Head to head
ASV RT-135 against ASV VT-100
The ASV VT-100 saves $34,000; the ASV VT-100 moves 3.0 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | ASV RT-135 | ASV VT-100 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $132,000 | $98,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 3,500 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 10,000 lbs | 10,000 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,500 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| Engine power | 132 hp | 104 hp |
| Engine | Cummins QSF3.8 | Yanmar 4TNV94FHT |
| Auxiliary flow | 20 GPM | 23 GPM |
| Lift height | 125 in | 132 in |
| Operating weight | 12,075 lbs | 10,835 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | Yes |
| High flow available | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | Yes |
| Self-levelling available | Yes | Yes |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | Yes |
| 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 VT-100
- The 3,500 lb rated capacity and 132-inch hinge pin height put pallets and heavy loads over tall truck sides that stop mid-frame machines cold.
- The 103.5 hp Yanmar turbo makes 291 ft-lbs of torque, giving mulchers and cold planers real authority when paired with the 41 GPM high-flow circuit.
- The MAX-Series cab is a genuine step change for ASV - roomier, quieter, better sealed, with a modern display and creature comforts that finally match the price.
- The suspended Posi-Track undercarriage floats this 10,800 lb machine over ground conditions that swallow rigid-undercarriage rivals of the same weight.
- Ride quality at speed is the best in the 100 hp class, letting operators keep material in the bucket across rough sites.
- Dedicated coolers and direct-drive pumps sustain continuous high-flow work in summer heat where competitors derate or overheat.
- The 2-year/2,000-hour warranty with ASV's no-derailment track guarantee covers the undercarriage that skeptics worry about most.
- Undercarriage maintenance is multiplied on a machine this heavy - wheels, bearings, and rubber tracks all wear faster under 10,000+ lbs.
- Track replacement costs are substantial, and abrasive or rocky ground shortens track life dramatically.
- Resale lags the Cat 299/Kubota SVL97 crowd because used buyers discount the unfamiliar undercarriage.
- At 23 GPM the standard flow is ordinary - you need the high-flow option to justify this machine, which pushes the price six figures.
- The Yanmar 4TNV94FHT is newer to North America, and parts plus service familiarity lag Cummins and Kubota.
- Ground pressure is low for the weight, but it's still a big machine - tight residential gates and trailering under CDL limits get tricky.
- Loaded weight plus trailer exceeds what most 3/4-ton trucks should tow, so factor a bigger truck into the total cost.