Chris Merritt, 20/20 Land Maintenance
Chris Merritt, owner of 20/20 Land Maintenance, started his Veteran-owned and family operated business with just a tractor and the Bobcat of Knoxville rental department. Using the experience he gained in the military and Georgia School of Construction, he was able to grow and expand very quickly. Within a short period of time he was able to add a new T595 Skidsteer, with the help of sales specialist JD, to help with his expanding workload. Only a few months later he also added a new E35 Excavator. With the use of two Bobcat machines and an array of attachments, 20/20 Land Maintenance very quickly become a main contender in small excavating projects in the Knoxville area. Mr. Merritt attributes 100% of his success to the team at Bobcat of Knoxville from the rental, service, sales, and the parts department. Recently, a local equipment dealer reached out to Chris at his shop to inquire about him considering other brands of equipment. With his loyalty to Bobcat in question, he simply said, “Sir, I believe you never forget the people that helped you get to where you stand today, and with all due respect, Bobcat of Knoxville is the reason I am who I am today.” Our view is that trust and loyalty is the foundation of all unshakeable relationships. 20/20 Land Maintenance also recently began a partnership with Smoky Mountain Vintage Lumber, who is also a loyal Bobcat customer. With their new partnership, they have been able to expand into the custom artistic retaining wall world. With additional equipment purchases coming up in the near future, the best answer for both companies is, as it has always been, Bobcat of Knoxville.
Sean Leader, Windrock Bike Park
Sean, along with his business partner and fellow professional racer Neko Mulally, has spent the last few years taming a former grassroots training ground for bike racers. The pair has been clearing trees, fixing slopes and installing drainage with the help of compact equipment. Read Sean's Story Here...
Billy Smith, Show Your Teeth - T870 vs 299D XHP
Billy Smith has an excavation business and owned a large frame New Holland track loader. He was ready to update and sold it locally. Since there is no longer a New Holland dealer in this area, he wanted to go with a company that could support the product after the sale. He also wanted a machine that could handle a 84" bucket and load a tri-axle dump truck. Basically, it came down to Bobcat or Caterpillar. Billy asked if we cared to let him set our T870 beside a 299D XHP, I welcomed the challenge. Once on the jobsite Billy got in the Bobcat and John (one of his operators/diehard cat guy) ran the cat. Bucket to bucket, 100hp vs 110hp, the Bobcat pushed the Cat across the jobsite. Next, side by side, they extended the arms all the way, our competition couldn't even curl the bucket up high enough to touch the bottom of our bucket. Next was time to do grade work, which we still continued to shine. Billy said, "Best thing cat can do is send out some Dramamine with that machine". Needless to say he didn't like how their machine operated with the torsion axles, simply too much rocking back and forth. The only thing left after that performance was to negotiate the price and close the deal...
Carl Pickens, Show Your Teeth
Carl Pickens, a former standout wide receiver for the Tennessee Volunteers and pro bowler for the Cinncinatti Bengals, completes a deal with Bobcat of Chattanooga veteran Brian Thurman.
Hodgson LLC, Show Your Teeth
When Rob made up his mind he needed to add a track loader to his fleet he had three different manufacturers he wanted to look at; Bobcat, Kubota and Cat. With service after the sell being a large portion of his decision he didn’t feel like the local Kubota Agriculture dealer could provide sufficient support. “When I came to Bobcat and looked around, all I saw was compact equipment and a lot of it, I knew then that I would be taken care of. It seemed to me that if a manufacture and dealer only offer a compact line then that’s their bread and butter and they will be pretty good at supporting it.” Since Rob also had a history of running some big iron equipment he felt good about the support he might possibly receive with the other competitor. Now, the decision just boiled down to performance. “When the T650 showed up for demo, the driver accidentally put a 84” Heavy Duty bucket on it. I thought there is no way this machine will handle this much dirt. Not only did it handle it fine, but the machine didn’t feel tippy at all when we extended the boom up to dump in the truck.” “I believe the cat 259D came equipped with a 74” bucket which was fine but it didn’t want anything to do with that 84”. Ordinarily the T650 with wide tracks gets a 80” bucket attached to it in order to cut out the width of the machine, fortunately by seeing the bigger bucket attached it worked to Bobcat’s advantage to confirm overall stability and strength of the track loader. Next, Rob attached a 72” brush cutter to the two track loaders. “It seemed the Bobcat’s hydraulics were stronger, especially when we were traveling uphill and cutting. The machine never bogged down or slowed up like the other machine.” After determining that Bobcat would be able to support him and back their product after the sell and the fact that Bobcat out-performed the cat product, the decision was a no brainer for Rob.
