Bobcat T450 vs Bobcat S450
Quick take: The Bobcat S450 costs $16,000 less; the Bobcat T450 has a higher rated operating capacity (1,490 vs 1,370 lbs); the Bobcat T450 has more engine power (55 vs 49 hp).
| Spec | Bobcat T450 | Bobcat S450 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $58,000 | $42,000 |
| Rating | 4.4★ (260) | 4.3★ (240) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| ROC | 1490 lbs | 1370 lbs |
| Engine HP | 55 hp | 49 hp |
| Operating Weight | 6424 lbs | 5027 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 4257 lbs | 2740 lbs |
| Lift Height | 109.5 in | 109.5 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 16.7 GPM | 16.7 GPM |
| Engine | Bobcat (Doosan) D24 | Bobcat (Doosan) D18 |
| Tracks | Yes | No |
| Vertical lift | No | No |
| High-flow | No | No |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | Yes |
| Self-leveling | No | No |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
Bobcat T450
- ✓At just 55 inches wide it slips through standard gates and side yards that stop every mid-frame CTL cold, which is exactly why fencing and pool contractors gravitate to it.
- ✓The 55 hp Tier 4 engine gets by without a DPF, so owners are spared the regen cycles, limp modes, and emissions headaches that plague bigger diesels.
- ✓At 6,424 lbs it's genuinely towable behind a half-ton pickup with a bucket and trailer, saving small operators from buying a bigger truck just to move the machine.
- ✓Bobcat's dealer network is the deepest in the industry, so parts, tracks, and service are almost always a same-day affair even in rural areas.
- ✓The radius lift path arcs out at mid-range heights, which operators say makes it a natural for backfilling, dumping over walls, and unloading flatbeds.
- ✓The swing-open tailgate and simple engine layout make daily checks and filter changes easy, and mechanics note there's far less to go wrong than on high-spec machines.
- ✓An optional 200 lb counterweight bumps rated capacity to 1,656 lbs, giving it a useful cushion for the occasional heavy pallet.
- ✓Resale demand for small Bobcat CTLs is strong because rental fleets and homeowners compete for used units, so clean T450s hold their value unusually well.
- ✗The 1,490 lb rated capacity means a full pallet of sod or pavers is over the limit, and owners doing material handling quickly wish they'd bought a T64.
- ✗There's no high-flow option, so the 16.7 GPM aux circuit rules out mulchers, cold planers, and other flow-hungry attachments entirely.
- ✗The short, narrow footprint gets tippy on side slopes and bouncy at travel speed, and operators consistently call the ride rougher than mid-frame machines.
- ✗The cab is genuinely cramped - taller or broader operators complain their knees hit the door and shoulder room is minimal on long days.
- ✗Pricing lands uncomfortably close to the larger T64, and plenty of buyers conclude the extra few thousand dollars for the bigger frame is the smarter spend.
- ✗The radius lift path gives up reach at full height, so loading tall dump trucks and stacking pallets high is harder than on vertical-lift rivals.
- ✗No self-leveling option means you're manually feathering the bucket on every lift, a tiring omission when moving palletized material.
- ✗Bobcat parts and dealer labor pricing run high, so ownership costs stay elevated even on this entry-level machine.
Bobcat S450
- ✓At roughly 5,000 lbs it's one of the few real skid steers a half-ton pickup can legally tow with a bucket on the trailer, which owners cite as the deciding factor over mid-frame machines.
- ✓The 49 hp Tier 4 engine needs no DPF and no regen cycles, so there's none of the aftertreatment drama that plagues short-run, low-load machines in this class.
- ✓The radius lift path gives good reach at mid-range heights for dumping over walls and backfilling, which suits the grading and loading work small frames actually do.
- ✓It's the cheapest new machine wearing the Bobcat badge, and rental operators report the low buy-in and strong utilization make the numbers work better than any mid-frame.
- ✓Bobcat's dealer network is the densest in the industry, so parts, service, and loaners are rarely more than a short drive away even in rural areas.
- ✓The 58.7-inch width slips through gates and between houses where mid-frame machines can't go, making it popular for backyard and fenced-property jobs.
- ✓The cab-forward design gives surprisingly good visibility to the bucket edge, and operators moving from older Bobcats note the improved sightlines to the tires.
- ✓Resale is strong because the entry-level Bobcat name is in constant demand from homeowners and landscapers, so used S450s sell fast at solid prices.
- ✗The 1,370 lb rated capacity runs out fast with wet material or pallets, and owners doing regular truck-loading almost universally wish they'd bought an S550 or larger.
- ✗There is no high-flow option, so the 16.7 GPM standard flow rules out mulchers, cold planers, and most serious hydraulic attachments.
- ✗The 2-micron fuel filters on these Doosan-engined machines plug quickly on marginal fuel, and forum owners stress religious filter changes and clean fuel to avoid derates.
- ✗Doosan injectors have a reputation for failing, and out-of-warranty injector jobs on an entry-level machine sting owners who bought it to save money.
- ✗Cold-weather owners report intake sensor faults and limp-mode episodes until the engine fully warms, a known annoyance in northern climates.
- ✗The 49 hp engine works hard pushing a full bucket in clay or on grades, and operators say it feels underpowered next to the 60+ hp small frames from Kubota and Deere.
- ✗The small-frame cab is tight for bigger operators, and all-day comfort trails the roomier S64 and mid-frame Bobcats by a wide margin.
- ✗Two-speed travel and the enclosed cab with A/C are extra-cost options, and a comfortably equipped S450 lands close enough to S64 money that many buyers step up.