Head to head
Gehl R165 against Gehl RT135
The Gehl R165 saves $1,000; only the Gehl RT135 runs tracks, so their advertised capacities are not measured the same way; the Gehl R165 moves 3.0 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit; only the Gehl RT135 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 RT135 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $47,000 | $48,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 1,650 lbs | 1,350 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 3,275 lbs | 3,858 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 1,638 lbs | 1,350 lbs |
| Engine power | 68 hp | 47 hp |
| Engine | Yanmar 4TNV98C | Yanmar 4TNV88 |
| Auxiliary flow | 20 GPM | 17 GPM |
| Lift height | 119 in | 110 in |
| Operating weight | 6,165 lbs | 6,510 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 | Yes |
| 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 RT135
- The 57-inch overall width threads through narrow side yards and double gates where 66-inch mid-frames have to stay on the driveway.
- A 1,350 lb rating at a conservative 35% of tipping load carries real pallets of sod and stone without the light-in-the-rear feel of aggressively-rated rivals.
- The 46.6 hp Yanmar 4TNV88 needs no DEF and no complicated aftertreatment babysitting, keeping ownership simple for small operations.
- At 6,510 lbs it's still towable behind a well-equipped half-ton or light three-quarter-ton truck with a standard equipment trailer.
- It prices thousands below a comparably-equipped Bobcat T550 and carries Gehl's 2-year/2,000-hour full-machine warranty.
- There's no two-speed drive available, so the 6 mph top speed makes long ground moves and big-property work tedious.
- No high-flow hydraulic option means mulchers, cold planers, and other flow-hungry attachments are off the menu permanently.
- Gehl's dealer network is thin in many regions, and owners report parts waits that Bobcat and Cat customers rarely experience.
- The radial-only lift path limits reach at full height, so loading over tall truck sides takes more care than a vertical-lift machine.
- The rigid undercarriage transmits chatter on frozen or rutted ground, and there's no suspension option like ASV offers in this size.
- A/C cab, Power-A-Tach coupler, self-leveling, and suspension seat are all extra-cost options that quickly close the price gap.
- The same machine wears a Manitou 1350 RT badge, and Manitou Group's brand consolidation makes some buyers nervous about long-term Gehl support.