Cat 239D3 vs Bobcat T450

Caterpillar

Cat 239D3

$58,000

4.4★ (360)

Bobcat

$58,000

4.4★ (260)

Quick take: The Cat 239D3 has a higher rated operating capacity (1,530 vs 1,490 lbs); the Cat 239D3 has more engine power (66 vs 55 hp).

✓The fully-suspended undercarriage gives a smooth ride and excellent flotation, and owners say it's gentle on lawns for turf and finish work.
✓Its small footprint lets it work in tight backyards and through gates that bigger CTLs can't reach, which landscapers specifically buy it for.
✓Cat's sealed, pressurized cab keeps dust and noise out better than most competitors, making long days more bearable for operators.
✓Radial lift delivers strong breakout and digging force down low, so it excels at trenching, grading, and dozing tasks.
✓The rubber-track suspension design is known for low maintenance and long track life when kept off abrasive surfaces, per owner reports.
✓Cat's dealer network means fast parts and service, and rental-fleet owners like the strong resale and financing options.
✓Two-speed travel comes standard, so ground-to-ground moves are quicker than on the wheeled 226D3, which operators appreciate.
✓The intuitive controls and clear display make it approachable for newer operators and rental customers with minimal training.

✗At 1,530 lb capacity it's one of the smaller CTLs available, and contractors routinely say they outgrew it and should have bought bigger.
✗The low standard hydraulic flow limits attachment options, so mulchers and other hungry tools are essentially off the table.
✗Cat parts and undercarriage components are expensive, and track replacement on a Cat runs higher than many rivals.
✗Radial lift compromises dump height and reach, making it awkward to load high-sided trucks compared to vertical-lift CTLs.
✗The small C2.2T engine feels underpowered when pushing heavy material, and owners note slower cycle times under load.
✗Some operators find the suspended undercarriage less stable than a rigid frame when lifting heavy loads at full height.
✗New-machine pricing is high for the modest capacity, reflecting the Cat premium more than raw performance.
✗The 1-year base warranty is short compared to Bobcat's 2-year coverage, which value-focused buyers notice.

✓At just 55 inches wide it slips through standard gates and side yards that stop every mid-frame CTL cold, which is exactly why fencing and pool contractors gravitate to it.
✓The 55 hp Tier 4 engine gets by without a DPF, so owners are spared the regen cycles, limp modes, and emissions headaches that plague bigger diesels.
✓At 6,424 lbs it's genuinely towable behind a half-ton pickup with a bucket and trailer, saving small operators from buying a bigger truck just to move the machine.
✓Bobcat's dealer network is the deepest in the industry, so parts, tracks, and service are almost always a same-day affair even in rural areas.
✓The radius lift path arcs out at mid-range heights, which operators say makes it a natural for backfilling, dumping over walls, and unloading flatbeds.
✓The swing-open tailgate and simple engine layout make daily checks and filter changes easy, and mechanics note there's far less to go wrong than on high-spec machines.
✓An optional 200 lb counterweight bumps rated capacity to 1,656 lbs, giving it a useful cushion for the occasional heavy pallet.
✓Resale demand for small Bobcat CTLs is strong because rental fleets and homeowners compete for used units, so clean T450s hold their value unusually well.

✗The 1,490 lb rated capacity means a full pallet of sod or pavers is over the limit, and owners doing material handling quickly wish they'd bought a T64.
✗There's no high-flow option, so the 16.7 GPM aux circuit rules out mulchers, cold planers, and other flow-hungry attachments entirely.
✗The short, narrow footprint gets tippy on side slopes and bouncy at travel speed, and operators consistently call the ride rougher than mid-frame machines.
✗The cab is genuinely cramped - taller or broader operators complain their knees hit the door and shoulder room is minimal on long days.
✗Pricing lands uncomfortably close to the larger T64, and plenty of buyers conclude the extra few thousand dollars for the bigger frame is the smarter spend.
✗The radius lift path gives up reach at full height, so loading tall dump trucks and stacking pallets high is harder than on vertical-lift rivals.
✗No self-leveling option means you're manually feathering the bucket on every lift, a tiring omission when moving palletized material.
✗Bobcat parts and dealer labor pricing run high, so ownership costs stay elevated even on this entry-level machine.