Bobcat T86-2 vs ASV VT-100 MAX
Quick take: The ASV VT-100 MAX costs $1,000 less; the Bobcat T86-2 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,925 vs 3,500 lbs); the Bobcat T86-2 has more engine power (115 vs 104 hp).
| Spec | Bobcat T86-2 | ASV VT-100 MAX |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99,000 | $98,000 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (45) | 4.4★ (110) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 3925 lbs | 3500 lbs |
| Engine HP | 115 hp | 104 hp |
| Operating Weight | 12083 lbs | 10835 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 11215 lbs | 10000 lbs |
| Lift Height | 132 in | 132 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 23 GPM | 23 GPM |
| Engine | Bobcat (Doosan) 3.4L | Yanmar 4TNV94FHT |
| 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 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.
ASV VT-100 MAX
- ✓The 3,500 lb rated capacity and 132-inch hinge pin height put pallets and heavy loads over tall truck sides that stop mid-frame machines cold.
- ✓The 103.5 hp Yanmar turbo makes 291 ft-lbs of torque, giving mulchers and cold planers real authority when paired with the 41 GPM high-flow circuit.
- ✓The MAX-Series cab is a genuine step change for ASV - roomier, quieter, better sealed, with a modern display and creature comforts that finally match the price.
- ✓The suspended Posi-Track undercarriage floats this 10,800 lb machine over ground conditions that swallow rigid-undercarriage rivals of the same weight.
- ✓Ride quality at speed is the best in the 100 hp class, letting operators keep material in the bucket across rough sites.
- ✓MAX-Series touches like bucket positioning control and dual-direction return-to-position speed up repetitive loading cycles.
- ✓Dedicated coolers and direct-drive pumps sustain continuous high-flow work in summer heat where competitors derate or overheat.
- ✓The 2-year/2,000-hour warranty with ASV's no-derailment track guarantee covers the undercarriage that skeptics worry about most.
- ✗Undercarriage maintenance is multiplied on a machine this heavy - wheels, bearings, and rubber tracks all wear faster under 10,000+ lbs.
- ✗Track replacement costs are substantial, and abrasive or rocky ground shortens track life dramatically.
- ✗ASV's dealer network is thin for a flagship-priced machine, so many buyers are far from warranty support.
- ✗Resale lags the Cat 299/Kubota SVL97 crowd because used buyers discount the unfamiliar undercarriage.
- ✗At 23 GPM the standard flow is ordinary - you need the high-flow option to justify this machine, which pushes the price six figures.
- ✗The Yanmar 4TNV94FHT is newer to North America, and parts plus service familiarity lag Cummins and Kubota.
- ✗Ground pressure is low for the weight, but it's still a big machine - tight residential gates and trailering under CDL limits get tricky.
- ✗Loaded weight plus trailer exceeds what most 3/4-ton trucks should tow, so factor a bigger truck into the total cost.