Bobcat S86-2 vs Bobcat T76-2
Quick take: The Bobcat S86-2 costs $10,000 less; the Bobcat S86-2 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,500 vs 2,900 lbs); the Bobcat S86-2 has more engine power (115 vs 74 hp).
| Spec | Bobcat S86-2 | Bobcat T76-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $86,000 | $96,000 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (40) | 4.7★ (65) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 3500 lbs | 2900 lbs |
| Engine HP | 115 hp | 74 hp |
| Operating Weight | 9914 lbs | 10250 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 7000 lbs | 8285 lbs |
| Lift Height | 132 in | 128.3 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 23 GPM | 23.3 GPM |
| Engine | Bobcat (Doosan) 3.4L | Bobcat (Doosan) D24 |
| Tracks | No | Yes |
| 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 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 132-inch hinge-pin vertical lift still clears the tallest trucks and hoppers, a real advantage for aggregate and demolition loading.
- ✓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.
- ✓Four drive modes and precision drive software let operators tune the big frame from delicate pallet work to aggressive digging - flexibility the one-personality S86 never had.
- ✓Optional Bobcat Sense radar and camera detection can automatically stop the machine near obstacles, a meaningful safety upgrade on busy sites for a machine this large.
- ✓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.
- ✗First-model-year electronics on the -2 platform are unproven, and early adopters are effectively field-testing the new architecture on a flagship-priced machine.
- ✗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.
- ✗Resale for the brand-new -2 generation is unproven while clean used S86s undercut it by five figures on dealer lots.
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 redesigned electrical system tackles the harness chafe and sensor faults that were the R-Series' most common warranty items, and two-speed travel is now standard equipment.
- ✓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.
- ✓Four drive modes (Balanced, Agile, Dynamic, Charged) with precision drive software let one machine feel like a finish-grade unit or a production dirt mover depending on the task.
- ✓The optional 5-link torsion suspension undercarriage remains one of the best rides in the class, and operators covering rough ground all day call it worth every penny.
- ✓Optional Bobcat Sense radar and camera detection can automatically stop the machine near people or obstacles, which safety-conscious utility and municipal fleets are adopting fast.
- ✗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.
- ✗The electronics-dense design increasingly ties owners to dealer diagnostics, eroding the self-service reputation older Bobcats were loved for.
- ✗Bobcat dealer parts pricing is notoriously high, and rubber tracks plus undercarriage wear on a machine this heavy make lifetime running costs substantial.
- ✗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.