Head to head
Bobcat S70 against Gehl R135 GEN:2
The Gehl R135 GEN:2 carries 590 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Gehl R135 GEN:2 moves 8.1 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Bobcat S70 | Gehl R135 GEN:2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $29,512 | Dealer quote only |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 760 lbs | 1,350 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 1,520 lbs | 2,700 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 760 lbs | 1,350 lbs |
| Engine power | 23.5 hp | 46 hp |
| Engine | Bobcat (model not published) | Yanmar 4TNV88C |
| Auxiliary flow | 8.9 GPM | 17 GPM |
| Lift height | 94.5 in | 110 in |
| Operating weight | 2,892 lbs | 5,255 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| Rubber tracks | No | No |
| High flow available | No | No |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | No | No |
| Self-levelling available | No | No |
| A/C and heat available | No | No |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
Bobcat S70
- At $29,512 it is by a wide margin the cheapest machine Bobcat sells, roughly half the price of the next model up, the S450.
- A 2,892 lb operating weight means a half-ton pickup and a light trailer move it, so no second truck is needed to get to the job.
- An enclosed cab is still on the options list at this size, so it is not restricted to fair-weather work the way most mini loaders are.
- It is part of the 2026 Classic line rather than a leftover, so parts, attachments and dealer support come from the same network as the full-size machines.
- 760 lb of rated capacity will not lift a full pallet of pavers or sod - this is a bucket-and-broom machine.
- 8.9 GPM of auxiliary flow with no high-flow option rules out mulchers, planers and most hydraulic attachments outright.
- It is the only Bobcat loader with no two-speed option at all, so moving between work areas is slow.
- The 94.5 in lift height is more than a foot short of the S450's, which puts loading a tall dump truck out of reach.
- 23.5 hp is a fraction of a mid-frame machine's output, so sustained production work belongs on a bigger loader.
Gehl R135 GEN:2
- At 5,255 lbs it trailers behind a three-quarter-ton pickup, which is the practical ceiling for most farm and small-contractor towing.
- The 46 hp Yanmar 4TNV88C sits below the power band that forces particulate-filter hardware, so there is no regeneration cycle to plan work around.
- Radial geometry pushes hard at ground level, which is most of what a machine this size gets bought for - scraping, backdragging and rough grading.
- The GEN:2 revision is the current US model rather than run-out stock, so parts and dealer support are live.
- Built in Madison, South Dakota alongside the Manitou 1350R NXT:2, so components move through two dealer networks instead of one.
- 17 GPM standard flow with no high-flow package rules out mulchers, cold planers and most hydraulic breakers.
- No two-speed travel option, so crossing a larger property eats time.
- A 110-inch hinge pin height will not clear the sides of a full-size dump truck.
- Gehl dealer coverage is thin next to Bobcat, Cat and Deere, and parts waits are the usual complaint where the brand has little presence.
- Gehl publishes no list price at all, so every figure is dealer-specific and hard to benchmark before you walk in.