Bobcat is the most-sold skid steer brand in Canada. It's also one of the most misunderstood when it comes to attachments — because Bobcat uses its own Bobtach coupler system, which is compatible with the industry standard SSQA but not identical to it. Here's what you need to know before you buy any attachment for a Bobcat machine.
Every skid steer attachment mounts via a quick-attach plate. The industry de facto standard is the Standard Skid Steer Quick Attach — universally called SSQA. Most modern machines from John Deere, Kubota, Cat, Case, Gehl, and New Holland use SSQA or a physically identical variant.
Bobcat uses Bobtach. It's their proprietary name for what is, in practice, the same physical interface as SSQA — the top hooks, bottom latch pins, and plate dimensions are functionally equivalent to the industry standard. This matters because it means the vast majority of third-party skid steer attachments that say "universal fit" will work on your Bobcat without an adapter.
Where this gets complicated:
The coupler question is easy. The hydraulics question is where operators get into trouble.
Hydraulic attachments — augers, mulchers, trenchers, cold planers, brush cutters, post drivers — all require a minimum GPM (gallons per minute) of hydraulic flow to operate correctly. Run a mulcher that wants 30 GPM on a machine that delivers 17 GPM, and you'll either pop the relief valve continuously or cavitate the motor. Either way, the attachment performs poorly and something gets damaged.
Bobcat machines divide into three hydraulic tiers. Know which tier your machine falls into before buying any hydraulic attachment.
| Hydraulic Tier | Standard Flow (GPM) | High Flow (GPM) | Pressure (PSI) | Typical Bobcat Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Flow Only | 15.5–22 GPM | N/A (no HF option) | 3,000–3,625 PSI | S450, S510, S530, S550, S570, T450, T550, T590 |
| Standard + High Flow Option | 20–23 GPM | 27–34 GPM | 3,000–3,625 PSI | S590, S650, S66, S76, T62, T64, T66, T76 |
| Standard + High Flow (Factory) | 24–28 GPM | 36–42+ GPM | 3,600+ PSI | S770, S850, S86, T770, T870, T76, T86 |
The quickest method: look at the auxiliary hydraulic circuit indicators on the display or dash. On R-Series machines, the operator display shows current hydraulic mode. On older machines, check the plate on the hydraulic coupler ports — high-flow machines typically have larger-diameter flat-face couplers (½" vs ⅜" on standard flow).
The definitive answer: your machine serial number decoded through Bobcat's spec lookup at bobcat.com will show exact factory configuration. Your Canadian Bobcat dealer can also pull this from the build sheet in under five minutes.
Bobcat Canada sells several parallel product lines. Here's where each fits for attachment use.
The narrowest wheeled Bobcats. The S450 at 59" wide fits through nearly any barn door. Standard flow only — no high-flow option on these models.
Works well: Bale spears, pallet forks, manure buckets (light-duty), small augers up to 9" diameter, box blades up to 60".
Will not run: Mulchers, forestry attachments, cold planers, any high-flow-required attachment.
Popular farm machines. More lift than the S450 series, still narrow enough for most barn access (63"–66" width). The S570 added slightly more flow and ROC over the S550.
Works well: All standard-flow attachments — augers, grapples, trenchers (light to mid-duty), landscape rakes, sweepers, snow pushers.
Marginal: Large augers (12"+ in hard soil) may hit the flow ceiling. Brush mowers with high GPM requirements will underperform.
In our assessment, the S590 and S650 are the most versatile Bobcat machines for Canadian farm and construction use. The S650 is particularly well-matched to bale handling (2,690 lbs ROC handles large round bales comfortably), and the high-flow option opens up brush mulchers, rotary cutters, and high-demand auger drives.
Works well: Full range of standard attachments. With HF option: mulchers, cold planers, heavy-duty sweepers, high-torque augers.
Note: Confirm the specific machine has the HF valve installed — it's optional, not standard.
The R-Series replaced the S740/S770 in the current Bobcat lineup. The S76 delivers 2,900 lbs ROC and 8,615 lbs operating weight. The S86 steps up to 3,250 lbs ROC with 86 hp and 42+ GPM high flow. These machines run virtually any attachment in the Bobcat catalog.
Works well: Everything. The S86 especially — mulchers, cold planers, stump grinders, commercial brush cutters, hydraulic breakers.
The tracked equivalent of the S-series small machines. The T590 is heavily used in Ontario and BC poultry operations — its tracks handle wet yard conditions without the rutting a wheeled machine causes. Same attachment limitations as wheeled equivalents: no high-flow capacity on base models.
Best use in Canada: Wet-ground livestock operations, barn cleanout in soft yard conditions, poultry house cleaning where the machine works partially on saturated soil.
The T650 is arguably the most common heavy-use farm CTL in Canada. High ROC, available high flow, and enough frame size to handle serious work. Widely supported through the Bobcat Canada dealer network. Used T650s appear regularly on AgDealer in Ontario and Alberta.
Best use: Year-round mixed operations. With HF option, runs mulchers for woodlot clearing, brush mowers for field edge work, commercial snow blowers.
The current top-of-line Bobcat CTL platform for North America. The T76 weighs approximately 8,490 lbs operating weight with tracks distributing ground pressure across a much larger footprint than any wheeled machine. The T86 adds 86 hp and class-leading hydraulic flow for the most demanding attachments.
Best use: Heavy land clearing, commercial mulching, intensive construction and farm applications. Overkill for average farm use — but if you're working BC hillsides or running a commercial operation, this is the machine.
This is Bobcat's largest production CTL. 100 horsepower, 3,650 lbs ROC, and serious hydraulic flow makes this machine comparable to small dozers and large-frame CTLs from Cat and John Deere. The T870 runs Bobcat's full attachment catalog without limitation and handles high-demand attachments — mulchers, forestry heads, large-diameter augers — at rated performance.
