Head to head
Case TR270B against Gehl RT165
The Gehl RT165 saves $150; the Case TR270B carries 240 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Case TR270B moves 5.5 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Case TR270B | Gehl RT165 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $65,000 | $64,850 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 2,700 lbs | 1,650 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 5,400 lbs | 4,715 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 1,890 lbs | 1,650 lbs |
| Engine power | 74 hp | 70 hp |
| Engine | FPT | Yanmar 4TNV98C |
| Auxiliary flow | 24.2 GPM | 18.7 GPM |
| Lift height | 125.1 in | 120 in |
| Operating weight | 8,270 lbs | 8,020 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | Yes |
| High flow available | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | No |
| 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 TR270B
- The 74 hp FPT engine meets Tier 4 Final with just a maintenance-free DOC - no DEF, no DPF regens - so owners skip the emissions headaches that plague competitors in this class.
- At 8,270 lbs it's one of the few tracked machines a 3/4-ton truck and 10k trailer can legally haul with a bucket, which small operators call the deciding factor over a TR310B.
- The narrow frame and 12.6-inch tracks squeeze through backyard gates and side yards where mid-frame CTLs simply can't go.
- Case's cab is unusually wide and easy to enter for a small-frame machine, and bigger operators say it's noticeably less cramped than a Bobcat T450 or Cat 239D3.
- The 24.2 GPM standard flow is generous for the size class and runs augers, trenchers, and grapples that starve on competitors' 17-18 GPM small frames.
- Purchase price undercuts equivalent Bobcat and Cat small-frame CTLs by a wide margin, making it a popular first machine for new businesses.
- The one-piece welded chassis and simple radial linkage mean fewer wear points, and long-term owners report the loader geometry stays tight.
- The narrow 12.6-inch tracks put ground pressure at 5.9 psi - the highest in the B-Series - so it ruts soft lawns more than wider-tracked rivals it competes against.
- Radial lift limits reach and dump height at the top of the arc, so loading full-size dump trucks over the side is a stretch at 100.6 inches of dump height.
- The seat-bar and 'operator present' sensor faults common to B-series machines can lock the machine until sensors are cleaned or replaced.
- The 2,700 lb rated capacity sounds bigger than it works - the 1,890 lb 35% rating means a full pallet of sod or pavers is at the machine's limit.
- Resale values trail Bobcat and Cat small frames, so the lower purchase price is partly given back at trade-in time.
- Small-frame CTL track and undercarriage replacement still runs thousands of dollars, a cost wheeled-machine buyers underestimate.
- Owners report display glitches and electrical gremlins on B-series electro-hydraulic machines that usually mean a trip to the dealer for software updates.
Gehl RT165
- New RT165s routinely sell for several thousand dollars less than comparably-equipped Bobcat and Cat machines, and value is the number one reason owners pick Gehl.
- IdealTrax automatic track tensioning removes the grease-cylinder ritual entirely - the system tensions the tracks when the engine starts, which extends track and bearing life and makes track swaps a 15-minute job.
- The 69.9 hp Yanmar 4TNV98C is naturally aspirated and needs no DEF, so owners get simple, proven Tier 4 compliance without babysitting an SCR system.
- The swing-out rear cooler takes minutes to open and blow clean, a genuinely useful design touch for anyone running in dusty or seedy conditions.
- A 119.6-inch hinge pin height and 91.7-inch dump height let it load full-size dump trucks that shorter small-frame machines can't clear.
- Gehl's standard 2-year/2,000-hour full-machine warranty beats the 1-year coverage that several premium brands still ship with.
- Gehl's dealer network is far thinner than Bobcat, Cat, or Deere, and owners in underserved regions report waiting days for parts that competitors stock on the shelf.
- Ground speed is single-speed only at 7 mph, so long carries across a big site take noticeably longer than on a two-speed machine.
- The radial-only lift path gives up reach at full height, so loading over high truck sides takes more finesse than a vertical-lift machine.
- The rigid undercarriage rides rough on frozen or rutted ground compared to ASV's suspended tracks, and operators feel it over a long day.
- The 30.1 GPM high-flow option is marginal for hungry attachments like mulching heads that really want 35+ GPM.
- Air conditioning, cab enclosure, and self-leveling are all extra-cost options, so a fully-equipped machine narrows the price gap that draws buyers in.
- Manitou Group sells the same machine under its own name, and some buyers worry about long-term Gehl brand support as the company consolidates around Manitou.