Gehl R105 vs Gehl R134
Quick take: The Gehl R105 costs $5,000 less; the Gehl R134 has a higher rated operating capacity (1,350 vs 1,050 lbs); the Gehl R134 has more engine power (49 vs 35 hp).
| Spec | Gehl R105 | Gehl R134 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $35,000 | $40,000 |
| Rating | 4.1★ (70) | 4.1★ (60) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| ROC | 1050 lbs | 1350 lbs |
| Engine HP | 35 hp | 49 hp |
| Operating Weight | 4000 lbs | 4850 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 2100 lbs | 2700 lbs |
| Lift Height | 107.5 in | 110 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 14.5 GPM | 16.4 GPM |
| Engine | Yanmar 3TNV88C | Yanmar 4TNV88 |
| Tracks | No | No |
| Vertical lift | No | No |
| High-flow | No | No |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | No | No |
| Self-leveling | No | No |
| A/C & heat | No | No |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
Gehl R105
- ✓The narrow frame and low overall height squeeze through barn doors, gates, and low-clearance poultry houses where even mid-frame machines are shut out.
- ✓At roughly 4,000 lbs it tows behind a half-ton pickup on a modest trailer, which owners call the single biggest reason they bought it.
- ✓The 34.7 hp Yanmar 3TNV88C stays under the emissions threshold that triggers DPF and complex aftertreatment, keeping the engine dead simple to maintain.
- ✓One of the lowest purchase prices of any diesel skid steer, undercutting a Bobcat S450 by a meaningful margin.
- ✓Simple mechanical systems and easy service access mean most owners handle all their own maintenance without dealer visits.
- ✓The radial boom digs and scrapes well at ground level, ideal for the manure scraping and stall cleaning it's often bought for.
- ✓Light footprint and turf-friendly tire options do less damage to lawns and finished surfaces than heavier machines.
- ✓Shares parts with the Manitou 1050 R, so components move through both Gehl and Manitou dealer channels.
- ✗A 1,050 lb rated capacity fills up fast, and owners report it struggles with heavier round bales and full pallets of feed.
- ✗The 14.5 GPM hydraulics limit attachments to light-duty augers, brooms, and grapples - no high-flow tools here.
- ✗No two-speed option means slow travel, so covering long yards or big properties feels tedious.
- ✗The 107.5-inch hinge pin height is too short to load taller trucks and mixers, capping its material-handling usefulness.
- ✗No air conditioning is offered, and the enclosed cab with heater option still gets hot in southern summers.
- ✗The small operator station is tight for bigger operators, especially entering and exiting past the T-bar controls.
- ✗Gehl's limited dealer network makes service tricky in areas where the brand has little presence.
- ✗Resale value is modest, and the small-frame diesel segment competes against cheap used mid-frames that do more.
Gehl R134
- ✓At 4,850 lbs it stays within half-ton truck towing range with a bucket on, a sweet spot the bigger 1,600 lb-class machines can't hit.
- ✓The 49 hp Yanmar 4TNV88 avoids DPF-class aftertreatment, and owners praise the engine family as nearly bulletproof with basic maintenance.
- ✓Steps up meaningfully from the R105 with 300 lbs more capacity and 16.4 GPM of auxiliary flow for a wider attachment range.
- ✓Value pricing keeps it well under comparable Bobcat S64 and Cat 236 quotes, a gap that matters most to owner-operators.
- ✓The compact 5-foot-class width fits through standard gates and between buildings where mid-frame machines have to detour.
- ✓Radial lift geometry gives it honest digging and grading manners for a machine this size, especially in packed gravel and dirt.
- ✓Simple mechanical layout with a swing-out rear door makes daily checks and filter changes quick without special tools.
- ✓Shares its platform with the Manitou 1350 R, so wear parts are stocked across both dealer networks.
- ✗No two-speed travel option, so long pushes across bigger properties are slow going.
- ✗The 110-inch hinge pin height is on the short side, and loading standard dump trucks requires careful bucket rollout.
- ✗No high-flow option and 16.4 GPM standard flow rule out hungry attachments like planers and larger mulchers.
- ✗No factory air conditioning is offered, which owners in hot climates call the machine's biggest livability gap.
- ✗Gehl's thin dealer coverage means parts and warranty service can be a long drive outside the Midwest.
- ✗Resale is soft relative to Bobcat and Cat small-frames, so total cost of ownership narrows over a long hold.
- ✗The operator station is snug for larger operators, a common small-frame complaint that applies here too.
- ✗Brand-new model years have had limited third-party review coverage, so buyers have less owner feedback to lean on than with the established R165.