Gehl R165 vs Gehl RT105
Quick take: The Gehl RT105 costs $5,000 less; the Gehl R165 has a higher rated operating capacity (1,650 vs 1,050 lbs); the Gehl R165 has more engine power (68 vs 35 hp).
| Spec | Gehl R165 | Gehl RT105 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $47,000 | $42,000 |
| Rating | 4.2★ (95) | 4.1★ (85) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| ROC | 1650 lbs | 1050 lbs |
| Engine HP | 68 hp | 35 hp |
| Operating Weight | 6165 lbs | 4720 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 3275 lbs | 3000 lbs |
| Lift Height | 119 in | 109 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 18.9 GPM | 15 GPM |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV98C | Yanmar 3TNV88C |
| Tracks | No | Yes |
| Vertical lift | No | No |
| High-flow | No | No |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | No |
| Self-leveling | No | Yes |
| A/C & heat | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
Gehl R165
- ✓Typically priced thousands below a comparable Bobcat S66 or Cat 246, making it one of the best value buys in the 1,600-1,700 lb class.
- ✓The Yanmar 4TNV98C diesel meets Tier 4 without a DPF headache on this power class, and owners praise it as a simple, reliable, easy-starting engine.
- ✓Radial lift geometry with a 119-inch hinge pin height digs and grades aggressively at ground level, where farm and dirt-work operators spend most of their time.
- ✓Buyers can choose T-bar hand controls, dual-hand controls, or joysticks, so operators coming from any brand feel at home quickly.
- ✓Heavy 80K drive chains and a simple hydrostatic drivetrain mean fewer electronics to fail, and long-time Gehl owners report low lifetime repair costs.
- ✓An optional counterweight kit bumps rated capacity to 1,800 lbs, letting the same machine handle heavier pallet and bale work.
- ✓The wide cab opening and low entry step make it one of the easier skid steers to climb in and out of all day.
- ✓Manitou Group parts commonality means the identical Manitou 1650 R shares components, improving parts availability through two dealer networks.
- ✗Gehl's dealer network is far thinner than Bobcat, Cat, or Deere, so service and parts can mean a long drive in many regions.
- ✗Resale value trails the big brands noticeably, and used Gehl machines sit on lots longer, which offsets some of the purchase savings.
- ✗The 18.9 GPM standard hydraulics limit attachment options, and there's no factory high-flow package on this model.
- ✗The cab interior feels dated next to Bobcat R-Series and Deere P-Tier machines, with harder plastics and a more basic display.
- ✗Radial lift means reach at full height is limited, so loading tall dump trucks over the side takes more finesse.
- ✗Two-speed travel is optional rather than standard, and single-speed base units feel slow moving across bigger sites.
- ✗Self-leveling is not offered on this model, so operators must feather the bucket manually when lifting pallets and bales.
- ✗Brand recognition is low among newer operators, and some owners report longer waits for backordered Gehl-specific parts.
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.