Building a Bobcat Legacy: How One Family Turned Their Toolcat Machine into the Ultimate Bedtime Solution
Discover how a couple's Bobcat® Toolcat™ utility work machine inspired a creative solution to their son's bedtime struggles. Explore the heartwarming story of the Kowalonek family and their deep connection to Bobcat machines, both real and replica, in their Pennsylvania home.
A Passion for Bobcat Machines and the Quest for Sleep
For many parents, getting a toddler to sleep in their own bed can feel like an impossible challenge. That was exactly the case for Luke and Kristy Kowalonek, whose 2-year-old son, Dash, had two strong passions—watching his dad operate their Bobcat® UW56 Toolcat™ utility work machine and resisting bedtime at all costs.
The Kowaloneks, who live in Lake Hauto, Pennsylvania, were used to long, sleepless nights. If Dash wasn’t sleeping, no one in the house was. Desperate for a solution, Luke and Kristy let him sleep in their bed, just to get some peace. But as any parent knows, that arrangement wasn’t sustainable. Something had to change.
What the Kowaloneks didn’t realize was that their new Bobcat Toolcat machine—which Luke had purchased for work around the house—would spark an idea that would completely transform their bedtime struggles. It would also strengthen a long-standing family tradition of working like Dad, passing down a deep-rooted love for Bobcat machines through generations.
Like Father, Like Son: A Family Tradition of Hard Work
The Kowalonek family has a longstanding connection to hard work and machinery. Just as young Dash loves to watch his dad operate Bobcat equipment, Luke grew up watching his own father work in the family business—a fourth-generation operation that shaped his skills and work ethic.
Luke’s experience with Bobcat machines began in his family’s kielbasy shop, where he learned to operate skid-steer loaders to unload shipments. He had always dreamed of owning his own Bobcat machine, and in 2022, that dream came true.
“I had always wanted my own Bobcat machine,” Luke says. “My wife asked me if it was as good as I thought it would be. I said, ‘Yeah! This is the best thing I ever bought!’”
His Bobcat UW56 Toolcat utility work machine quickly became an essential tool for tackling projects at home and around the neighborhood. But Luke never imagined that his new machine would be the inspiration for solving one of his family’s biggest struggles—getting Dash to sleep in his own bed.
A Family Business Built on Tradition
The Kowaloneks aren’t just a Bobcat-loving family; they’re also the proud owners of Kowalonek’s Kielbasy Shop, a legendary business in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, founded in 1911 by Luke’s great-grandfather, Joseph “Dziadzi” Kowalonek. While the grocery store that Joseph opened was a success, it was the family’s homemade kielbasy (Polish sausage) that drew customers from all over the region.
More than a century later, the family business is still thriving, and loyal customers drive from as far as Maryland and Virginia to get a taste of the same kielbasy recipe that started it all.
“We have people drive to the store from Maryland, Virginia, and other states just to get this kielbasy,” Kristy says. “There’s a line out the store that runs a block or more around the holidays.”
The next generation is already preparing to take over. The Kowaloneks’ daughter, Vayda, proudly says she wants to be the fifth generation to run the kielbasy shop. The business is in good hands, and at home, a breakthrough was about to happen.
A Bobcat Bedtime Breakthrough
Desperate for a creative solution to Dash’s bedtime struggles, Kristy jokingly suggested an idea that would change everything.
“I said to my husband, ‘I’m sick of him sleeping in our bed every night. You should build him a replica Bobcat bed since he loves their machines so much,’” Kristy recalls.
Luke, whether inspired by exhaustion or determination, decided to turn the joke into reality. He went to the hardware store and gathered supplies for a one-of-a-kind bed.
Inspired by his first experience operating Bobcat equipment, Luke chose to build a custom Bobcat S205 skid-steer loader bed for Dash. He didn’t miss a single detail—the bed featured:
Real wheels at the base
A cab enclosure
Bobcat logos on the sides
Lights mounted on top
When the bed was finished, Luke and Kristy weren’t sure if Dash would actually sleep in it. But to their surprise, it worked instantly.
“We weren’t sure if he would actually sleep in it,” Kristy says. “But he has slept in it every night since it was finished, and he loves it so much he even asks to go to bed every night! It really worked wonders.”
A Toolcat Machine Built to Serve
With bedtime finally under control, the Kowaloneks could focus on their demanding daily schedule. While Luke never intended to start a side business with his Toolcat machine, he quickly realized just how useful it was—both for home projects and helping neighbors.
Luke’s list of Bobcat attachments continues to grow and currently includes:
A bucket – for hauling firewood and clearing debris
A snowblower – essential for harsh Pennsylvania winters
A pallet fork – for lifting and transporting materials
With his family living close by, the Toolcat machine allows Luke to help relatives and neighbors with ease.
“My parents live about a mile away, my sister lives five houses away, and my sister-in-law lives about a half-mile away,” Luke says. “I plowed eight driveways the other day for family and friends. It’s just much easier now, and I do it for fun.”
At home, the Toolcat machine makes wood hauling a breeze. The Kowaloneks burn wood throughout the winter, and the Toolcat machine allows Luke to transport logs quickly and efficiently.
With so many uses for the machine, Luke and Kristy are already discussing their next attachment purchase.
A Machine, A Bed, and a Family Tradition
While the Toolcat utility work machine was originally purchased to help with projects at home, it indirectly solved one of the Kowaloneks’ biggest parenting challenges. Dash’s love for Bobcat equipment inspired a long-shot idea that turned into a life-changing bedtime solution.
“For me, the Toolcat machine has had the bigger impact on our family, but for everyone else it’s the bed,” Luke says with a laugh.
The story of Dash’s Bobcat bed has resonated with thousands of people. A social media post showcasing the custom bed has garnered over 80,000 likes, proving that Bobcat machines inspire loyalty at every age.
And now, a new family tradition has been born—a love for Bobcat machines that will be passed down for generations to come.