Bobcat S66-2 vs Case SV280B
Quick take: The Case SV280B has a higher rated operating capacity (2,800 vs 2,400 lbs).
| Spec | Bobcat S66-2 | Case SV280B |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $63,000 | $63,000 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (60) | 4.4★ (210) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 2400 lbs | 2800 lbs |
| Engine HP | 74 hp | 74 hp |
| Operating Weight | 7046 lbs | 8000 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 4800 lbs | 5600 lbs |
| Lift Height | 120 in | 130 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 17.6 GPM | 24.2 GPM |
| Engine | Bobcat (Doosan) D24 | FPT |
| Tracks | No | No |
| Vertical lift | Yes | Yes |
| High-flow | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | Yes |
| Self-leveling | Yes | Yes |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
Bobcat S66-2
- ✓The new 8-inch glove-friendly touchscreen with up to 20 operator profiles and split-screen camera views finally brings Bobcat's mid-frame cab tech up to par with Cat's next-gen loaders, and early operators call it the biggest single upgrade over the R-Series.
- ✓Four selectable drive modes (Balanced, Agile, Dynamic and Charged) with precision drive software let operators tune responsiveness per task, so finish graders and pallet movers can each get the feel they want from the same machine.
- ✓The completely redesigned electrical system addresses the R-Series' most common warranty complaints - harness chafe and sensor gremlins - which is exactly the kind of unglamorous fix long-time Bobcat owners asked for.
- ✓It keeps the proven 74 hp D24 turbo-diesel with no DEF required, so there's no new emissions hardware to learn and parts commonality with the huge R-Series fleet keeps maintenance familiar.
- ✓The vertical lift path and 120-inch hinge pin height make truck loading and pallet stacking easy for a machine this size, carrying over the trait that made the S66 a landscaper favorite.
- ✓Optional Bobcat Sense camera- and radar-based detection can automatically spot obstacles and stop the machine, a genuine class-first safety feature for crews working around ground personnel.
- ✓The refreshed interior adds a heated high-back air-ride seat option, phone holder, extra storage, and USB plus USB-C charging - small touches that owners of all-day machines notice immediately.
- ✓Bobcat's dealer network remains the deepest in the industry, and because the -2 shares its core powertrain with the R-Series, dealers already stock most wear parts on day one.
- ✗As a first-model-year machine that only reached dealerships in summer 2026, early adopters are effectively beta-testing the new electrical architecture and touchscreen software.
- ✗Pricing crept up over the outgoing S66, and a well-optioned unit with high-flow, Sense detection, and the premium seat lands several thousand dollars above an equivalent R-Series leftover.
- ✗The engine is unchanged at 74 hp and 17.6 GPM standard flow, so buyers hoping the new generation would bring more power or hydraulic capability will be disappointed.
- ✗The added cameras, radar sensors, and touchscreen mean more electronics to fail and more diagnostics that require a dealer laptop, eroding the simple-to-wrench reputation Bobcats built their name on.
- ✗Bob-Tach and Bobcat's proprietary attachment ecosystem still nudge owners toward pricey Bobcat-branded tools, and dealer parts pricing remains among the highest in the industry.
- ✗The standard 17.6 GPM flow is low for the class, so running planers or mulching heads still forces the extra-cost 26.9 GPM high-flow option.
- ✗Resale on the new -2 generation is unproven, and with clean used R-Series S66 machines flooding trade-in lots, early -2 buyers may take a steeper first-owner depreciation hit.
- ✗Some operators find the drive-mode and profile menus add complexity for mixed crews - a rental yard or multi-operator fleet has to manage settings that old machines simply didn't have.
Case SV280B
- ✓The 74 hp FPT needs no DPF and no DEF - a maintenance-free Tier 4 setup owners repeatedly cite as the reason they picked Case over 74 hp rivals that still carry filters.
- ✓A 130-inch hinge pin and vertical lift path clear tall dump trucks and hoppers that mid-frame machines can't reach.
- ✓The 3.4L engine's 232 lb-ft of torque does the work of higher-horsepower rivals, and operators are consistently surprised what 74 hp moves.
- ✓The 24.2 GPM standard flow leads the class, and the 37.6 GPM combined high-flow option covers demanding attachments.
- ✓Case's cab is one of the widest in the industry, and the big door opening and low entry make it a favorite of larger operators.
- ✓A heavy-duty hydraulic coupler comes standard on this frame size, so attachment swaps happen without leaving the seat.
- ✓Price per pound of capacity undercuts the Bobcat S76 and Cat 260 by a meaningful margin, making it a value pick among large frames.
- ✓The standard backup camera and excellent sightlines to the bucket corners earn strong visibility marks from operators.
- ✗At 74 hp pushing an 8,000 lb machine, flow-hungry work like mulching feels underpowered next to the 90 hp SV340B and rival large frames.
- ✗The operator-presence seat and armrest sensor faults are a known B-series annoyance that can lock out hydraulics until sensors are cleaned or replaced.
- ✗Case's construction dealer network is thinner than Bobcat's or Deere's in many regions, and FPT parts waits are a recurring complaint.
- ✗Vertical-lift linkage limits mid-range reach versus radial machines, so backfilling over walls takes extra repositioning.
- ✗Resale values trail Bobcat, Cat, and Deere - the flip side of the attractive purchase price appears at trade-in.
- ✗Owners report electrical gremlins and display glitches that often need dealer software updates to resolve.
- ✗High-flow, ride control, and the comfort cab package are extra-cost options that push a loaded unit well past base price.
- ✗At 8,000 lbs it needs serious towing equipment, and the wheeled configuration gives up soft-ground capability to the tracked TV370B.