The new Cat® 586C Site Prep Tractor is a multi-purpose, heavy-duty machine with the muscle to run power-hungry mulchers and brushcutters.
Owners can tackle a variety of projects with one machine, lowering their operating costs. Applications include residential/commercial development, land management, right-of-way construction and maintenance, wetlands and wildlife habitat management, plantation reclamation and management, and clearing for flood control and firebreaks. The 586C is Caterpillar’s first site prep tractor.
HJM Forest Resource Management, LLC, a forestry consulting company located in the U.S. South, ran a pilot machine equipped with the new Cat HM825 mulcher to provide feedback for fine-tuning the tractor. The company assists private landowners with timber sales and timberland management, and also does right-of-way clearing for power lines and pipelines.
One of the company principals, Jimmy Wayne McGowen, said the tractor and attachment’s ability to handle big timber was an advantage when they were clearing standing timber to widen power line right-of-ways. “The attachment is equipped with a hydraulic push bar and that’s a big plus,” he said.
The work environment for this tractor is often hot, dry and dusty, so it’s important for HJM to have a machine that runs cool and doesn’t collect debris. The high capacity cooling system and on-demand reversing fan keep the machine running cool. The machine is segmented into separate compartments that are pressurized to prevent debris from entering. The pressurized airflow also keeps electronics, sensors and other key components cool during long workdays.
McGowan said that the radiator and air filter stayed clean and the pressurized engine compartment kept debris out. “We have to blow out our older machines like crazy,” McGowen said. “We don’t have to with this machine. That’s a big thing for us, because we were spending a lot of downtime keeping our older tractors up.”
He also said he never saw the hydraulic oil temperature get to medium even on 41 degrees C (105 degrees F) workdays. “The cooler your machine runs, the better it’s going to perform and the longer it’s going to last,” he said.
The cab is positioned between the axles for a stable, smooth ride. The standard air suspension seat with neck and back support and high capacity HVAC system add to operator comfort. “We never could run the air conditioner on high; it blows good on low,” McGowen reported.
The Cat 586C, along with the HM825 Mulcher and the BR624 Brushcutter, will be in production in May.
