Geotab HRN-RL06T1 Harness

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What Is the HRN-RL06T1?

The HRN-RL06T1 is a 6-pin harness that plugs a Geotab GO RUGGED into newer Bobcat equipment, with mini excavators given as Geotab's example. It is 28 cm (11 in) long and collects J1939 engine data when the machine provides it.

Compact excavators are some of the most-moved machines in any small contractor or rental fleet. They ride on trailers between residential lots, utility trenches and landscaping jobs, sometimes several times a week. That makes them high on the list for theft risk and for disputes about hours used. A direct harness into the machine's own connector is a cleaner answer than splicing into the wiring, and Bobcat units have their own connector styles, which is why Geotab offers a dedicated part.

Which Vehicles and Devices Does the HRN-RL06T1 Work With?

Geotab lists the HRN-RL06T1 for newer Bobcat equipment, naming mini excavators as an example, and pairs it with the GO RUGGED device. Geotab does not attach a model year cut-off to the word "newer", so the practical test is the connector: a 6-pin service connection on a current Bobcat machine points to this part, while a 7-pin connection on a skid steer points to the HRN-RL07T1.

No earlier part is listed as replaced, and the harness does not require a separate base harness. Its 28 cm length leaves most of the 2 m maximum for reaching a mounting spot on the canopy or cab structure where the device has a view of the sky.

What Problem Does It Solve on the Job?

An owner with three or four compact excavators usually wants to know three things: where each one is right now, how many hours it ran on each job, and whether anything moved after hours. Location and after-hours movement come from the GO RUGGED's GPS. Hours become more reliable when the device can read engine data rather than inferring activity from voltage, and that is where the J1939 connection earns its keep.

Rental and hire businesses get an added benefit. Hours reported from the machine itself make for cleaner billing conversations when a customer returns a unit, and service intervals can be planned from real run time. On a machine that does not broadcast J1939, the harness still gives the device power, and the GO RUGGED's intelligent ignition uses voltage and movement to decide when the machine is working.

How Is the HRN-RL06T1 Installed?

Geotab does not list separate instructions for this harness, so the work follows the GO RUGGED installation guide. On a compact excavator our process looks like this:

1. Write down the device serial number, the machine's serial and the hour meter, and add the device to the database before the visit.
2. Park the excavator with the bucket and blade lowered, switch it off and keep the GO RUGGED unplugged during harness work.
3. Locate the 6-pin connector, removing trim if it is hidden, and confirm the pin count.
4. Connect the harness to the machine connector and plug the other end into the GO RUGGED, making sure the gray weatherproof seals are fully engaged.
5. Keep the total cable at or under 2 m (6.5 ft) and do not chain it with another T-harness.
6. Fix the device to a rigid surface with a clear view of the sky, using self-tapping screws where needed, and cable tie both sides of every joint so the vibration of digging cannot loosen anything.
7. Start the engine, wait for the ignition, GPS and cellular LEDs to go solid, then complete MyInstall and confirm a Pass status.

Which Related Harnesses Should You Compare?

• HRN-RL07T1: the 7-pin Bobcat harness for skid steers from 2000 onward and 2008 excavators up to 14 tons.
• HRN-RZ04T4: a harness for Kubota gas and diesel engines.
• HRN-RW07T1: the tri-pin CAN option when a machine has no diagnostic port.
• HRN-RW03K4-A: the rugged three-wire power kit as a fallback when no data connector is usable.

What Are Common Questions About the HRN-RL06T1?

Is the HRN-RL06T1 the same as the HRN-RL07T1?

No. The RL06T1 is a 6-pin harness for newer Bobcat equipment such as mini excavators, while the RL07T1 is a 7-pin harness for Bobcat skid steers from 2000 onward and certain 2008 excavators.

Will every Bobcat send engine data through this harness?

Geotab says the harness collects J1939 engine data if it is available. Where a machine does not broadcast it, the device still reports location and power-based activity.

How long is the HRN-RL06T1?

Geotab lists it at 28 cm (11 in), with a 2 m maximum for the total connected cable.

API Signal installs Geotab devices and Bobcat harnesses on compact equipment at your shop or yard, supplying the parts as well. Dial 803-513-1009 or use Get a Quote and tell us how many machines you run.

Sources: Geotab harness identification, Bobcat entries, Geotab GO9 RUGGED, intelligent ignition, Geotab installation guide for the GO9 RUGGED. GEOTAB is a registered trademark of Geotab Inc. API Signal is an independent installer and is not Geotab.