Best use: Commercial land clearing, intensive construction. Rarely seen on Canadian farm operations; more common in logging support and large-scale earthmoving.
Bobcat's own attachment catalog is extensive — over 100 individual tools at last count. But Bobcat-branded attachments come at a price premium over comparable third-party alternatives. The compatibility question that operators frequently ask: will non-Bobcat attachments damage my machine or void the warranty?
As established: for S-series and T-series machines after roughly 2005, the Bobtach coupler accepts all standard SSQA attachments. You do not need to buy Bobcat-branded tools for the coupler to function. Third-party brands — Virnig, CID, Titan, Paladin, McMillan, HLA Attachments (Canadian-made), and many others — all mount to your Bobcat without modification.
Third-party hydraulic attachments will work on Bobcat machines provided the flow and pressure requirements match. The risk isn't brand incompatibility — it's spec mismatch. Before buying any hydraulic attachment for your Bobcat, confirm:
Modern Bobcat R-Series machines have machine-side electrical connectors for attachments that use electronic controls. Some Bobcat-branded attachments — notably the Smart Attach bucket control and certain grader configurations — communicate electronically with the machine. Third-party attachments generally won't use this interface; they run purely on hydraulics and don't require the connector.
Running a third-party attachment on a Bobcat machine does not automatically void the machine warranty. Warranty claims in Canada fall under federal law — a manufacturer must demonstrate that a third-party part or attachment caused the specific damage claimed before denying warranty coverage.
In practice: if you run an improperly matched attachment (wrong GPM, over-rated load) and damage your machine's hydraulic system, a Bobcat dealer will reasonably argue the third-party attachment caused the damage. If you use a properly-matched third-party attachment and an unrelated component fails, the warranty should not be affected.
In our assessment: buy Bobcat-branded attachments when the price difference is small and you want certainty. Buy quality third-party attachments — particularly from Canadian suppliers like HLA Attachments (Ontario-based) or comparable US brands — when the cost difference is significant and the specs match.
Bobcat has one of the strongest dealer networks in Canada. The Canadian distribution arm (now under Doosan Bobcat North America) has dealers across all provinces, with particularly dense coverage in Ontario, Alberta, and BC — the three largest equipment markets in the country.
This matters for attachment sourcing. Bobcat dealer inventory in Canada includes both OEM Bobcat-branded attachments and approved aftermarket options. Most Canadian Bobcat dealers stock high-turn items: buckets, forks, bale spears, and auger drives. Specialty attachments — cold planers, stump grinders, forestry mulchers — are typically dealer-order or direct-from-Bobcat items with 2–6 week lead times depending on location.
| Attachment | CAD Price Range (New, OEM) | Third-Party Comparable |
|---|---|---|
| Bobcat Standard GP Bucket (72") | $2,800 – $4,200 | $1,800–$2,800 (Virnig, CID) |
| Bobcat Pallet Forks (48") | $2,400 – $3,600 | $1,400–$2,200 (Titan, HLA) |
| Bobcat Root Grapple | $5,500 – $8,500 | $3,500–$6,500 (Virnig V50RG) |
| Bobcat Auger Drive + 12" Bit | $4,200 – $6,000 | $2,500–$4,500 (Pengo, CID) |
| Bobcat Snow Pusher (96") | $3,800 – $5,200 | $2,200–$3,600 (SnowWolf, HLA) |
| Bobcat Brush Mower / Rotary Cutter | $7,500 – $11,000 | $5,500–$9,000 (FAE, Fecon light duty) |
| Bobcat Forestry Mulcher | $28,000 – $42,000 | $22,000–$36,000 (FAE, Fecon, Loftness) |
| Bobcat Cold Planer (standard flow) | $18,000 – $26,000 | $14,000–$22,000 (Bradco, Paladin) |
HLA Attachments, based in Listowel, Ontario, manufactures skid steer attachments in Canada and sells through dealers nationwide. For snow management attachments specifically, HLA's Canadian-made products are well-regarded and competitive with Bobcat OEM pricing. Worth considering for buyers who want domestic supply chains and dealer parts availability.
This is a practical compatibility summary for common Bobcat machine and attachment combinations. Where high flow is listed as a requirement, confirm the specific machine is equipped before purchase.
| Attachment | S450/S510 | S550/S590 | S650/S76 | S770/S850/S86 | T590/T650 | T76/T86/T870 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP Bucket (72") | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Pallet Forks | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Bale Spear | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Auger (9" bit, std. flow) | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Hydraulic Breaker | CHECK GPM | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Trencher (std. flow) | CHECK GPM | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Rotary Broom / Angle Broom | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Snow Blower (high-flow) | NO HF | HF OPTION | HF OPTION | YES | HF OPTION | YES |
| Brush Mower / Mulcher (high-flow) | NO HF | NO HF | HF OPTION | YES | HF OPTION | YES |
| Forestry Mulcher (commercial) | NO | NO | HF + ROC check | YES | NO (T590) | YES (T76+) |
| Cold Planer | NO | NO | HF OPTION | YES | HF OPTION | YES |
| Backhoe Attachment (9BH) | NO (too light) | CHECK weight | YES | YES | CHECK weight | YES |
The Bobcat MT100, MT85, and related mini track loaders do not use SSQA or Bobtach. They use a completely different, smaller mounting plate. Standard skid steer attachments physically cannot mount to an MT machine. Attachments designed for the MT series are a separate, smaller product category — most third-party attachment makers offer an "MT" or "mini CTL" version of their products separately. Don't assume a skid steer attachment fits a Bobcat mini track loader without confirming explicitly.
Looking for specific models available in Canada? Browse the skid steer attachment catalog for verified product pages on real models sold through Canadian dealers.