Bobcat S590 skid steer loader – Operator Review

Name: Bobcat S590 skid steer loader – Operator Review
Brand: Bobcat

Powerful, comfortable, durable and versatile are just some words Tasmanian contractor Allan Willis used to describe his nimble Bobcat S590 skid steer, which he has taken on an array of jobs ranging from roadworks to domestic landscaping

There is no denying the power of the Bobcat brand in the heavy machinery market. When it comes to economy, performance and back-up service, Bobcat skid steer loaders are in a class of their own.

Those who use the brand are a loyal bunch who are often vocal about the powerful breakout forces and improved cycle times on their machines.

Bobcat expert

In the small northeast Tasmanian town of Scottsdale, one hour east of Launceston, Allan Willis runs his skid steer contracting service - Scottsdale Bobcat Hire.

His skills on the Bobcat S590 mean booking him for a day’s work could often be a two week wait, maybe longer in the warmer months.

In addition to his usual civil construction work with surrounding councils, main roads and other government agencies, Willis manages to squeeze in the odd domestic landscaping job. According to Willis, the landscaping market is getting bigger as more time-starved clients consider it more cost and time effective to hire his services instead of doing it all on their own.

“Take this job we’re on today, for example,” Willis said. “There is approximately 40 cubic-meters of top soil to spread for top dressing around some magnificent old Redwood, Douglas fir and Radiata pine trees.

“Then some old broken concrete pieces of a path need to be removed and an age old garden with deep tangled roots that a shovel could not penetrate needs rejuvenating.

“After that, I have to dig the trench for the new water mains and finally, repair the driveway where I’ve cut the trench in two places,” he said.

“It would take the owners weeks to shift all the top soil by hand with a wheel barrow, and another few weeks to dig the trench by hand,” Willis continued.

“I can dig the trench in a couple of hours and spread the top soil and complete the garden preparation in under two hours.

“The savings to the clients is enormous, when you consider it only costs them about five hours of machine hire and in return, they gain four weeks or more of free time.”

Versatile and powerful

Willis said it’s the wide range of attachments the Bobcat S590 is compatible with that gives the machine its flexibility for a diverse range of tasks.

“This machine is slightly bigger, far quieter and more comfortable than my older Bobcat which was this machine’s predecessor,” he said.

The Bobcat S590 skid steer derives its power from the reliable Kubota V2607MDIT 4-cylinder engine, that has been rebadged as a Bobcat-D24 for the S590 and delivers 66hp of power and 245Nm of torque.

The machine boasts a generous fuel tank with a 93.7-litre capacity - more than enough for a few days of landscaping on one fill. Willis’s S590 has a 101.1l/min high-flow capacity pump which gives the machine excellent breakout forces.

“One thing I like about these Bobcat loaders is the fact that the hydraulic pump is matched to the ram cylinder size and loader lift capacity,” Willis said.

“What this means is, the machine has faster cycle times which helps me get the job done more efficiently.”

“The quick hitch system with quick hydraulic couplings makes swapping implements swift and simple,” Willis added. “Furthermore, the capacity of the high flow hydraulic pump means the machine’s hydraulics have more than enough capability to run the vibrating roller I use to pack down driveways and pads for concrete pours.”

One of the many implements Willis uses for the job include the laser level that enables him to construct slabs with great accuracy from within the cabin.

The 2-speed drive means Willis can cover some ground in high gear which greatly increases his productivity while reducing costs to clients.

Operator comfort

While economy, power and durability rate high on the Bobcat S590 pros list, Willis said it is the operator comfort that sets this machine apart from others in the market.

Compared to its predecessor, the new S590 is 60 per cent quieter inside the cabin. The new cabin is also at least 10 per cent more spacious thanks to the wider spaced loader arms.

“The room and operating environment inside this cabin has really gone a long way in making life easier for an operator,” Willis said.

“The fully adjustable suspension seat irons out the bumps when darting around a rough worksite. The selectable joystick is another addition that makes operating the machine more efficient.

“There are handy storage areas inside the cabin to put small tools, docket books and even a lunch box when I’m working away from the truck. But the inclusion of a cup holder is a real bonus.”

Find Bobcat skid steers for sale

Willis added the Bobcat S590 ticked the box for great visibility, which is extremely important in a domestic landscaping application.

“This machine has a cab-forward design that moves the operator closer to the attachment, which provides a better viewpoint for the work area,” Willis explained.

“With this machine, the AC unit is integrated into the design thereby eliminating the need for an add-on AC unit that will hinder visibility.

“Overall, I can’t fault the visibility in any direction. When you’re working around someone’s precious garden, you need really good visibility because you can’t afford to run over an exotic plant.”

Willis took delivery of his Bobcat S590 a little over 12 months ago, and said it hasn’t missed a beat since it arrived. With the increased efficiency of the S590, Willis said his productivity quickly grew and consequently the profitability of his operation, especially now with the new inroads into domestic landscaping.