Pioneering the Compact Utility Loader: 25+ Years of the Toro Dingo®

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — In 1998, Toro introduced the compact utility loader category of equipment to the North American Marketplace. Now in 2024, Toro continues to lead the way with more than a dozen variations of the popular Dingo compact utility loader (CUL), including its most recent introduction, the Toro Dingo^® TX 1000 TURBO. Whether customers need wheels or tracks, gas, diesel or electric, radial and vertical lifting or telescoping arms, or specific attachments, there’s a Toro Dingo that’s right for the job.

The early years in the history of the Toro Dingo in North America were focused on product development and innovation. For example, after acquiring the rights to the machine, Toro engineers enhanced the equipment category by adding tracks, increasing operating capacity, optimizing hydraulic flow, maximizing lift height, and developing more than 35 attachments to expand the machine’s versatility.

“The Toro Dingo compact utility loader has revolutionized the industry, changing the game since it first hit North America in 1998. From its trailblazing debut to now boasting the most comprehensive CUL portfolio available, the Toro Dingo continues to set the standard for performance and versatility,” says Sam Dando, senior product marketing manager at Toro. “We're incredibly excited about the future of the Toro Dingo as we keep pushing the envelope, bringing groundbreaking advancements that will elevate efficiency and productivity to new heights for generations of jobsites to come.”

Toro has continued to set and raise the standard for compact utility loaders by listening to the wants and needs of its end-users, building specialized equipment to meet the specific needs of the jobsite — from inventing the tracked CUL category with the Dingo TX 420, to introducing the first compact track loader with telescoping arms to launching the first battery-powered Toro eDingo^® in 2020.

A crowning achievement in Toro’s Dingo legacy was pioneering the 1000-pound rated operating capacity class with the Dingo TX 1000 in 2015. Toro recently reintroduced that groundbreaking machine as the Dingo TX 1000 TURBO, building off the proven success and strongest-in-class performance with a new turbo-charged diesel engine and patent-pending Smart Power^® feature to maximize engine, auxiliary, and traction torque.

"Customer feedback has been crucial in shaping our design and engineering decisions over the years, leading to innovations such as our patented intuitive controls that reduce operator fatigue and ensure precise movements. Since introducing the Dingo, we've continually evolved our machines based on user input, solidifying our position as not only an industry leader but also an industry innovator," says Dando.

End users can choose from a variety of Dingo models, not to mention more than 35 attachments specially designed for outdoor and interior job sites to help get the job done. When it comes to finding the right Dingo for your job, it comes down to matching the model’s size, capacity and reach to your applications. Regardless of the job at hand, rest assured there is a Toro Dingo designed to get the job done.

As the company reflects on its enduring legacy in the CUL marketplace, Toro remains dedicated to continuous innovation — celebrating its history while investing in groundbreaking advancements and industry-leading solutions to continue to push the envelope for Toro Dingo customers around the world.

For more information on the Toro Dingo portfolio, please visit toro.com/dingo.

Next Generation Toro eDingo 500

The Toro eDingo 500 is an electric compact utility loader with zero emissions and excellent maneuverability for interior construction and demolition. Its HyperCell® Power System provides up to 8 hours of runtime, ideal for confined spaces where larger machines are impractical.

• Rated operating capacity: Up to 515 lbs. (233.6 kg)
• Machine width: 30 in (76 cm)
• Powertrain: Toro HyperCell Power System

Toro Dingo 320-D
The Toro Dingo 320-D is a powerful mini skid-steer, ideal for landscaping and property maintenance. It offers excellent maneuverability and traction with 4-Paw independent 4-wheel drive, and is powered by a Kubota diesel engine that supports most hydraulic attachments, combining compact size with affordability and ease of maintenance.

