Anyone own or used a Toolcat 5600?

[Sfoppema]

They're wicked expensive if you try to get a new one, but I'm entertaining it if I can find a good deal.

More of a jack-of-all-trades sort of machine than specialized in anything specifically, but looks like it would be pretty damn awesome to have one. Already have a mini skid, so I would just use it as a second mini that would mostly stay on grass/mostly flat ground. Help move logs on a big job. Move chipper around a big property. (Maybe even build a little chip box on it....lol) They go 15mph in one gear and 30 in next. (I've had jobs where I had to move a shit ton of logs with my ditch witch close to 100 yards. It was pretty painful at 4mph) Plus all wheel steering is tit. It does the crab.... This rich guy I work for has one for messing around in his yard, and he let me drive it around as I was showing interest in it. 60ish HP diesel.. Big towing capacity and dump bed is good for like 2000lbs. It weighs 5-6000lbs but the turf tires don't seem to bother the lawn much. Heavy duty pump on it. Has enough juice to run a useful stump grinder attachment. Could be pretty slick sitting in the cab! Use the other mini to scoop the grindings and throw them in the dump bed....

Don't hear about them being used in tree work much. Anyone used one for tree work? I think they're 60k+ new, but I've seen a few that you could scoop around the 15k range that seem to have some years of life left.

Thoughts? Experience? Concerns?

 

[OasisTree]

I saw a landscaper cutting some pretty deep ruts in some nice lawn with one the other day....I dont think they were built to be light on turf. I would much rather have my Cast wheel loader on most of the jobs that we do.

 

[Gorman]

The university of Rhode Island has one. My friend works there and says they usually use it to plow snow in the winter. There really is no “rigorous” testing of it for state workers.

 

[Sfoppema]

Oasis.... I agree on both points. I already have a mini skid, but for a big job, I think it would be pretty mint to have around. I wouldn't want to have it as my only rig. As for the ruts, I'm certain you could find some super wide turf tires to help offset the weight.

Really would need to try one out with a grapple. Keeping my ears open to see if I can find one to try out.

 

[Sfoppema]

Gorman....True, just rigorous mishandling and ruining...lol

 

[Pelorus]

I have a buddy that owns 3 of them.
Excellent both for treework, and snow removal with a front mount blower. Repairs are spendy. With turf tires damage to lawns is minimal unless ground is saturated..