Head to head
ASV RT-50 against Gehl RT135
The ASV RT-50 saves $1,000; the ASV RT-50 carries 50 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Gehl RT135 moves 3.7 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | ASV RT-50 | Gehl RT135 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $47,000 | $48,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 1,400 lbs | 1,350 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 4,000 lbs | 3,858 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 1,400 lbs | 1,350 lbs |
| Engine power | 54 hp | 47 hp |
| Engine | Yanmar 3TN86CHT | Yanmar 4TNV88 |
| Auxiliary flow | 13.3 GPM | 17 GPM |
| Lift height | 109.6 in | 110 in |
| Operating weight | 5,180 lbs | 6,510 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | Yes |
| High flow available | No | No |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | No | No |
| Self-levelling available | No | 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-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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Gehl RT135
- The 57-inch overall width threads through narrow side yards and double gates where 66-inch mid-frames have to stay on the driveway.
- A 1,350 lb rating at a conservative 35% of tipping load carries real pallets of sod and stone without the light-in-the-rear feel of aggressively-rated rivals.
- The 46.6 hp Yanmar 4TNV88 needs no DEF and no complicated aftertreatment babysitting, keeping ownership simple for small operations.
- At 6,510 lbs it's still towable behind a well-equipped half-ton or light three-quarter-ton truck with a standard equipment trailer.
- It prices thousands below a comparably-equipped Bobcat T550 and carries Gehl's 2-year/2,000-hour full-machine warranty.
- There's no two-speed drive available, so the 6 mph top speed makes long ground moves and big-property work tedious.
- No high-flow hydraulic option means mulchers, cold planers, and other flow-hungry attachments are off the menu permanently.
- Gehl's dealer network is thin in many regions, and owners report parts waits that Bobcat and Cat customers rarely experience.
- The radial-only lift path limits reach at full height, so loading over tall truck sides takes more care than a vertical-lift machine.
- The rigid undercarriage transmits chatter on frozen or rutted ground, and there's no suspension option like ASV offers in this size.
- A/C cab, Power-A-Tach coupler, self-leveling, and suspension seat are all extra-cost options that quickly close the price gap.
- The same machine wears a Manitou 1350 RT badge, and Manitou Group's brand consolidation makes some buyers nervous about long-term Gehl support.