I have had a 289d for a couple weeks now. It's a solid machine, very nice on the inside too. Doing concrete removal and clearing you're never going to wish you had a smaller machine. Whichever brand you choose I would get the biggest machine on your list. With a dump truck and equipment trailer I don't think moving the machine should be an issue, regardless of size. Good luck with your decision.
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Bobcat's cooling system sucks, they heat up the oil so damn fast due to having a tiny hydraulic tank, they need to be able to cool it fast. Cat's hydraulic system is just like an excavator, manifold at the bottom where the loader and drive empties into and it circulates into the tank and the cooler.
One hydraulic break or leaking line and a Bobcat is done, Cat's have massive tanks.
It's still a jungle of hoses and wires under a Bobcat cab, and Cat has everything laid out really nice.
Bobcat cabs have all the buttons and crap all over the sides of the door entry and a stupid windsheild wiper at the bottom, Cat has everything up out of the way.
Bobcat's has WEAK quick attach frames with no SOILD bump stops to help clean out the sticky material in the bucket, and they rely on dead ending the cylinders for that task, Cat has a solid and strong quick attach frames and bump stops built into the loader arms.
Bobcat has grease fittings EVERYWHERE and all different angles, Cat has the fittings inside the pins facing out.
Bobcat uses inferior bushings and pins, I've seen 1 year old units with less than 500 hrs with slop in the main pivots pins, our Cat 289C is tight like a dolphin's ass with 600 hours and minimal greasing.
Bobcat's undercarriage is a royal PITA to clean out wet sticky mud and clay out of, Cat is just a matter of kicking it out with your feet.
Personally, I'd stay with a smaller unit, make more money on the bigger jobs, and when a small job that requires a smaller machine pops up, a bigger unit will be a hindrance.
90% of the work I do with the 289C is perfect, but the tight confined spots I get into, I am cursing, hence the back up camera.

 

Great info guys, keep it coming!!!

One question specific to the Cat259D and Cat 289D... Both are listed as having the same horsepower: 74hp. At one look, I would think the 259D would be a better performer as a result, but then I know hydraulics and weight of the machine also make a difference... IE heavier machine can push better? Would using the dozer attachment be underpowered with the lighter 259D vs the heavier 289D?

Would you guys agree wide tracks are better for Florida sand and soft material? I know the Bobcat's are 12 inch tracks and the Cat D's come with bigger tracks by default, and have bigger options as well.

 

Here is my input....I would go with the smaller machine, unless u need to lift. We do landscaping and excavating we are running 2 329 deeres great machines but a pain to haul and a smaller size machine around houses would be nice. You didn't clearly say what trailer you were running. We used to run 14k 20' pj's. We blew tires on a weekly basis, wheel bearings way to often and bent trailers many times. We are running 3,7k axles on 10" i beam deck overs on 17.5's or 20 tons with big trucks.We pull with 450's 550's tandems and tri's. I am going to say 9 out of 10 times a little machine will do everything a big machine will and sometimes faster! Especially fine grades. My only reservation on small machines for my application is lift. I know 259's lift no where near what they say they do. I was not a fan of the 570 when I demoed it, I liked the 259 but weak tilt cylinders and I felt cramped with my knees between the joysticks
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The truck I am using is an F700 dump truck, an old department of transportation vehicle. It only has 83,000 miles on it and has the 5.9 cummins diesel so plenty of power for towing, and stopping, the trailer.

The trailer I have is a Big Tex 14-ET 16 footer. Maybe not the best trailer, but far from the worse. Dual axles with brakes on each.

Here is a picture of the combined unit:

I had to buy a trailer to get my CDL license for the truck... I would have gotten a wheel under the deck style had I known better now. The width between wheel hubs is 83.5 inches... leaving one inch clearence for the T650 with wide tracks. One reason I like the Cats is they tend to be skinnier than the Bobcat counter part.

 

The truck I am using is an F700 dump truck, an old department of transportation vehicle. It only has 83,000 miles on it and has the 5.9 cummins diesel so plenty of power for towing, and stopping, the trailer.

The trailer I have is a Big Tex 14-ET 16 footer. Maybe not the best trailer, but far from the worse. Dual axles with brakes on each.

Here is a picture of the combined unit:

[

I had to buy a trailer to get my CDL license for the truck... I would have gotten a wheel under the deck style had I known better now. The width between wheel hubs is 83.5 inches... leaving one inch clearence for the T650 with wide tracks. One reason I like the Cats is they tend to be skinnier than the Bobcat counter part.