A few months passed by and Rob decided it was time to update his cat 307 excavator. This time Rob decided to just try out Cat’s 308E2 vs the Bobcat E85. “ The cycle time was just ok but I was really disappointed to see the cat product struggle in their slew speed. I was on a slight grade and it had trouble slewing uphill with an empty bucket ”. Again Bobcat out shined the competition in performance with both a faster cycle time and a stronger slew. The decision was easy once again and Rob is proud to be hauling two Bobcat products to his job sites. When it comes down to support and performance, the decision is always easy……… The first and still the best, Bobcat!
DuPree - Graf Construction, Show Your Teeth
DuPree-Graf Construction of Knoxville, TN upgraded their constrction equipment fleet by purchasing the newest model Bobcat compact track loader and a backhoe attachment. The model T595 was chosen for the increased engine horse power and lift capacity of a machine in its size class that can perform in confined spaces when needed. The 13 foot reach and 11 foot dig depth of the model 8811 backhoe attachment was a big advantage also. Pictured are Andy Graf and Julie DuPree with their new Bobcat equipment.
Rutherford Construction, Show Your Teeth
Jason Rutherford with Rutherford Construction of Jacksboro, TN purchased 3 different Bobcat products in 2016. Earlier this year Jason decided it was time to stop renting equipment so much and start putting that money into owning his own machinery. A 61 HP S570 skid steer with the A71 enclosed cab option and joystick controls was the perfect fit for everyday jobsite clean-up and loading material. "My guys are so mad at me when I get out of the machine and my sunglasses are all fogged up. This new M-Series air conditioning will run you out of that cab. I also like all the hand controls, they aren't herky jerky like the competition's machines." Jason also had a need to fill for digging footers. The E35 was the perfect fit and he equipped it with an enclosed cab and thumb. "I never imagined how easy it was to grub out root balls with the hydraulic thumb. The only trouble I've had with that machine is keeping my father-in-law out of the seat, he loves running that piece of equipment." A few months went by and there was just one void left to fill. Rutherford Construction also maintains some properties that they own and grounds maintenance had been of some concern. After receiving a summer worksaver in the mail, he yet again saw the perfect fit. A Bobcat 3650 diesel utility vehicle with a hydrostatic drive and finish mower attachment and is also equipped with an enclosed cab and HVAC. When asked why Jason went with Bobcat, his answer was simple, "Bobcat's main and only focus is on compact equipment, not only does the dealer have a large inventory to choose from but they also have a service department that can back the product"
City of Clinton, Show Your Teeth
The City of Clinton takes delivery of a new Bobcat compact track loader model T650. They purchased the optional selectable joystick controls, high flow hydraulics, heat & air conditioned cab, and a 4 in 1 combination bucket.
Underwood Paving Inc., Show Your Teeth
Making it look easy with their new T740 Bobcat compact track loader. Bobcat diesel engines that do not require a diesel particulate filter or def fluid to be tier 4 compliant was a big selling point for the Bobcat large frame T740 track loader versus the competition.
Rush King, Show Your Teeth
Rush King bought a new model E42 Bobcat Excavator with a heat & air deluxe cab, angle blade, hydraulic thumb, grapple, ripper, 42" rotary cutter, and a 24" bucket. He has had fantastic service out of other Bobcat products in the past and he also liked the 0% financing Bobcat offers on new excavators.
KUB, Show Your Teeth
KUB awards bid to Bobcat of Knoxville for 2 model E42 Bobcat excavators with heat & air cabs along with 2 HB980 hydraulic breakers, 2 PC34 vibratory plate compactors, 2 10 ton econoline trailers and 4 buckets.
