Head to head
Bobcat S86-2 against Bobcat T76-2
The Bobcat S86-2 saves $10,000; only the Bobcat T76-2 runs tracks, so their advertised capacities are not measured the same way; the Bobcat T76-2 moves 0.3 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit; only the Bobcat T76-2 runs rubber tracks.
These two are rated differently on purpose. A wheeled skid steer is rated at half its tipping load and a track loader at 35 per cent, because the track machine holds back more reserve. So the capacity rows below are not a like-for-like contest, and the tipping load row is the closer thing to one.
| Spec | Bobcat S86-2 | Bobcat T76-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $86,000 | $96,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 3,500 lbs | 2,900 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 7,000 lbs | 8,285 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,500 lbs | 2,900 lbs |
| Engine power | 115 hp | 74 hp |
| Engine | Bobcat (Doosan) 3.4L | Bobcat (Doosan) D24 |
| Auxiliary flow | 23 GPM | 23.3 GPM |
| Lift height | 144 in | 128.3 in |
| Operating weight | 10,098 lbs | 9,592 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | No | Yes |
| High flow available | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | Yes |
| Self-levelling available | Yes | Yes |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
Bobcat S86-2
- The engine bump to 115 hp makes the S86-2 the most powerful wheeled skid steer Bobcat has ever sold, and the extra torque shows up exactly where the S86 ran out of breath - heavy planing and mulching.
- It remains the only wheeled machine offering standard, high-flow (36.6 GPM), and super-flow (42 GPM) hydraulics in one platform, so one machine covers everything from pallet forks to cold planers.
- Rated capacity rises to 3,500 lb with a 7,000 lb tipping load, extending its lead as the strongest lifter in the wheeled class.
- The 144-inch hinge-pin height is a full 12 feet of vertical lift, clearing the tallest trucks and hoppers and out-reaching every other wheeled machine in this comparison.
- The redesigned -2 electrical architecture with the 8-inch touchscreen, 20 operator profiles, and Machine IQ telematics directly answers the harness and sensor complaints from R-Series machines.
- Bobcat's unmatched dealer network and the S86's proven resale strength carry over, softening the premium purchase price over the ownership cycle.
- Pricing starts in the mid-$80k range and rockets past $95k with super-flow and Sense options, putting it squarely in large compact-track-loader money.
- The 115 hp 3.4L keeps a DPF emissions system, which draws complaints during heavy idling and light-duty cycles.
- At nearly 10,000 lb it needs a heavy truck and trailer, and the big frame gives up maneuverability on tight sites.
- Bobcat dealer parts and labor rates are among the highest in the industry, and the electronics-dense -2 platform deepens dependence on dealer diagnostics.
- As a wheeled machine it lacks CTL flotation, so soft or muddy ground still pushes buyers to the T86-2 despite the higher cost.
- Tires wear quickly under 7,000 lb tipping loads on abrasive surfaces, and a premium set is a steep recurring cost.
Bobcat T76-2
- The 128.3-inch hinge pin height with vertical lift and an 8,285 lb tipping load make loading full-size dump trucks and stacking heavy pallets genuinely easy - the core strengths that made the T76 popular carry straight over.
- The 23.3 GPM standard auxiliary flow already runs attachments that force smaller machines into high-flow packages, and the 30.3 GPM option gives real mulcher and planer capability without a frame upgrade.
- The DEF-free 74 hp D24 turbo-diesel means one less emissions system to maintain, a point forestry and brush-cutting owners specifically value on machines that live in debris.
- The new 8-inch glove-friendly touchscreen with up to 20 operator profiles, split-screen camera feeds, and Machine IQ telematics finally matches the operator tech Cat introduced on the 265.
- The 5-link torsion suspension undercarriage is standard on this frame rather than an extra, and operators covering rough ground all day rate it among the best rides in the class.
- Dealer pricing starts near $99k - solidly into Cat 265 and Kubota SVL97-2 territory - and options push it six figures, a hard swallow for a 74 hp machine.
- It's a first-model-year platform that reached dealers in summer 2026, so the new electrical architecture, touchscreen, and sensor suite have no long-term track record.
- The engine stays at 74 hp for emissions reasons, so buyers doing high-production mulching still need to step up to the T86 class for real horsepower.
- At 10,250 lbs before attachments it demands a heavy-duty trailer and properly rated tow rig, catching some owners off guard at the scales.
- Resale on the unproven -2 generation is a question mark, and late-run used T76s at $20k+ discounts are strong competition on dealer lots.
- Bob-Tach and the proprietary attachment ecosystem still steer owners toward pricier Bobcat-branded tools versus open-market alternatives.