Will that trailer handle them big skids Way side of trailer looks doesn't look like heavy built trailer

 

It's rated for 14,000 pounds, I would hope it can handle a loader.

 

1'' of clearance ain't gonna work

 

It's rated for 14,000 pounds, I would hope it can handle a loader.

I figure it could but Looking at it just don't look like it
Cat 289D are over 10k + weight of the trailer So that doesn't leave you much room You might be getting real close overloading the axles

 

I've seen a video of a 259D lifting a 4200lb concrete block off of a loading dock, take it to the ground, lift it to the top of its lift height and then place it back on the loading dock. It should have plenty of power.

The 259D also has standard 2spd. It's an extra cost on a T650 and I don't think the T590 has 2spd.
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I've seen a video of a 259D lifting a 4200lb concrete block off of a loading dock, take it to the ground, lift it to the top of its lift height and then place it back on the loading dock. It should have plenty of power.

The 259D also has standard 2spd. It's an extra cost on a T650 and I don't think the T590 has 2spd.
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Correct, the T590 is single speed... Definitely advantage to the Cat.

The 259 does seem like a little beast based on what I have read.
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1'' of clearance ain't gonna work

Yeah, the T650 is pretty much out... Unless it is such a great machine that I would be better to trade in trailer in order to accommodate it. Not sure if I have seen or heard anything which makes that the best choice though.
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I figure it could but Looking at it just don't look like it
Cat 289D are over 10k + weight of the trailer So that doesn't leave you much room You might be getting real close overloading the axles

The trailer weighs 2500, so that leaves 11,500 for the track loader (assuming the attachments get loaded into the truck)

The 259 looks good though so if I end up with that I am easily in the clear. However, like the T650, if I end up really thinking the 289d is the best, I could always trade trailer in to get a bigger safety net for weight.

Do u think coming close to the weight, but staying under, is dangerous? I assumed axles were rated lower than their actual capacity.
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Bobcat's cooling system sucks, they heat up the oil so damn fast due to having a tiny hydraulic tank, they need to be able to cool it fast. Cat's hydraulic system is just like an excavator, manifold at the bottom where the loader and drive empties into and it circulates into the tank and the cooler.
One hydraulic break or leaking line and a Bobcat is done, Cat's have massive tanks.
It's still a jungle of hoses and wires under a Bobcat cab, and Cat has everything laid out really nice.
Bobcat cabs have all the buttons and crap all over the sides of the door entry and a stupid windsheild wiper at the bottom, Cat has everything up out of the way.
Bobcat's has WEAK quick attach frames with no SOILD bump stops to help clean out the sticky material in the bucket, and they rely on dead ending the cylinders for that task, Cat has a solid and strong quick attach frames and bump stops built into the loader arms.
Bobcat has grease fittings EVERYWHERE and all different angles, Cat has the fittings inside the pins facing out.
Bobcat uses inferior bushings and pins, I've seen 1 year old units with less than 500 hrs with slop in the main pivots pins, our Cat 289C is tight like a dolphin's ass with 600 hours and minimal greasing.
Bobcat's undercarriage is a royal PITA to clean out wet sticky mud and clay out of, Cat is just a matter of kicking it out with your feet.
Personally, I'd stay with a smaller unit, make more money on the bigger jobs, and when a small job that requires a smaller machine pops up, a bigger unit will be a hindrance.
90% of the work I do with the 289C is perfect, but the tight confined spots I get into, I am cursing, hence the back up camera.

Have you used a dozer blade on a smaller machine? Both dealers say they come with smaller blades so the performance, relative to size, is about the same regardless since they are pushing smaller amounts of dirt they dont get bogged down. Clearly job would take longer if large, I just want to make sure the weight of the blade doesn't hinder the little guys.

I like what you wrote comparing the two, very helpful... Especially the cooling part. I had not thought about fluid capacity and only was stuck on how dirt was being sucked in off the tracks.. I suppose a cooler machine is more important than a dirty engine bay, I can always clean that out!
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Have you used a dozer blade on a smaller machine? Both dealers say they come with smaller blades so the performance, relative to size, is about the same regardless since they are pushing smaller amounts of dirt they dont get bogged down. Clearly job would take longer if large, I just want to make sure the weight of the blade doesn't hinder the little guys.

I like what you wrote comparing the two, very helpful... Especially the cooling part. I had not thought about fluid capacity and only was stuck on how dirt was being sucked in off the tracks.. I suppose a cooler machine is more important than a dirty engine bay, I can always clean that out!
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He hates bobcats.

That being said buy what you want. Ask for demos.

