Gehl R134 vs Gehl RT105
Quick take: The Gehl R134 costs $2,000 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 R134 | Gehl RT105 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $40,000 | $42,000 |
| Rating | 4.1★ (60) | 4.1★ (85) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| ROC | 1350 lbs | 1050 lbs |
| Engine HP | 49 hp | 35 hp |
| Operating Weight | 4850 lbs | 4720 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 2700 lbs | 3000 lbs |
| Lift Height | 110 in | 109 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 16.4 GPM | 15 GPM |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV88 | Yanmar 3TNV88C |
| Tracks | No | Yes |
| Vertical lift | No | No |
| High-flow | No | No |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | No | No |
| Self-leveling | No | Yes |
| A/C & heat | No | No |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
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.
Gehl RT105
- ✓At 4,720 lbs it's genuinely half-ton towable with a modest trailer, saving small operators from buying a heavier truck just to move the machine.
- ✓The 50.8-inch width squeezes through standard backyard gates and double doors, opening up fenced-yard and interior jobs that mid-frame machines simply can't reach.
- ✓IdealTrax automatic track tensioning is standard even on this entry model, protecting tracks and bearings from the under-tensioning neglect that kills small CTL undercarriages.
- ✓The 1,050 lb rating is taken at a conservative 35% of tipping load, so it handles its rated pallet of sod or pavers without feeling ready to nose over.
- ✓The naturally-aspirated Yanmar 3TNV88C is a simple, DEF-free workhorse that mechanically-inclined owners can service themselves with basic tools.
- ✓A 109-inch hinge pin height is tall for the sub-5,000 lb class and comfortably clears dump trailers and one-ton dump beds.
- ✓The 15 GPM auxiliary circuit runs augers, trenchers, and grapples well for the size class, and a second front auxiliary set comes standard.
- ✓It undercuts the Bobcat T450 by thousands and carries the same 2-year/2,000-hour warranty, making it one of the cheapest paths into a new tracked machine.
- ✗There's no two-speed option, so 6 mph is all you get - ground moves across large properties feel painfully slow.
- ✗Air conditioning isn't offered at all, only a heat-and-defrost cab kit, so summer work means running the door open or sweating it out.
- ✗No high-flow option puts hungry attachments like mulchers and cold planers permanently out of reach.
- ✗The 34.7 hp engine works hard with heavy dirt attachments, and operators note it bogs where 50+ hp small-frames push through.
- ✗Gehl's thin dealer network means parts and service can involve a long drive or a shipping wait that Bobcat owners rarely face.
- ✗Resale value trails the big brands, so the low purchase price gives some savings back at trade-in time.
- ✗The 84-inch dump height at full lift won't clear tall dump trucks, capping it at trailers and small truck beds.
- ✗Base machines come with old-school T-bar controls, and the pilot joystick upgrade that most operators now expect costs extra.