Expanded Bobcat System Adds to Versatility and Productivity
The addition of a mini track loader gives a new dimension to an already productive Bobcat System.
Typically, the Bobcat System combines the speed and agility of a loader - skid-steer, compact track or all-wheel steer - and the 360-degree house rotation, independent boom swing and multi-function hydraulics of an excavator. Add the industry's widest choice of attachments and it's easy to see how this potent combination can out-work a tractor-loader-backhoe when site access and working space are limited.
For Moe's Contracting, Lake Shore, Minn., a Bobcat T190 K-Series compact track loader and a Bobcat 334 excavator minimize wasted time and motion on the job. The rubber-tracked MT52 mini track loader adds to their productivity by eliminating the need for hand tools and labor in areas that are even too small for the loader-excavator team.
"When we first bought it, I wasn't sure how much we'd use our MT52," says
Dan Moe. "Now we use it almost every day. It fits easily through small gates and works on lawns without tearing them up. We've driven it across freshly-laid sod with a bucket of mulch without making an indentation in the sod."
Dan and his identical-twin sons, Scott and Steve, use their Bobcat equipment on residential and commercial landscaping projects, including construction of retaining walls, driveways, sidewalks and patios. They also use the machines for brush clearing and snow removal jobs.
A formidable team
The T190 replaced a 763 skid-steer loader. It gives them the traction and flotation to keep working efficiently on wet, soft ground and on rough terrain. The new K-Series features — such as the SmartFAN, which results in much quieter operation, an extra roller on each side of the undercarriage, which produces a smoother ride, and increased hydraulic power - add to their productivity. Their T190 also includes low-effort joystick controls and an enclosed cab with heat and air conditioning. "We're a lot less fatigued at the end of a 10- or 12-hour day," says Moe.
Bobcat attachments for the T190 include a grapple for picking up brush and debris, a soil conditioner for preparing sites for seeding or sodding and pallet forks for unloading sod and patio pavers. The Bobcat Tilt-Tatch system, which allows them to rotate the bucket up or down 15 degrees, makes it easy to cut ditches or slope ground away from foundations.
The long-reach 334 excavator allows them to work quickly in tight areas using a 24-in. trenching bucket and hydraulic clamp. "That clamp is perfect for picking up and placing boulders when building retaining walls," says Moe.
Deploying all three machines as a Bobcat System has proven to be one smart way to tackle work.
The speed and convenience of the MT52 mini track loader, plus the power and flotation of the T190 compact track loader and the long-reach of the 334 excavator make for one versatile, productive Bobcat System.
"It's much more efficient to use them all together on a project," says Moe.
A good choice
As one example, Moe's Contracting used its Bobcat System to help renovate the grounds at a local resort. The project involved creating a 700-ft.-long meandering creek bed, constructing a 200-ft.-long waterfall feature and landscaping around the cottages and other buildings. The compact track loader and the excavator worked together to shape the creek bed. In building the retaining wall and water feature, the T190 hauled in boulders, which the 334 placed, and backfilled behind the wall as it was built.
For the landscaping portion of the job, the T190 prepared the site for sod and hauled in landscaping rock. At the same time, the MT52 made quick, easy work of hauling in concrete planting bed edgers, placing landscaping rock and bringing in mulch.
Moe, who started the business five years ago, chose Bobcat based on his experience in the construction business. "It's the most trusted name in compact equipment," he says. "We've had two other Bobcat skid-steer loaders and have never lost any time working with them. Bobcat was always my first choice."