I would buy a bobcat over the cat. But lately been eyeing kubota again
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I'd echo what whiffyspark said regarding demoing the machines on your short list.
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I will be demoing the 289D on Friday afternoon... Cat thinks they can get a 259D there as well for comparison.

I ran a Bobcat 750 for a little bit, so I think that covers the T650. I sat in the T590 but they did not have time to let me run it out back in the dirt.

 

You'll like the ride quality of the Cat's, very smooth. Don't believe the BS that others say about Cat's suspension not being able to cut a grade, those remarks are spread by people who can't even run a push mower in a straight line.

 

I take all opinions, good or bad, with the proverbial grain of salt. I know it boils down to me, but the feedback gives me great information to consider, or for things to look at on each machine.

 

Getting back to the dozer blade, don't waste the money, skid steers have too much weight on the back, dozers have the weight on the front. I pushed out 180 tons of 3/4 clear gravel this morning using only the bucket and pushed it 100 feet on a pile, a blade would have taken all day, and I was done in 2 hours.

 

I own both a t590 and a t650 im happy with both. The t590 is actually quite impressive i think. CAT also makes a good machine. They both have there good and bad points. Just demo both and you will see what works best for you.
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We bought one of the first 259D our dealer got this winter and haven't ha any complaints as of yet, great little powerhouse. Our go to rental was usually a 289 from the same dealer but recently we've been doing numerous large homes with full basements and no walkouts making the 259 the only choice so we can lift it into the foundation to the grade the slab. The only complaint I have is the camera doesn't seem as sharp as it should an I don't trust it like the cameras on our Cat wheel loaders, not the same quality. We also have the extra counterweight on the rear which is helpful and the power quick coupler. I feel like the controls are much more responsive then those of the newer bobcats I ran lately.
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Hey guys,

I am a first time poster here but have been reading for a few days. Currently I own a hauling company as a part time job and own a dump truck and an equipment trailer. I am a computer software engineer during the week, but can take days off during the week as needed to do jobs.

The hauling part of this business was only being done so I could build work history up so I could get a bank loan for a compact track loader and move into what actually interest me: concrete removal, land clearing/grading, and of course still using a grapple to do debris removal with the dump truck.

That being said, I have a two point question, which is basically the thread title:

Which compact track loader should I get (Cat vs Bobcat) and which size is best (smaller or medium).

I am considering the Cat 259D vs the Bobcat T590 and the Cat289D vs the Bobcat T650.

Machine will be purchased with a breaker, industrial grapple, and a 6 way dozer blade.

I can see pro's and cons to both companies. Cat is well respected for engineering machines and has a great support fleet to fix machines on site. Bobcat has a nice history specifically with skid steers so perhaps are more the "experts" on these machines?

I prefer the cooling system of the Bobcat over the Cat... blowing the hot air out the side seems to be a much better idea than sucking in air from above the tracks (I live in Florida, so lots of dry dusty sand/dirt)

As for the size, I am not sure the extra $10k give or take is worth jumping up to the 289D/T650 from their respective smaller cousins.

Sorry for the rambling, but could some of you provide some real world thoughts on these machines please. The Cats generally cost a bit more than the Bobcat equivalent... is it worth it, or is the Bobcat a better more dependable machine?

Cats come with larger tracks... in Florida sand that seems like a good thing. Bobcats can be upgraded of course to wide tracks which slightly offsets some of the cost difference.

Machines will have cab with AC, deluxe instrumentation, and joystick controls.

Arrrrrghhhhh... so many possible ways to go with this....

One day I wake up favoring going smaller and with the Bobcat T590... and other days I wake up thinking the 289D is the way to go since it is bigger and still is fairly thin (5 inches or so thinner than the T650 so it fits better on my trailer)

Thanks for any feedback.

You better checkout the width of t650 on bobcat.com specifications are listed at 72.9" for width
The T770 is only 78" wide with the wide tracks

 

Getting back to the dozer blade, don't waste the money, skid steers have too much weight on the back, dozers have the weight on the front. I pushed out 180 tons of 3/4 clear gravel this morning using only the bucket and pushed it 100 feet on a pile, a blade would have taken all day, and I was done in 2 hours.

Thanks Ron, that is good to know. Maybe I will refocus on getting a bushhog instead of the dozer blade and use the bucket as you note.

 

You better checkout the width of t650 on bobcat.com specifications are listed at 72.9" for width
The T770 is only 78" wide with the wide tracks

I believe the T770 comes standard with wide tracks. The T650 has to add 10" if the wide tracks are put on, putting it at 83 inches which leave me less than an inch wiggle room as a result.