Mini track loaders and compact excavators bring power to tight jobsites
The Bobcat 418 excavator and B-Series mini track loaders mechanize tasks formerly performed by hand, especially on tight landscaping jobsites.
Landscaping contractors are always finding themselves in tight situations. Often, getting to a jobsite means moving through a narrow gate or doorway. Working in between homes or next to structures where space is limited is common.
Bobcat, the leader in compact equipment, manufactures a variety of equipment that landscape contractors can use in confined areas. The new Bobcat® 418 compact excavator and the B-Series mini track loaders bring power to small jobsites.
Bobcat 418 Excavator
The Bobcat 418 excavator has an operating weight of 2,593 pounds and a dig depth of 6 feet. Knowing that this class of excavators is used next to buildings or other property and in areas where it is difficult to transport equipment, Bobcat developed the 418 excavator with zero tail swing (ZTS) with tracks extended. “Eliminating tail overhang on the machine allows the operator to optimize spoil placement and minimize the contact the machine might have with property or other nearby objects,” says Bryan Zent, marketing manager for Bobcat Company.
Landscapers used to operating larger excavators will appreciate the pilot-operated joysticks on the 418. Many excavators of this weight class are operated by levers. With joysticks, the operator has consistent, smooth and fluid control of the machine, increasing work efficiency and reducing the possibility of the excavator coming in contact with the buildings or other objects it is working next to. A typical landscape crew might have multiple operators on a piece of equipment, with each having a personal preference regarding the controls. On the Bobcat 418, the operator may choose between ISO and standard pattern joystick operation through a control pattern selector valve.
An additional feature of the control system is operator comfort. Bobcat has given operators more room by creating exclusive two-position joystick consoles. “The operator can position the joystick control console in an outward position for greater comfort and lock the console in an inboard position for easier transport of the excavator through gates and doorways,” says Zent.
In addition to the two-position joystick consoles, Bobcat has built other features into the 418 excavator that allow the machine to be easily moved into tight work areas. The undercarriage of the excavator retracts to less than 28 inches. The Tip-Over Protective Structure (TOPS) folds down so that the excavator can travel through a standard-size doorway and work in interior jobsites. “Always make sure to redeploy the TOPS after transport and before working with the excavator,” says Zent.
B-Series Mini Track Loaders
When larger loaders can’t work on the job, having a Bobcat mini track loader available ensures work won’t be slowed down. “Large loaders often can’t cross over areas with decorative paving, such as natural slate and concrete pavers,” says Zent. “By padding the concrete and using mini track loaders to minimize ground disturbance, because they are lighter than the larger loaders, you can keep productivity high.”
The Bobcat MT52 is only 36 inches wide and the MT55 is 44 inches wide. Both models are 72.4 inches long, making it easy to see how these machines can easily fit in the smallest jobsites and transport materials to the area, minimizing labor and replacing wheelbarrows that would otherwise be used.
Mini track loaders can also lower equipment and labor costs for landscape contractors. Mini track loaders are able to take the place of several pieces of equipment or an entire crew. A mini track loader can be used as a front-end loader, forklift, trencher or soil conditioner, among others. “The mini track loader allows landscapers to do many different things because it uses so many attachments,” says Zent. “For instance, a landscaper can install irrigation with a trencher, dig water features with a backhoe, plant trees with an auger and prepare seed beds with a tiller.” Bobcat manufactures more than 20 attachments for use on mini track loaders.
Bobcat has been manufacturing mini track loaders since 2002. This year, the company introduced a number of improvements by releasing B-Series models. The B-Series improvements include adjustable tilt steering on the directional control handle to improve operator comfort, an auxiliary hydraulic continuous flow shutoff lever for safe operation of attachments, and rubber tracks made of a new, more durable compound. In addition, Bobcat B-Series mini track loaders have a Tier IV engine to meet the latest emissions requirements.
Bobcat is the only manufacturer to offer a mini track loader with a removable ride-on platform. The ride-on operator platform decreases operator fatigue when traveling over long distances or working many hours. The ride-on platform can be easily removed to provide better access to tight jobsites.
Tight spots are often thought of as difficult situations, but work areas without a lot of room don’t have to mean expensive physical labor. Bobcat mini track loaders and compact excavators make it possible for landscape contractors to reduce labor costs, minimize turf repairs and increase efficiency by mechanizing tasks formerly completed by hand.