Bobcat T76-2 vs Bobcat T86-2
Quick take: The Bobcat T76-2 costs $3,000 less; the Bobcat T86-2 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,925 vs 2,900 lbs); the Bobcat T86-2 has more engine power (115 vs 74 hp).
| Spec | Bobcat T76-2 | Bobcat T86-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $96,000 | $99,000 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (65) | 4.7★ (45) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 2900 lbs | 3925 lbs |
| Engine HP | 74 hp | 115 hp |
| Operating Weight | 10250 lbs | 12083 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 8285 lbs | 11215 lbs |
| Lift Height | 128.3 in | 132 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 23.3 GPM | 23 GPM |
| Engine | Bobcat (Doosan) D24 | Bobcat (Doosan) 3.4L |
| Tracks | Yes | 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 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.
Bobcat T86-2
- ✓The bump to 115 hp makes the T86-2 the most powerful loader Bobcat has ever built, and paired with super-flow hydraulics it runs mulchers and planers that stall smaller flagships.
- ✓Rated capacity climbs to 3,925 lb with an 11,215 lb tipping load, keeping it among the strongest vertical-lift CTLs on the market.
- ✓The three-tier hydraulic lineup - standard, high-flow (36.6 GPM), and super-flow (42 GPM) - remains unique in the class, letting one machine cover every attachment a fleet owns.
- ✓The redesigned -2 electrical architecture with the 8-inch touchscreen, operator profiles, and Machine IQ telematics directly targets the harness and sensor gremlins reported on R-Series machines.
- ✓Four drive modes with precision drive software let operators soften the 12,000 lb machine for grading passes or sharpen it for aggressive production work.
- ✓The 132-inch hinge-pin vertical lift path loads the tallest trucks effortlessly, and the 5-link torsion suspension keeps loads stable over rough ground.
- ✓Optional Bobcat Sense object detection and available Jobsite Companion voice controls bring genuine safety and convenience firsts to the flagship CTL class.
- ✓Bobcat's dealer network and the T86's proven resale strength carry over, protecting the substantial investment better than lesser-known flagships.
- ✗Six-figure territory once super-flow, tracks, and Sense options are added - the T86-2 costs more than some compact excavators.
- ✗First-model-year -2 electronics are unproven, a real risk on a machine bought for maximum-production work where downtime is expensive.
- ✗The 115 hp 3.4L keeps its DPF emissions system, which frustrates owners during light-duty cycles and extended idling.
- ✗At over 12,000 lb it demands a heavy-duty truck and trailer combination, and many crews need a CDL to move it legally.
- ✗Bobcat parts and labor pricing is among the industry's highest, and the electronics-dense platform deepens dealer dependence.
- ✗Rubber tracks on a 12,000 lb machine running super-flow attachments wear fast, and replacement sets are a four-figure recurring cost.
- ✗The big frame gives up the tight-site agility that draws buyers to mid-frame CTLs, limiting versatility for general contractors.
- ✗Resale for the new -2 generation is unproven while clean used T86s on dealer lots undercut it by five figures.