Head to head
ASV RT-135 against ASV VS-75
Only the ASV RT-135 runs tracks, so their advertised capacities are not measured the same way; the ASV VS-75 moves 6.1 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit; only the ASV RT-135 runs rubber tracks.
These two are rated differently on purpose. A wheeled skid steer is rated at half its tipping load and a track loader at 35 per cent, because the track machine holds back more reserve. So the capacity rows below are not a like-for-like contest, and the tipping load row is the closer thing to one.
| Spec | ASV RT-135 | ASV VS-75 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $132,000 | Dealer quote only |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 3,500 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 10,000 lbs | 7,000 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,500 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| Engine power | 132 hp | 74 hp |
| Engine | Cummins QSF3.8 | Deutz TD2.9L4 |
| Auxiliary flow | 20 GPM | 26.1 GPM |
| Lift height | 125 in | 130 in |
| Operating weight | 12,075 lbs | 8,910 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | No |
| High flow available | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | Yes |
| Self-levelling available | Yes | No |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
ASV RT-135
- The 132 hp Cummins QSF3.8 with 360 ft-lbs of torque and up to 50 GPM of hydraulic flow spins mulcher heads competitors bog down, making it one of the most capable CTL mulching platforms sold.
- Class-leading cooling - a massive rear package designed for 100% load in high ambient temps - lets it mulch all day in summer without derating.
- The suspended Posi-Track undercarriage spreads 12,000 lbs over huge track contact area, so it floats over slash and soft forest floor where steel-track rivals trench in.
- A 10 mph top speed moves between work zones quickly on big clearing jobs.
- The 2-year/2,000-hour warranty with no-derailment guarantee covers the undercarriage even in forestry duty.
- Undercarriage rebuilds on a 12,000 lb machine are expensive, and the many wheels and bearings demand constant attention in debris-heavy work.
- At well over $130k with a mulching head, total package cost rivals small dedicated forestry machines with steel undercarriages.
- The 20 GPM standard flow is low for the class - this machine only makes sense with the high-flow package.
- ASV's dealer network is thin for supporting a flagship working in remote clearing country.
- The radial-only lift path and 125-inch hinge pin height limit truck-loading versatility compared to vertical-lift rivals.
- Fuel burn is serious under continuous mulching load, and the machine is thirstier than the 74 hp class buyers may be stepping up from.
ASV VS-75
- A 3,500 lb rated capacity at 50% and a 7,000 lb tipping load make it the strongest lifter ASV sells, matching the vertical-lift machines contractors actually cross-shop.
- The 130-inch hinge pin height clears tall dump truck sides cleanly, where the radial RS-75 at 125 inches has to work harder.
- A 26.1 GPM standard circuit is larger than most rivals' base flow, and the 30.9 GPM high-flow option covers heavier attachments.
- The 74 hp Deutz TD2.9L4 is widely serviced, and 3,335 psi of system pressure gives the hydraulics real authority.
- No rubber tracks means no undercarriage rebuild and no track replacement - the running-cost problem that follows every Posi-Track machine.
- Deutz power and a wheeled drivetrain give it the simplest service story in the ASV range.
- At 8,910 lbs it is heavy for a wheeled skid steer, and a trailer plus attachments pushes the combination past comfortable three-quarter-ton towing.
- Losing the Posi-Track undercarriage means losing the flotation and ride quality that are the reasons most buyers choose ASV in the first place.
- ASV publishes no list price and routes its Build & Price tool to a dealer quote, so there is no posted number to negotiate against.
- Yanmar's reported plan to phase ASV-branded loaders into a single-brand lineup has not been confirmed by Yanmar, but it is a live question for anyone weighing long-term parts and resale.
- The wheeled line is two models deep against ten-plus track machines, so attachment and configuration support skews toward the Posi-Track side of the range.