Head to head
Case SV185B against Cat 232D3
The Cat 232D3 saves $90; the Cat 232D3 carries 50 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Case SV185B moves 6.2 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Case SV185B | Cat 232D3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $50,000 | $49,910 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 1,850 lbs | 1,900 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 3,700 lbs | 3,800 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 1,850 lbs | 1,900 lbs |
| Engine power | 60 hp | 67 hp |
| Engine | Perkins/ISM | Cat C2.2 CRDI |
| Auxiliary flow | 24.2 GPM | 18 GPM |
| Lift height | 120 in | 118.1 in |
| Operating weight | 6,570 lbs | 6,514 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | No | No |
| High flow available | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | 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 SV185B
- The predecessor SV185 was Case's best-selling skid steer for years, so the platform is thoroughly proven and used values stay liquid.
- Two-speed travel (7.4 and 10.8 mph) is available, so it covers ground between barn and field far faster than single-speed entry machines.
- Standard auxiliary flow is 24.2 GPM at 3,050 psi - the same standard flow Case gives its 74 hp mid-range machines, so most attachments run without paying for the high-flow package.
- The optional 30.7 GPM high-flow package gives it attachment capability well beyond the typical 60 hp machine.
- Simple, serviceable mechanicals and a familiar Perkins-family engine keep maintenance cheap and DIY-friendly.
- The B-series cab update brought push-button start, an available 8-inch LCD display with backup camera, and switchable EH control patterns.
- Case pricing undercuts vertical-lift competitors like the Bobcat S64, and the included 7-year telematics subscription adds value.
- With 60 hp and 135 lb-ft of torque it works hard in heavy digging - operators pushing into packed piles wish for the SR210B's 74 hp.
- Vertical-lift linkage adds complexity and pivot points over a radial design, meaning more pins and bushings to maintain long-term.
- The 5,550 lb breakout force trails the radial SR175B by a wide margin, so it's the weaker digger of Case's two small frames.
- Enclosed cab, two-speed, and EH controls are all options that push the real-world price well above base.
- Owners report occasional B-series sensor and electrical glitches that can require a dealer visit to clear.
- Resale value trails the big three brands, partially offsetting the lower purchase price at trade-in.
Cat 232D3
- Vertical lift at 1,900 lb rated capacity gives it 350 lb more than the radial 226D3 on the same frame and the same 67 hp engine - the cheapest capacity Cat sells.
- The 118-inch bucket pin height clears the sides of most single-axle dump trucks, which the 226D3's radial boom geometry makes awkward.
- The C2.2 CRDI sits under the 75 hp threshold, so there is no DEF tank, no SCR and no regen behaviour to manage.
- At 6,514 lb it still tows behind a half-ton-class truck on a 10k trailer, keeping the small frame's biggest practical advantage.
- Cat publishes a $49,910 starting MSRP for it, so the price conversation opens on a maker's number rather than a dealer's.
- 1,900 lb is still small-frame capacity, and contractors handling full pallets of block or wet material routinely report outgrowing this size.
- 18 GPM standard flow is the lowest in Cat's wheeled line, so hungry attachments need the 26 GPM high-flow option and the cost that comes with it.
- It is a D3-generation machine in a range whose upper half has already moved to the next-gen platform, so the newer torque, displays and telematics stop below it.
- Cat parts and dealer labour rates are among the highest in the industry, and a small machine does not get a small invoice.