Head to head
Gehl R165 against Gehl RT105
The Gehl RT105 saves $5,000; only the Gehl RT105 runs tracks, so their advertised capacities are not measured the same way; the Gehl R165 moves 5.0 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit; only the Gehl RT105 runs rubber tracks.
These two are rated differently on purpose. A wheeled skid steer is rated at half its tipping load and a track loader at 35 per cent, because the track machine holds back more reserve. So the capacity rows below are not a like-for-like contest, and the tipping load row is the closer thing to one.
| Spec | Gehl R165 | Gehl RT105 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $47,000 | $42,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 1,650 lbs | 1,050 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 3,275 lbs | 3,000 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 1,638 lbs | 1,050 lbs |
| Engine power | 68 hp | 35 hp |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV98C | Yanmar 3TNV88C |
| Auxiliary flow | 20 GPM | 15 GPM |
| Lift height | 119 in | 109 in |
| Operating weight | 6,165 lbs | 4,720 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| Rubber tracks | No | Yes |
| High flow available | Yes | No |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | No |
| Self-levelling available | No | Yes |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
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.
- The 20 GPM standard flow is modest for the class, and the 30 GPM high-flow package is an extra-cost option rather than standard equipment.
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.