Head to head
JCB 215T against Gehl RT135
The Gehl RT135 saves $2,590; the JCB 215T carries 756 lb more once both are rated the same way; the JCB 215T moves 1.5 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | JCB 215T | Gehl RT135 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $50,590 | $48,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 2,105 lbs | 1,350 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 6,016 lbs | 3,858 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 2,106 lbs | 1,350 lbs |
| Engine power | 74 hp | 47 hp |
| Engine | Kohler KDI 2.5L | Yanmar 4TNV88 |
| Auxiliary flow | 18.5 GPM | 17 GPM |
| Lift height | 119 in | 110 in |
| Operating weight | 9,098 lbs | 6,510 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Radial Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | Yes |
| High flow available | Yes | No |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | No |
| Self-levelling available | Yes | Yes |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
JCB 215T
- 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.
- 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.
- At 9,098 lbs it's heavy for its 2,105 lb rated capacity - conventional rivals lift more per pound of machine.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.