• Rated operating capacity: 524 lbs. (237.6 kg)
• Machine width: 41.5 in (103 cm)
• Engine: 20 hp (14.9 kW) Kubota D722 diesel

Toro Dingo 323
The Toro Dingo 323 is a compact stand-on mini skid-steer with excellent maneuverability in tight spaces, ideal for landscape operations. As the smallest and most affordable in the Dingo lineup, it offers simplicity and easy maintenance.

• Rated operating capacity: 515 lbs. (233.6 kg)
• Machine width: 41 in (103 cm)
• Engine: 25 hp (18.6 kW) Kohler Command gasoline engine

Toro Dingo TX 427
The Toro Dingo TX 427 is a lightweight, turf-friendly compact loader designed for tight spaces and small to moderate projects. It features simple controls and a 4-pump hydraulic system for versatile attachment use, boosting crew efficiency.

• Rated operating capacity: 535 lbs. (242.6 kg)
• Machine width: 33.7 in (85.5 cm)
• Engine: 27 hp (20 kW) Kohler gas

Toro Dingo TX 525 Narrow & Wide
The Toro Dingo TX 525 delivers more power in tight spaces with a 25-hp Kubota diesel engine. It offers narrow tracks for small spaces and wide tracks for lawn protection, along with a 4-pump hydraulic system for handling various attachments.

• Rated operating capacity: 553 lbs. (250.8 kg)
• Machine width: 33.7 in (86.5 cm) narrow track model / 41 in (104 cm) wide track model
• Engine: 25 hp (18.6 kW) Kubota D902 diesel

Toro Dingo TX 700 Narrow & Wide
The Toro Dingo TX 700 is the most nimble material handler in the Dingo lineup, featuring patented controls and a balanced frame for easy maneuverability. Ideal for landscape contractors looking for hydraulic attachment performance without all the bulk of a larger machine.

• Rated operating capacity: 764 lbs. (346.5 kg)
• Machine width: 34.2 in (87 cm) narrow track model / 41 in (105 cm) wide track model
• Engine: 25 hp (18.6 kW) Yanmar^® diesel

NEW Toro Dingo TX 1000 TURBO Narrow & Wide
The new Toro Dingo TX 1000 TURBO is the ultimate performance standard for the Dingo lineup. Its vertical lift system, intuitive controls, durable Camso track, and Smart Power® technology make it the most advanced in the 1,000 lbs. class. Available in narrow and wide versions, the TX 1000 TURBO embodies the proven DINGO formula — big power and innovation in a compact size.

• Rated operating capacity: Over 1,000 lbs. (453.5 kg)
• Machine width: 34.6 in (87.9 cm) narrow track model / 39.9 in (101 cm) wide track model
• Engine: 24.7 hp YANMAR® turbo-diesel engine

Toro Dingo TX 1300
The Toro Dingo TX 1300 is designed for contractors who need greater power, capacity, and lift height than typical compact utility loaders. It is set apart with features like an exclusive INTELESCOPE^® loader arm that extends an additional 26”, achieving an impressive hinge-pin height of over 9’ that allows for easy loading into dumpsters or trucks that are hard to reach with other machines.

• Rated operating capacity: Up to 1,300 lbs. (589.6 kg)
• Machine width: 46 in (117 cm )
• Engine: 37 hp (27.6 kW) Yanmar diesel

Toro TXL 2000 Telescoping
The Toro TXL 2000 combines the power of a traditional track loader with a compact stand-on design. Its telescoping arms extend 44 inches, reaching over 10 feet high, ideal for unloading trucks or loading tall dumpsters. The stand-on platform provides 360-degree visibility, enhancing productivity in tight spaces, with quick entry and exit for jobsite efficiency.

• Rated operating capacity: Up to 2,000 lbs. (907 kg)
• Machine width: 55 in (140 cm)
• Engine: 49.6 hp (37 kW) Kubota D1803 diesel

The robust Toro Dingo lineup is unrivaled in the industry, offering operators the best machine and attachment for any job. For more information on Toro’s full line of Dingo compact utility loaders and more than 35 attachment offerings, please visit toro.com/dingo.