Gehl RT255 vs Gehl VT320
Quick take: The Gehl RT255 costs $7,000 less; the Gehl VT320 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,201 vs 2,551 lbs); the Gehl VT320 has more engine power (114 vs 74 hp).
| Spec | Gehl RT255 | Gehl VT320 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $78,000 | $85,000 |
| Rating | 4.3★ (70) | 4.4★ (90) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Radial Lift | Vertical Lift |
| ROC | 2551 lbs | 3201 lbs |
| Engine HP | 74 hp | 114 hp |
| Operating Weight | 11596 lbs | 11799 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 7286 lbs | 9145 lbs |
| Lift Height | 128 in | 130 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 29 GPM | 29 GPM |
| Engine | Deutz TD 3.6 | Deutz TD 3.6 |
| Tracks | Yes | Yes |
| Vertical lift | No | Yes |
| High-flow | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | Yes |
| Self-leveling | Yes | Yes |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
Gehl RT255
- ✓The 2,551 lb rating comes at a conservative 35% of its 7,286 lb tipping load - rated the way Bobcat rates machines it would advertise over 3,600 lbs, so real-world stability is exceptional.
- ✓The 74.3 hp Deutz TD 3.6 turbo-diesel makes strong low-end torque while staying under the 75 hp DEF threshold, keeping emissions equipment simple.
- ✓A 29 GPM standard auxiliary circuit out-flows most competitors' base hydraulics, and the optional high-flow package reaches about 37 GPM for mulchers and planers.
- ✓Over 12,400 lbs of drawbar pull and 11,600 lbs of machine weight make it a genuine pushing machine for dozing, grubbing, and backfilling.
- ✓Wide 18-inch tracks with five rollers per side spread the weight for surprising flotation, and 12 inches of ground clearance clears stumps and rutted ground.
- ✓The 128-inch hinge pin and 98-inch dump height load tri-axles and hopper feeders without needing a vertical-lift boom.
- ✓IdealTrax automatic track tensioning eliminates manual tension checks on an undercarriage size where neglected tracks get very expensive.
- ✓It undercuts the Bobcat T770/Cat 285 class by a wide margin and carries Gehl's standard 2-year/2,000-hour full-machine warranty.
- ✗The radial-only lift path is unusual in the 2,500+ lb class where most competitors are vertical-lift, so reach at full height trails the machines it's priced against.
- ✗At 11,596 lbs before the trailer and attachments, hauling it legally usually means a dedicated heavy-duty truck and a beefy trailer setup.
- ✗Deutz engine parts and service expertise are harder to find at general repair shops in North America than the Yanmar and Kubota power in smaller Gehls.
- ✗Gehl's dealer network is thin in many regions, and downtime waiting on large-frame-specific parts hurts more on a production machine like this.
- ✗Resale values trail Bobcat and Cat noticeably, which matters most in this price bracket where trade-in cycles are shorter.
- ✗The rigid undercarriage rides rough at speed compared to suspended-track rivals, fatiguing operators during all-day carry work.
- ✗Top ground speed of about 8.9 mph with two-speed lags the 10-11 mph large-frame competition on big sites.
- ✗The same machine is sold as the Manitou 2550 RT, and Manitou Group's ongoing brand consolidation leaves some buyers unsure about the Gehl badge's future.
Gehl VT320
- ✓The 114 hp Deutz TD 3.6 with 339 ft-lbs of torque is one of the most powerful engines fitted to any compact track loader, and it never feels short of breath under a mulcher or a heaped bucket.
- ✓A 3,201 lb rating at a conservative 35% of the 9,145 lb tipping load means Bobcat-style 50% math would advertise over 4,500 lbs - stability with a loaded pallet is exceptional.
- ✓The vertical lift path with a 130-inch hinge pin and 100-inch dump height places loads straight over high-sided trucks and hoppers, exactly what the big-frame class is bought for.
- ✓The 29 GPM standard circuit and 38 GPM high-flow option feed flow-hungry mulching heads and cold planers properly, making it a legitimate budget forestry platform.
- ✓Nearly 12,800 lbs of drawbar pull and 9,900 lbs of breakout force give it grading and dozing muscle that embarrasses lighter machines.
- ✓IdealTrax automatic track tensioning protects the large, expensive undercarriage from the under-tension wear that plagues manually-adjusted big CTLs.
- ✓Buyers consistently report paying five figures less than a comparably-optioned Bobcat T870 or Cat 299D3, with a 2-year/2,000-hour warranty included.
- ✓Wide 18-inch tracks and 12 inches of ground clearance let this 11,800 lb machine float over soft ground that ruts up wheeled equipment badly.
- ✗The 114 hp Deutz sits above the 75 hp threshold, so it carries full Tier 4 aftertreatment with DEF - more complexity and regen downtime than Gehl's smaller DEF-free machines.
- ✗Two-speed drive is optional rather than standard, and the base machine's 5 mph single speed feels inexcusable on a flagship at this price.
- ✗Pilot joystick controls, cab enclosure, heat, and A/C are all extra-cost options, so a properly-equipped machine erodes the headline price advantage.
- ✗Deutz parts and service expertise are thinner on the ground in North America than the Kubota and Yanmar power in most competitors.
- ✗Gehl's limited dealer network is the biggest ownership risk on a production machine - a week down waiting for parts costs more than the purchase savings.
- ✗Resale values trail the Bobcat T870 and Cat 299D3 badly, which stings most in this price bracket.
- ✗At 11,799 lbs plus attachments it needs serious hauling equipment, pushing many owners into CDL territory with trailer and fuel.
- ✗The rigid-mounted undercarriage rides rougher than Cat's suspended 299 or ASV's Max-Series machines during long high-speed carries.