A300 Loader’s Two Steering Modes Perfect for a Wide Range of Jobs

A300 with pallet forks

It’s as simple as flipping a switch. The Bobcat® A300 allwheel steer (AWS) loader gives you two options:

• A smooth-riding, four-wheel steer machine that minimizes wear and tear on turf and tires.

• An agile skid-steer unit that turns quickly within its own length in limited access situations.

John Struzick, Pensacola, Fla., uses his A300 for handling rocks and trees in his businesses, Insta Too Stone and Palm Supply.

“We’re tickled to death with it,” he says. “This machine has so much strength in a compact frame, yet you can maneuver and finesse it so easily.”

Struzick is one of a number of owners who are taking full advantage of the A300’s steerable axles, 3,000-lb. rated operating capacity and vertical lift path to do more work, more efficiently and more easily in a variety of applications.

Contractor Brian Mulcher, who owns Multi-Services, Inc., Brighton, Colo., uses his A300 for rough and finish grading work on small lots in new residential developments. “It does a fine job in little yards,” he says. “I look forward to operating this 73 hp machine every day. The performance is fantastic.”

A300 all-wheel steer (AWS) loader

Crest Development and Construction, Kalamazoo, Mich., uses an A300, equipped with an hydraulic breaker, landscape rake and sweeper, for landscape preparation and property and street maintenance work. “We’re very satisfied with the machine,” says company president Steve Coleman.

The power, versatility and surface-friendly maneuverability of the A300 is also paying off for Dave Marsden and Bruce Mahler. They own Boston Tennis Court Construction Co. Inc., Hanover, Mass. Their company builds tennis courts for homeowners, country clubs and private schools. “We are very happy with all aspects of the machine,” says Marsden.

These owners have discovered that the Bobcat A300 is good for business. Here are some of the reasons why:

Light on its feet

With its all-wheel steering, the A300 turns easily and smoothly while minimizing disturbance of turf or other sensitive surfaces. “You can maneuver the loader and attachments in tight places without tearing up lawns or hot asphalt parking lots,” says Coleman. “That’s important when doing site maintenance work.”

The all-wheel steer feature was the main reason that Struzick purchased his A300. “I wanted to be able to work on top-end landscape jobs without damaging lawns,” he says. “Despite its size (8,350-lb. operating weight), I can carry a full load right across a yard without bogging down.”

In the past, transporting landscaping stones across a finished lawn was a real chore for his crews. First they had to load the stone by hand into a small trailer (pulled by a tractor) and then haul it to the work area where they unloaded the trailer by hand. Now they use the A300.

A300 all-wheel steer (AWS) loader

“The AWS loader has reduced a 40-minute job to about 5 minutes,” says Struzick. “The ability to deliver stone quickly where contractors want it also makes us look more professional and that has resulted in more business. If you’re working on lawns, the A300 is the way to go.”

The loader’s gentle touch when turning is also important to Melcher when fine grading new home sites. “I’m sure I could grade a sand trap at a golf course, and turn without getting stuck and never have to repair any surface
disruption,” he says.

All-wheel steering was one of the main reasons Boston Tennis Court Construction purchased an A300. Equipped with turf tread tires, the machine handles work once done by subcontractors. One of those jobs is grading (using a laser-controlled Bobcat grader) the gravel and the crushed stone
and stone dust bases for the tennis courts.

“In all-wheel steer the A300 turns without tearing up these surfaces,” says Marsden. “There is virtually no disturbance other than the tire tread imprint which we roll out using a small roller machine.”

Ideal for lifting and loading work

The A300’s vertical lift path is another important feature for Melcher. His work often involves lifting dirt in very tight spaces. The vertical lift path also provides a long reach at the top and a good view of the bucket. That appealed to Coleman when he bought his A300. “I wanted a machine for use in landscaping and loading trucks,” he explains. “The A300 lets us dump topsoil, sand, gravel, stone and demolition debris into full-size dump
trucks.”

A300 with breaker

The A300 also has the power to handle heavy loads. “It gives us the capacity and ability to lift pallets of clay surfacing materials without compromising loader stability,” says Marsden.

Easy to maneuver

High on the list of favorite features of these A300 owners are the two low-effort joystick controls that reduce operator fatigue. The left joystick controls steering direction and speed ranges—inching, low and high range. The right one controls the lift arms and tilt function.

“They’re much easier to operate than conventional steering levers,” says Coleman. “It’s so user-friendly compared to other brands of skid-steer loaders,” notes Struzick. “Even an inexperienced person would love operating this machine because it’s so easy.”

“Nothing else comes close,” adds Melcher, “because the joysticks allow you to maneuver so much faster and easier.” In his case, where he may have no more than 10 ft. of maneuvering space between houses, the quick, precise control offered by these joysticks is critical to his being able to work efficiently.

A300 all-wheel steer loader with pallet forks

Comfortable and convenient operation

The A300 comes standard with a fully-adjustable suspension seat to smooth out any bumps or jolts. Coleman added an enclosed cab with heating and air conditioning. “When operators are comfortable and not bothered by hot or cold weather or noise, they tend to be more alert and work more safely and productively,” he says. “When doing landscaping work, the enclosed cab keeps them out of the dust and helps protect them from insect bites when clearing brush.”

Melcher chose the enclosed cab option plus deluxe instrumentation, which includes keyless start and a display screen that monitors engine and machine functions, and displays digital time and job clocks and information on using attachments.

Bobcat quality

For Coleman the excellent reputation of the Bobcat brand played a critical role in his decision to purchase the A300. He tried various makes of skid-steer loaders, but reports: “There’s no comparison to Bobcat equipment.”