If you've spent any time clearing land, you know that the bobcat t870 forestry package isn't just some optional upgrade; it's a specialized shield that turns a powerful machine into a literal tank for the woods. Most people look at a standard skid steer and see a tool for moving dirt or lifting pallets. But when you're staring down a wall of buckthorn, cedar, or tangled vines, a standard machine is going to get beat up pretty fast. That's where the forestry setup comes in, and specifically on the T870—which is already a beast of a loader—it changes the game entirely.
What Makes This Setup Different?
Let's be real, the woods are a violent place for machinery. You've got branches whipping at the cab, debris flying off the mulcher head, and stumps trying to tear out your undercarriage. The bobcat t870 forestry package is basically Bobcat's way of saying, "We know you're going to beat this thing up, so let's get it ready."
The first thing you'll notice is the armor. It's not just a few extra plates; it's a comprehensive wrap-around system. You've got heavy-duty guards on the lights, so a stray branch doesn't cost you a hundred bucks in parts. There are guards over the hydraulic quick couplers and protective plating along the lift arms. It feels solid, like the machine is wearing a suit of chainmail. If you've ever had a "widowmaker" branch fall toward your roof, you'll appreciate the level of steel they put over your head.
The Power Behind the T870
The T870 is the big brother in the Bobcat lineup. It's a vertical lift path machine with a massive footprint. When you pair that frame with the forestry package, you get a platform that can handle the heaviest mulching heads on the market. We're talking about a machine with around 100 horsepower. That's a lot of grunt for a compact loader.
But it's not just about the engine's raw strength; it's about the high-flow hydraulics. To run a drum mulcher effectively, you need a constant, high-pressure stream of fluid, and the T870 delivers that without breaking a sweat. It doesn't bog down as easily as smaller units. You can push into a six-inch oak tree, and the machine just keeps chewing. It's satisfying to watch, honestly, but you've got to have the cooling capacity to back it up, which leads to one of the best parts of the package.
Keeping Things Cool in the Dust
If you've ever run a brush hog or a mulcher, you know the "snowstorm" of wood dust it creates. That fine sawdust gets everywhere, and in a standard machine, it clogs the radiator in about twenty minutes. The bobcat t870 forestry package addresses this with a reversible fan.
This thing is a lifesaver. Every so often—or whenever you trigger it manually—the fan flips its pitch and blows air outward instead of pulling it in. This knocks all that accumulated dust and debris off the rear screen. Instead of getting out of the cab every half hour with a leaf blower to clean your radiators, you just keep working. It keeps the engine temps stable, which is the only way you're going to get an eight-hour day done in the middle of July.
Safety and the Big Blue Door
We have to talk about the door. In the forestry world, a standard glass door is a liability. All it takes is one piece of a shattered stump flying off the teeth of a mulcher at 2,000 RPM, and that glass is gone—and you're in trouble.
The forestry package swaps that glass out for a 3/4-inch thick polycarbonate door. It's incredibly tough. I've seen videos of people hitting these doors with sledgehammers, and they just bounce off. It gives you a massive amount of confidence when you're working in thick brush. You can see perfectly, but you know there's a serious barrier between you and the chaos outside. It's also sealed better than the standard cabs, which helps keep that fine dust out of your lungs.
Why the Tracks Matter
Since the T870 is a "T" model, it's on tracks. In a forestry application, this is almost non-negotiable. Woods are rarely flat and dry. You're dealing with soft forest floors, mud, and uneven terrain littered with logs. The long track base of the T870 gives it a lot of stability.
Because the machine is so heavy—it's a chunky bit of equipment—those tracks help distribute the weight. You won't sink as easily, and you get way more traction when you're trying to push over a dead standing tree. Plus, the ride is much smoother. If you've ever spent all day bouncing around a skid steer on wheels over ruts, you'll know your back will thank you for the tracks.
Real-World Productivity
So, what can you actually do with a bobcat t870 forestry package? It's not just for clearing a path for a fence line, though it's great for that. People use these for "fire-wise" clearing, which is basically thinning out the underbrush to prevent forest fires from climbing into the canopy.
I've seen guys clear an acre of dense, overgrown woods in a single day with this setup. It turns a job that would take a crew of five guys with chainsaws a week into a one-man job. It's also great for site prep. Instead of bringing in a massive bulldozer that tears up the topsoil and leaves huge piles of debris to burn, the T870 with a mulcher just turns everything into a nice layer of mulch. It looks better, it's better for the soil, and it's way faster.
A Note on Maintenance
Now, don't get me wrong, this machine is a tank, but it's not invincible. Running a bobcat t870 forestry package means you're working in the harshest environment possible. You have to be diligent. Greasing the pivot points and the attachment daily is a must. You also have to check for "spears"—those little sticks that find their way into every nook and cranny.
Even with the guards, a determined stick can sometimes find a way toward a belt or a hose. Most guys I know who run these professionally spend about 30 minutes at the end of every day just blowing the machine out and checking the belly pans. If you take care of it, the T870 will take care of you. But if you neglect the cleaning, all that wood debris can become a fire hazard. It's just the nature of the beast.
Is It Worth the Investment?
Let's talk money for a second. This isn't a cheap setup. The T870 is a premium loader, and the forestry package adds a significant chunk to the price tag. But you have to look at it through the lens of downtime.
If you take a standard machine into the woods, you're going to break a light. You're going to pop a tire. You're going to overheat. You might even break a windshield. By the time you pay for the repairs and lose the days of work, you've basically paid for the forestry package anyway. Plus, the resale value on these things is insane. People are always looking for well-maintained forestry units because they're so capable.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, the bobcat t870 forestry package represents the peak of what a compact track loader can do. It takes the most powerful machine in the Bobcat stable and gives it the "armor" it needs to survive the woods. It's loud, it's aggressive, and it's incredibly efficient.
Whether you're a rancher trying to reclaim pasture or a contractor doing commercial land clearing, this machine makes the impossible feel pretty routine. It's one of those rare pieces of equipment that actually lives up to the hype. You get in the cab, shut that heavy polycarbonate door, and suddenly the thickest woods in the county don't look so intimidating anymore. It's just you, the machine, and a lot of wood chips.