ASV RT-50 vs Gehl RT135
Quick take: The ASV RT-50 costs $1,000 less; the ASV RT-50 has a higher rated operating capacity (1,400 vs 1,350 lbs); the ASV RT-50 has more engine power (54 vs 47 hp).
| Spec | ASV RT-50 | Gehl RT135 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $47,000 | $48,000 |
| Rating | 4.4★ (190) | 4.1★ (80) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| ROC | 1400 lbs | 1350 lbs |
| Engine HP | 54 hp | 47 hp |
| Operating Weight | 5180 lbs | 6510 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 4000 lbs | 3858 lbs |
| Lift Height | 109.6 in | 110 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 13.3 GPM | 17 GPM |
| Engine | Yanmar 3TNV86CHT | Yanmar 4TNV88 |
| Tracks | Yes | Yes |
| Vertical lift | No | No |
| High-flow | No | No |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | No | No |
| 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.
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.
- ✓Low-effort pilot joystick controls are a headline feature, giving this small frame the same smooth proportional feel as Gehl's larger Pilot Series machines.
- ✓IdealTrax automatic track tensioning comes standard, protecting the undercarriage from the neglect that shortens track life on manually-tensioned competitors.
- ✓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.
- ✓A full cab enclosure with heat and air conditioning is available - a genuine comfort upgrade the smaller RT105 can't be optioned with.
- ✓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.
- ✗Resale values run noticeably below the major brands, clawing back some of the up-front savings at trade-in.
- ✗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.