The Bobcat skid-steer and track loaders have long been a popular favourite for construction workers. These multipurpose monsters can be used to carry out a wide variety of different tasks and come with a plethora of attachment options as well. But, what kind of jobs can you do with a Bobcat? Are they easy to operate? And how much does a Bobcat cost in Australia?
Whether you are planning on starting a landscaping business of your own or planning on carrying out extensive renovations on your property, this is the article for you. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about Bobcats – including how they can easily be transported from one site to another.
What jobs can you do with a Bobcat?
First things first, what jobs can you do with a Bobcat?
- Gardening: if you are planning on gutting your garden and transforming it into a beautiful sanctuary, a Bobcat will help move your project along nicely. With a wide variety of different attachments, it can be used for moving earth, clearing debris, light excavation, and so much more. You can even use it to bring in multiple heavy bags of fresh soil and/or stones.
- Earthmoving: when you have huge amounts of earth that need moving from your property to a skip for safe and appropriate disposal, you really can’t go wrong with a Bobcat!
- Landscaping: just as Bobcats can be used for gardening, they are a landscaper’s dream! Whether you are working on transforming your own space or starting a landscaping business of your own, using a Bobcat with its multiple attachments is worth a look.
- Ground preparation: do you have a large plot of land that is incredibly uneven? Perhaps you want to prepare the end of your garden for an annexe construction project but the land is currently unsuitable for us. Whatever the case, a Bobcat is perfect for ground prep jobs.
- Construction: again, the Bobcat is every construction worker’s best friend. If you are carrying out a DIY construction project on your property, you must have a Bobcat in your arsenal. Similarly, if you want to start a construction business of your own, make sure the Bobcat is budgeted for in the early stages.
- Site clean-up: do you have a large plot of land that needs clearing? Perhaps it is overgrown with bushes and other nightmarish debris that would otherwise be impossible to clear by hand. If so, utilise a Bobcat and speed the process up tenfold.
- Moving materials: again, the Bobcat is well suited for moving materials around a site. If you have heavy bricks, piles of dirty, fresh soil, construction debris, logs, or any other hefty materials that would be much better off being shifted with something other than a wheelbarrow, get your hands on a Bobcat!
Is a Bobcat easy to operate?
Now that you know how awesome and versatile Bobcats are, how easy are they to operate?
You’ll be pleased to learn that anyone can drive and operate a Bobcat. They’re lightweight, compact, and very simple and straightforward to use. That said, you need to ensure that you follow the necessary safety precautions when doing so!
- Always wear the safety bar
- Protective gear (PPE) is a must, such as goggles, gloves, and ear defenders (don’t forget your steel toe cap boots as well!)
- Plan the job and check your location in advance. You need to thoroughly check your surroundings to ensure that the Bobcat is the right size machine for the job. Once you know precisely what it is you want to achieve, and that the grounds are in suitable condition to support you, you will be good to go.
How easy is it to transport a Bobcat between jobs?
While Bobcats are quite compact, you wouldn’t want to take them out onto the road. So, how do you get your Bobcat from one job to another? The easiest way is by investing in an Australian-made Bobcat trailer by SureWeld. Simply attach the trailer to your vehicle, load up your Bobcat (safely and with great care, of course), and then voila! You are good to go.
How much does a Bobcat cost?
So, how much does a Bobcat cost? This depends on a number of different factors.
If you wish to simply rent a Bobcat, you can get one for an average of $150 AUD per day (give or take depending on track/wheel, size, etc.).
If you’d like to buy a Bobcat, the price will vary depending on the following factors:
- Size
- Specs
- Features
- Wheel Vs. track
- Buying brand new or used?
The average price for a brand-new Bobcat skid steer varies between $25,000 and $65,000.
The average price for a used Bobcat skid steer can be anywhere from $8-10,000 and beyond.
Remember that these are merely averages so do not take these numbers as gospel. For an accurate price, you should head online and start comparing your options.
Final thoughts / TL: DR
To conclude:
- The Bobcat can be used for a wide variety of jobs, including gardening, earthmoving, landscaping, ground prep, construction, site clean-up, moving materials, and more.
- Bobcats are fairly easy to operate and don’t require much in the way of training.
- You can rent a Bobcat in Australia for roughly $150 per day.
- To purchase a new Bobcat, you are looking at somewhere between $25,000 and $65,000.
- For a used Bobcat, you could pay somewhere around the $8-10,000 mark (maybe more, maybe less).
- Bobcats can easily be transported using a purpose-designed trailer from a reputable manufacturer like SureWeld.
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