ASV RT-50 vs ASV RT-25
Quick take: The ASV RT-25 costs $13,000 less; the ASV RT-50 has a higher rated operating capacity (1,400 vs 665 lbs); the ASV RT-50 has more engine power (54 vs 25 hp).
| Spec | ASV RT-50 | ASV RT-25 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $47,000 | $34,000 |
| Rating | 4.4★ (190) | 4.3★ (140) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| ROC | 1400 lbs | 665 lbs |
| Engine HP | 54 hp | 25 hp |
| Operating Weight | 5180 lbs | 3755 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 4000 lbs | 1900 lbs |
| Lift Height | 109.6 in | 101 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 13.3 GPM | 11.3 GPM |
| Engine | Yanmar 3TNV86CHT | Perkins 403J-17T |
| Tracks | Yes | Yes |
| Vertical lift | No | No |
| High-flow | No | No |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | No | No |
| Self-leveling | No | No |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
ASV RT-50
- ✓At 5,180 lbs it's one of the only true CTLs a half-ton pickup and 7,000 lb trailer can legally tow, which saves small operators the cost of a bigger truck.
- ✓The 1,400 lb rated capacity is outstanding for the machine's weight - most competitors need another 1,000 lbs of steel to lift the same load.
- ✓ASV's Posi-Track suspended undercarriage gives a noticeably smoother ride than the rigid-undercarriage mini CTLs it competes with, so operators work faster over rough ground.
- ✓Ground pressure around 3.5 psi lets it cross finished lawns, septic fields, and wet spring ground with minimal turf damage that would sideline heavier machines.
- ✓The 53.8 hp Yanmar turbo-diesel is Tier 4 Final without DEF, keeping fluids simple and running costs low for owner-operators.
- ✓At 58.5 inches wide it slips through gates and between houses where mid-frame machines simply don't fit.
- ✓The open-station ROPS keeps entry price low, and a full cab with heat and A/C is available for year-round work.
- ✓ASV backs it with a 2-year/2,000-hour warranty including the brand's no-derailment track guarantee, which rivals don't match on rubber-track undercarriages.
- ✗The 13.3 GPM auxiliary circuit with no high-flow option rules out hungry attachments like mulchers and cold planers - this is a bucket, auger, and grapple machine.
- ✗There's no two-speed travel, so the 7.1 mph top speed makes long ground moves on big properties feel slow.
- ✗The radial lift path and 109.6-inch hinge pin height make loading over tall dump truck sides a stretch compared to vertical-lift rivals.
- ✗ASV's many-wheeled undercarriage needs disciplined cleaning and bearing maintenance, and neglect gets expensive faster than on steel-embedded track systems.
- ✗Replacement rubber tracks cost more than conventional CTL tracks and wear quickly if you work rock, concrete, or demolition debris.
- ✗The dealer network is far thinner than Bobcat's or Kubota's, so rural owners can face long drives for parts and warranty service.
- ✗Resale value trails the major brands because many used-equipment buyers don't know the Posi-Track system and discount it.
- ✗The small frame gets bouncy with a full bucket at speed, and heavier attachments like pallet forks eat into the modest capacity quickly.
ASV RT-25
- ✓At 48 inches wide it's the only sit-in CTL that fits through a standard residential gate, opening up backyard jobs that otherwise mean wheelbarrows or walk-behinds.
- ✓Riding in a real seat with joysticks beats standing on a walk-behind platform all day - operators are dramatically less fatigued on long jobs.
- ✓The 3,755 lb weight tows behind nearly any half-ton truck or even a large SUV, making it the easiest CTL in the industry to move.
- ✓Ground pressure is minimal, so it crosses finished lawns and irrigation lines leaving marks a rake fixes rather than ruts a crew rebuilds.
- ✓The Posi-Track suspended undercarriage rides smoother and climbs better in mud than the rigid mini-loaders it competes with.
- ✓The 24.7 hp Perkins diesel stays under emissions thresholds that require complex aftertreatment, keeping the machine mechanically simple.
- ✓A 101-inch lift height is remarkable for the size - it genuinely loads landscape dump trailers and small trucks.
- ✓It rents extremely well, and rental operators report strong utilization because nothing else does what it does at the size.
- ✗The 665 lb rated capacity is genuinely tiny - a pallet of sod or wet retaining-wall block is already over its limit.
- ✗The 11.3 GPM auxiliary circuit only runs light attachments; augers and trenchers work, but anything hungrier stalls.
- ✗A 5.1 mph single-speed drive makes any significant ground move feel glacial.
- ✗The small cab is tight for big operators, and all-day comfort trails the larger frames.
- ✗The 1,900 lb tipping load means careful load placement - it gets light in the rear quickly with the arms extended.
- ✗Undercarriage wheels and bearings still need ASV-level maintenance diligence despite the machine's small size and price.
- ✗Dealer coverage for parts is thin in many regions, which stings more on a machine bought for quick-turn rental work.
- ✗Price per pound of capacity is steep - you're paying for access, not lifting power, and buyers who don't need the 48-inch width get more machine elsewhere.