Bobcat has unveiled its new R-Series skid-steer loaders, featuring a completely redesigned lift arm geometry. Traditional skid-steers use either a radial lift (arc path) or vertical lift (straight up) path. Bobcat's new "One-Arm" design modifies the radial lift path to provide a longer arc at the top of the stroke. This creates a "forward reach" effect, pushing the load further away from the machine at maximum height.
The engineering focus was on truck loading. In previous models, operators had to approach a truck bed perfectly perpendicular to dump a bucket. The new geometry allows the operator to dump the load from a slight angle or further back from the truck side, reducing the risk of hitting the truck tires with the loader bucket.
Additionally, the lift arm cylinder has been repositioned to the outside of the chassis. This increases the cylinder stroke length, allowing for smoother boom operation and reducing the stress on the cylinder mounting pins. The external cylinder placement also creates a larger cab entry opening, addressing a common complaint from operators who had to squeeze past bulky lift arms. The new design increases the rated operating capacity by 8% compared to previous models of the same weight class.
