Head to head
Case SR160B against Case SR175B
The Case SR160B saves $4,000; the Case SR175B carries 150 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Case SR175B moves 2.2 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Case SR160B | Case SR175B |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $42,000 | $46,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 1,600 lbs | 1,750 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 3,200 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 1,600 lbs | 1,750 lbs |
| Engine power | 60 hp | 67 hp |
| Engine | Perkins/ISM | Perkins/ISM |
| Auxiliary flow | 18.4 GPM | 20.6 GPM |
| Lift height | 112 in | 122 in |
| Operating weight | 5,645 lbs | 6,270 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| Rubber tracks | No | No |
| High flow available | No | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | No | 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
Case SR160B
- At 5,645 lbs it's one of the lightest diesel skid steers sold, so owners tow it behind a half-ton pickup on a modest trailer without CDL-class equipment.
- The 59.8-inch width and 6-foot height let it slip through gates, barn doors, and backyard fences where even mid-frame machines can't follow.
- Case's B-series cab redesign trickled down to this base model, so you get the simple push-button start, intuitive switchgear, and optional 8-inch LCD display with backup camera that the bigger machines have.
- Radial lift geometry gives it honest digging and grading ability down low, and owners say it out-works its 60 hp rating on dirt and gravel jobs.
- The price undercuts comparable Bobcat and Cat small frames by a meaningful margin, making it a favorite first machine for budget-minded buyers.
- The mechanical simplicity of the small-frame B-series means less to go wrong, and owners report the Perkins-family engine is an easy, familiar service item.
- myCASEConstruction telematics with a 7-year data subscription comes included, which is unusual generosity at the entry price point.
- There's no two-speed option, and the 6.9 mph single travel speed makes ground-to-ground moves painfully slow on anything but a small lot.
- The 18.4 GPM standard flow with no high-flow option rules out hungry attachments like mulchers and cold planers entirely.
- Unlike the SR175B and SV185B, the SR160B's Tier 4 solution includes a DPF, so owners deal with regen cycles the rest of the small-frame B-series avoids.
- The 112-inch hinge pin and radial geometry make loading full-size dump trucks awkward - this is a trailer-height machine.
- The 1,600 lb capacity is quickly outgrown, and many owners admit they should have stretched to the SR175B or SV185B.
- Case's construction dealer network is thinner than Bobcat's or Deere's in many regions, so parts and service access depends heavily on where you live.
- Resale value trails the big three brands, offsetting some of the purchase-price savings at trade-in time.
Case SR175B
- The 7,270 lb bucket breakout force matches Case's 74 hp SR210B, so it digs like a machine a full frame size bigger.
- A 122-inch hinge pin height is exceptional for a small frame - it clears one-ton dump bodies that leave rivals like the Bobcat S450 short.
- The optional 30.7 GPM high-flow package is rare in this class and lets it run attachments most small frames simply can't power.
- The Tier 4 solution uses only a DOC - no DPF, no regens, no DEF - which owners cite as a genuine maintenance advantage over competitors.
- At 6,270 lbs it's still towable behind a well-equipped half-ton, keeping transport simple for solo operators.
- Case pricing undercuts comparable Bobcat and Cat small frames, and the included 7-year telematics subscription sweetens the deal.
- The 1,750 lb rated capacity limits pallet work - full pallets of sod or pavers push it to the edge of its tipping load.
- Radial lift geometry pulls the load back toward the machine at height, so reach at the top of the arc trails vertical-lift rivals for truck loading.
- The 20.6 GPM standard flow is modest, and buyers who skip the high-flow option find mid-size attachments starved.
- Two-speed, enclosed cab, and EH controls are all options that push a well-equipped price well past the attractive base number.
- Owners report occasional sensor and electrical gremlins on B-series machines that can require dealer software updates to resolve.
- The Perkins-family engine is reliable but less familiar to many mechanics than Kubota or Cat power, which can complicate field repairs.