Bobcat hosts Editor Boot Camp

FARGO, N.D. – Lawn & Landscape was one of eight magazines invited to attend Bobcat's first Editor Boot Camp in Fargo, N.D., to test the latest M-Series line of compact equipment.

The M-Series, which launched in the spring of 2009 with segments of equipment rolling out ever since, made enhancements in the categories of performance, comfort, uptime protection, serviceability and controls.

Day 1 was a rundown on loaders and attachments. Bobcat product managers gave an in-depth presentation and demonstration on the improvements to skid-steer and compact track loaders and then gave attending editors the chance to take over machines and dig in the dirt – well, mud because Fargo received nearly four inches of rain the day before.

Among the features tested in the different pieces of equipment were the controls. While standard control remains popular among Bobcat buyers, the skid-steers and compact track loaders also come with two other control options: Advanced Control System, which allows operators to switch between two control styles with just a flip of a switch, and Selectable Joystick Controls, which gives full-hand control of all machine functions.

Day 2 was a lesson on excavators. Editors toyed with the latest features and different attachments. A feature that comes standard on all M-Series excavators is the auto idle function. The engine automatically idles when machine functions are not used for more than four seconds, which lowers noise and makes it easier to communicate on the job site, or, in the editors' situations, yell for help on how to work a machine.