ASV RT-50 vs ASV RT-65
Quick take: The ASV RT-50 costs $14,000 less; the ASV RT-65 has a higher rated operating capacity (2,000 vs 1,400 lbs); the ASV RT-65 has more engine power (67 vs 54 hp).
| Spec | ASV RT-50 | ASV RT-65 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $47,000 | $61,000 |
| Rating | 4.4★ (190) | 4.4★ (210) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| ROC | 1400 lbs | 2000 lbs |
| Engine HP | 54 hp | 67 hp |
| Operating Weight | 5180 lbs | 7405 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 4000 lbs | 5714 lbs |
| Lift Height | 109.6 in | 120 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 13.3 GPM | 21.4 GPM |
| Engine | Yanmar 3TNV86CHT | Yanmar 4TNV86CHT |
| Tracks | Yes | Yes |
| Vertical lift | No | No |
| High-flow | No | Yes |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | No | Yes |
| Self-leveling | No | Yes |
| 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-65
- ✓The Posi-Track suspended undercarriage rides dramatically smoother than rigid-frame competitors, so operators carry full buckets at speed without spilling or getting beat up.
- ✓Low ground pressure lets it work wet lawns, spring thaw, and sandy ground that bogs down steel-embedded track machines - the reason many owners switch to ASV.
- ✓The 67.1 hp Yanmar turbo is torquey, DEF-free, and simple to service, keeping daily operation cheap for owner-operators.
- ✓A 9.1 mph two-speed drive is quick for the class and makes long ground moves on acreage properties far less tedious.
- ✓The 21.4 GPM standard circuit with a 26.7 GPM high-flow option runs augers, brush cutters, and snow blowers that starve on smaller machines.
- ✓At 66 inches wide with a 120-inch hinge pin height it balances tight-access maneuverability with genuine truck-loading ability.
- ✓The 2-year/2,000-hour warranty includes ASV's no-derailment track guarantee, unmatched coverage for a rubber-track undercarriage.
- ✓Radial lift geometry gives strong bucket breakout for digging and grading, which is where mid-frame machines spend most of their hours.
- ✗The multi-wheel Posi-Track undercarriage demands regular cleaning and bearing care, and deferred maintenance turns into cascading, expensive repairs.
- ✗Replacement tracks cost noticeably more than conventional CTL tracks and chunk quickly on rock, rebar, and demolition debris.
- ✗ASV's dealer network is thin compared to Bobcat, Deere, and Kubota, so parts and warranty service can mean a long trailer ride.
- ✗The 2,000 lb rated capacity trails similarly priced vertical-lift rivals, and the radial path limits reach at full height for truck loading.
- ✗Resale values lag the big four brands because used buyers unfamiliar with Posi-Track discount the machines heavily.
- ✗Yanmar engine parts are less stocked in rural America than Kubota, which can stretch downtime when something breaks.
- ✗Cab fit-and-finish and display tech trail Cat and Deere at this price point, and the cab predates ASV's newer MAX-Series interior.
- ✗No self-leveling on base configurations means spec'ing carefully - pallet work without it spills material as the arms rise.