JCB 215T vs Gehl RT135
Quick take: The Gehl RT135 costs $3,000 less; the JCB 215T has a higher rated operating capacity (2,105 vs 1,350 lbs); the JCB 215T has more engine power (74 vs 47 hp).
| Spec | JCB 215T | Gehl RT135 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $51,000 | $48,000 |
| Rating | 4.3★ (160) | 4.1★ (80) |
| Type | Compact Track Loader | Compact Track Loader |
| Lift Path | Vertical Lift | Radial Lift |
| ROC | 2105 lbs | 1350 lbs |
| Engine HP | 74 hp | 47 hp |
| Operating Weight | 9098 lbs | 6510 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 6016 lbs | 3858 lbs |
| Lift Height | 119 in | 110 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 18.5 GPM | 17 GPM |
| Engine | Kohler KDI 2.5L | Yanmar 4TNV88 |
| Tracks | Yes | Yes |
| Vertical lift | Yes | No |
| High-flow | Yes | No |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | Yes | No |
| Self-leveling | Yes | Yes |
| A/C & heat | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
JCB 215T
- ✓The side-entry door means operators never climb over a bucket or under a raised boom to enter - a genuine safety difference no conventional skid steer can match.
- ✓The single-arm PowerBoom eliminates the right-side arm entirely, giving roughly 60% better all-around visibility than twin-arm machines and fewer blind-side incidents.
- ✓The 74 hp Kohler diesel needs no DPF or DEF, so there are no regen cycles interrupting work and no emissions fluid to buy.
- ✓JCB's cab is sealed and quiet with a 7-inch touchscreen, reverse camera, and adjustable electro-hydraulic joysticks that feel modern next to older rivals.
- ✓The 2,105 lb rated capacity and vertical lift path load trucks cleanly for a small-platform machine.
- ✓An 18.5 GPM standard circuit with a 30.4 GPM high-flow option covers everything from augers to snow blowers.
- ✓The one-piece boom is stress-tested well beyond conventional arms, and JCB's telehandler heritage shows in its rigidity - twisting and slop are minimal even after hard hours.
- ✓Servicing is genuinely easy: the boom sits low, the cab tilts, and all daily checks happen at ground level from the rear door.
- ✗The single-arm design still draws skepticism from traditionalists, and some buyers avoid it purely on looks despite the engineering record.
- ✗JCB's compact-line dealer network is thinner than Bobcat's or Cat's in much of rural America, which can slow parts and warranty work.
- ✗At 9,098 lbs it's heavy for its 2,105 lb rated capacity - conventional rivals lift more per pound of machine.
- ✗Resale values trail the big four brands because the used market for single-boom machines is narrower.
- ✗The left-side door is the only entry, so if the machine is parked tight against an obstacle on that side you're not getting in.
- ✗Electro-hydraulic controls and the touchscreen add complexity that's harder to field-diagnose than older pilot-control machines.
- ✗Track and undercarriage parts are proprietary enough that you'll want a JCB dealer nearby rather than a generic parts counter.
- ✗The Kohler engine, while simple, is less familiar to independent mechanics than Kubota or Deere powerplants.
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.
- ✓Low-effort pilot joystick controls are a headline feature, giving this small frame the same smooth proportional feel as Gehl's larger Pilot Series machines.
- ✓IdealTrax automatic track tensioning comes standard, protecting the undercarriage from the neglect that shortens track life on manually-tensioned competitors.
- ✓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.
- ✓A full cab enclosure with heat and air conditioning is available - a genuine comfort upgrade the smaller RT105 can't be optioned with.
- ✓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.
- ✗Resale values run noticeably below the major brands, clawing back some of the up-front savings at trade-in.
- ✗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.