Head to head
Cat 270 against Bobcat S86-2
The Bobcat S86-2 saves $4,000; the Cat 270 carries 57 lb more once both are rated the same way.
| Spec | Cat 270 | Bobcat S86-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $90,000 | $86,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 3,557 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 7,114 lbs | 7,000 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,557 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| Engine power | 100 hp | 115 hp |
| Engine | Cat C3.6TA | Bobcat (Doosan) 3.4L |
| Auxiliary flow | 23 GPM | 23 GPM |
| Lift height | 134 in | 144 in |
| Operating weight | 10,441 lbs | 10,098 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
Cat 270
- The turbocharged, aftercooled C3.6TA holds its 100 hp under load, and operators running planers and wheel saws say it keeps RPM where the 272D3 it replaces would sag.
- High Flow XPS is available at 34 GPM and 4,061 psi, one of the strongest auxiliary packages offered in any wheeled skid steer - though it is an option above the 23 GPM standard circuit.
- The 3,557 lb ROC ties with class leaders, and the near-134-inch pin height loads tandem dumps with sideboards without piling material at the tailgate.
- On pavement it does what no CTL can - milling, sweeping, and demolition work all day with cheap, fast tire changes instead of thousand-dollar track replacements.
- The sealed pressurized cab with heated/ventilated air-ride seat and 8-inch touchscreen is a night-and-day upgrade over the 272D3's operator station.
- Stability under heavy loads is excellent thanks to the 10,441 lb operating weight and long wheelbase, and operators note far less bounce at speed than smaller frames.
- The 270 XE upgrade path means high-production buyers can stay on the same platform, parts, and dealer relationship when they need even more hydraulic output.
- The C3.6TA brings full Tier 4 Final aftertreatment - DEF, DPF, and regens - which the 74 hp 250 and 260 avoid entirely, adding running cost and potential downtime.
- At 10,441 lbs it's heavier than some compact track loaders, so the traditional 'wheeled machines are easy to tow' advantage largely disappears at this size.
- Wheeled traction limits it to firm ground - owners doing dirt work concede the 275 CTL walks away from it the moment conditions get soft or wet.
- Early-adopter reports include touchscreen and software quirks consistent with the rest of the next-gen rollout, requiring dealer flash updates to settle.
- Its size and turning footprint make it clumsy in tight urban jobsites where a 260-size machine with the same 34 GPM XPS option covers most needs.
Bobcat S86-2
- The engine bump to 115 hp makes the S86-2 the most powerful wheeled skid steer Bobcat has ever sold, and the extra torque shows up exactly where the S86 ran out of breath - heavy planing and mulching.
- It remains the only wheeled machine offering standard, high-flow (36.6 GPM), and super-flow (42 GPM) hydraulics in one platform, so one machine covers everything from pallet forks to cold planers.
- Rated capacity rises to 3,500 lb with a 7,000 lb tipping load, extending its lead as the strongest lifter in the wheeled class.
- The 144-inch hinge-pin height is a full 12 feet of vertical lift, clearing the tallest trucks and hoppers and out-reaching every other wheeled machine in this comparison.
- The redesigned -2 electrical architecture with the 8-inch touchscreen, 20 operator profiles, and Machine IQ telematics directly answers the harness and sensor complaints from R-Series machines.
- Bobcat's unmatched dealer network and the S86's proven resale strength carry over, softening the premium purchase price over the ownership cycle.
- Pricing starts in the mid-$80k range and rockets past $95k with super-flow and Sense options, putting it squarely in large compact-track-loader money.
- The 115 hp 3.4L keeps a DPF emissions system, which draws complaints during heavy idling and light-duty cycles.
- At nearly 10,000 lb it needs a heavy truck and trailer, and the big frame gives up maneuverability on tight sites.
- Bobcat dealer parts and labor rates are among the highest in the industry, and the electronics-dense -2 platform deepens dependence on dealer diagnostics.
- As a wheeled machine it lacks CTL flotation, so soft or muddy ground still pushes buyers to the T86-2 despite the higher cost.
- Tires wear quickly under 7,000 lb tipping loads on abrasive surfaces, and a premium set is a steep recurring cost.