was 2½ hrs. late. Warranty is 3 yrs/3000 hrs. The T770 has joystick controls, this is what we wanted. We both prefer ISO pattern(like a Cat). Back to the cab. I've sat in and ran all of them, this new Bobcat design is absolutely perfect. I'm a big guy, 6'4", 270, I can get in and out without hitting my head, shoulders, whatever. That's one thing I really disliked about the Cat. The closed-in loader frame kinda makes it a pain to crawl in and out. As far as the controls go, there wasn't very much difference in the precision between the Bobcat and Kubota, Cat was a very distant second place. Just to jerky/unpredictable.

The last thing I want to say is as of a week ago, I wasn't even considering Bobcat. I have never really liked them, main reasons that cabs have always felt to small, and I have never really cared for the hydraulics. I had one buddy though that has a S300 and had ran a M670 that just wouldn't let it go. Kept saying I had to get a Bobcat out and try it. When I checked specs and found out that the 770 actually had 700 lbs. more tip load than a 299 and less ground pressure, I figured we had better give them a chance, and here we are. I'll get some pics up tomorrow.
 

Shimmy1

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2014
Messages
4,257
Location
North Dakota
In the infamous words of somebody,
"Pictures or it didn't happen"...
Congrats on the Bobcat...at least you got your purchase partly right....ha ha

Hey PA. I know you prefer the Cat. I've always been a hater when it comes to Bobcat, but these new machines are unbelievable. The cab is EVERY bit as quiet and roomy as the 299. I know the HP is less, but I feel that will only come into play while running attachments, of which we do none. Only attachment we will run with any regularity is a screen bucket with grapple for trees. We also felt the $14,000 price premium was just too great. As far as reliability/longevity, we will find out.
 

Shimmy1

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 14, 2014
Messages
4,257
Location
North Dakota
New machine

Here it is
 

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pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
Hey PA. I know you prefer the Cat. I've always been a hater when it comes to Bobcat, but these new machines are unbelievable. The cab is EVERY bit as quiet and roomy as the 299. I know the HP is less, but I feel that will only come into play while running attachments, of which we do none. Only attachment we will run with any regularity is a screen bucket with grapple for trees. We also felt the $14,000 price premium was just too great. As far as reliability/longevity, we will find out.

Congrats on the new machine my friend. Looks sweet. I ran Bobcat equipment for a few decades before switching to CAT. My switch was based solely on poor dealer service on my equipment. Last one I had was a 870. Nice machine but really doesn't compare to my 299XHP's in terms of raw horsower and brute force. All other things considered are basically the same, interior, controls etc. the bobcat will provide you with many hours of trouble free service.. We use our machines pretty hard and the Bobcat unit were a royal pain in the ass to work on, didnt have a steel track option, couple that with a poor dealer and my experience deteriorated quickly... I'm sure for what you are describing this machine will be lightly used and work great for allot less money than the CAT...Good luck with your new toy..be safe
 
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Georgia Iron

Senior Member
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
871
Location
USA - Georgia
Occupation
Concrete building slab and grading contractor
Looks awesome man. I hope you make a mint with it. I love fresh paint, I have been thinking of painting my tl150 woodland camo. I would be the only one around with one like that! I will put some zombie hunter stickers on with crossbones..

It will have a bobcat head on it with a set of cross hairs lined up! Just kidding good luck, thanks for the pics.
 
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