Bobcat UTV Attachments, Construction Dealer Support, Straight Truck Delivery, and the Crane Company Stock Question Today

When I first started handling equipment orders, I assumed the lowest quote was always the best choice. I've been handling parts and attachment orders for 11 years now, and I've personally made and documented 14 significant mistakes totaling roughly $18,000 in wasted budget. Three budget overruns later, I've changed my mind. I'm now the person who maintains our team's pre-purchase checklist—the one who asks the boring questions before signing off. These are the seven questions I get asked most often, and the answers I wish someone had given me earlier.

1. What's the best way to buy Bobcat UTV attachments?

Don't buy anything until you know the exact model and mounting group of your Bobcat UTV. In 2018, I ordered a snow-blade kit without checking the mounting plate. It looked right on the screen. It didn't fit. $640, straight to the resale pile. The part number is meaningless without the model year, serial number, and attachment bracket.

Then get an itemized quote from a Bobcat construction dealer. Ask for the list price, shipping, adapter brackets, and install labor separately. I've learned to ask what's NOT included before what's the price. A quote that lists every fee upfront—even if the total looks higher—usually costs less in the end. You can find authorized dealers through Bobcat's dealer locator and cross-check the part on the official parts catalog before you commit.

2. How do I find a Bobcat construction dealer I can trust?

Start with the dealer locator, but call two or three dealers and ask the same questions. Do you stock attachments locally? Is the quote valid for 30 days? What happens if the part doesn't fit? Is there a restocking fee?

I learned the restocking question the hard way in 2023. A parts person gave me a cross-reference that sounded right. I didn't verify the model number in writing. The wrong cylinder arrived, and the restocking fee was 20% of an $850 part. That's $170 I could have avoided with one email.

A dealer who answers clearly, lists line-item fees, and records the exact model number I give them is worth more than one with a lower base price and a shrug. If a dealer avoids the question about fees, that's an answer too.

3. What are the most useful Bobcat UTV attachments?

It depends on your work. For property maintenance, a dump box and a grapple are the two I'd buy again. For snow removal, a straight blade with a rubber edge works well for most driveways, and a V-plow is worth the extra money if you clear long sections. For towing, a receiver hitch attachment is cheap and surprisingly useful.

What I'd skip is the cheap aftermarket quick-attach plate that 'should fit.' I bought one in 2021 because it was $200 less than the Bobcat adapter. It took two hours of shimming and it still rattled. The OEM plate was $300 and bolted on in ten minutes. That's not brand loyalty. That's me remembering a lost Saturday.

4. What does 'straight truck' delivery mean for equipment orders?

A straight truck is a single rigid chassis with the cargo box mounted on the same frame. Think of a delivery van with a box body, not a tractor-trailer. When a dealer says they'll send a straight truck, it usually means attachments, parts, and smaller machines. It does not mean a full semi to haul a skid steer.

Here's what most people don't realize: delivery quotes often split out the liftgate and inside-placement fees. In 2022, I assumed delivery was included because the quote said 'delivery.' The truck arrived, the driver asked for $175 for the liftgate call. That was not a fun conversation. Now I always ask: is this a straight truck, does it have a liftgate, and what's the additional charge for going into the building? Those three answers make the difference between a surprise invoice and a good day.

5. Can a Westinghouse generator run my job site trailer or charge my UTV batteries?

Probably, if you size it by continuous wattage rather than peak wattage. For charging two 48V UTV battery banks or running a small job site trailer, you'll want something in the 4,500 to 6,500 continuous watt range. In January 2024, I watched a crew run a Westinghouse 6500 with two battery chargers and a space heater. It worked, but just barely. The heater surge tripped the generator once.

The fix wasn't a bigger generator. It was a soft-start charger and dropping the heater from high to medium. Before you buy any Westinghouse generator, write down every load in watts, add 20% headroom, and check the current spec sheet on their site. Generator ratings change, and a model from 2023 might have different numbers than the one for 2025.

6. So, what is happening with crane company stock today?

I can't give you today's stock price, and you shouldn't trust an equipment guy who tries. If you're asking about Crane Company, the ticker is CR on the NYSE. That's an industrial manufacturer, not a crane rental business. There are also crane manufacturers with separate tickers, so name confusion is common. As of January 2025, the honest answer to 'what is happening with crane company stock today?' is that I don't know the live price. For a live quote, check your brokerage or a financial data provider. What I do know: dealer lead times, rental rates, and machine backlogs tell you more about the equipment market than a daily stock chart. Stock prices are for investors. Wait times are for buyers.

7. Is it worth buying OEM Bobcat attachments instead of aftermarket?

Not always. But for anything that lifts, carries, or attaches to a mount, I go OEM or dealer-sourced equivalents. In 2019, I bought a set of aftermarket forks that looked great on paper. The load rating was printed on the frame. Halfway through unloading 500 pounds of lumber, a weld failed. The forks didn't break completely, but the load tilted enough to be scary.

The only reason nobody got hurt was luck. That one incident made me a convert to transparent specs: verified fitting, written load chart, and a dealer who doesn't dodge the technical questions. For simple items like windshields or mirrors, aftermarket is fine. For anything that lifts weight, pay for the documentation. Not just the part.