Head to head
JCB 3TS-8T Teleskid against Kubota SVL97-3
The JCB 3TS-8T Teleskid saves $274; the JCB 3TS-8T Teleskid carries 236 lb more once both are rated the same way; the JCB 3TS-8T Teleskid moves 0.2 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | JCB 3TS-8T Teleskid | Kubota SVL97-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $92,000 | $92,274 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 3,695 lbs | 3,459 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 10,558 lbs | 9,884 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,695 lbs | 3,459 lbs |
| Engine power | 74 hp | 96.4 hp |
| Engine | JCB EcoMAX | Kubota V3800-TIE5-L |
| Auxiliary flow | 24 GPM | 23.8 GPM |
| Lift height | 159 in | 128.5 in |
| Operating weight | 12,615 lbs | 11,929 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | Yes |
| High flow available | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | Yes |
| 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 3TS-8T Teleskid
- The telescopic boom is genuinely unique — 13'3" of lift height and 8 feet of forward reach let it stack bales two-high, load feed mixers, and reach across trailers in ways no conventional skid steer can.
- The side-entry door means operators never crawl over the attachment or under a raised boom, and owners call it a game-changing safety and convenience feature after living with front-entry machines.
- It can dig 3 feet below grade with the boom extended, letting it backfill from one side of a trench or unload from a single trailer side — party tricks that replace a second machine on some jobs.
- The JCB EcoMAX engine hits 74 hp without a DPF or DEF, so there are no regen interruptions or fluid top-offs, which owners burned by emissions headaches specifically appreciate.
- The single-arm PowerBoom is made of high-tensile steel with a huge cross-section, and JCB's decades of backhoe and telehandler experience show in the boom's rigidity.
- Visibility is exceptional — with no right-side boom arm and a big glass area, operators report a 60% better view than conventional twin-arm skid steers.
- The US Marine Corps selected the Teleskid for its Multi-Terrain Loader program, a durability endorsement owners like to cite.
- Capacity at full extension drops to around 1,600 lb, and buyers expecting to lift heavy pallets at maximum reach are consistently disappointed — the big rated number only applies with the boom retracted.
- At around $92,000 it costs flagship-CTL money, and forum users repeatedly question whether the reach justifies the price unless you truly need it weekly.
- The single-side boom concentrates weight on one side, and operators cutting grades report the machine leaning toward the boom side until they adapt.
- The telescoping boom adds wear points, and JCB has revised the boom design over the years to address slop and wear at the extension points.
- Some owners report quality-control irritations like A/C and sensor faults that took multiple dealer visits to resolve.
- At over 12,600 lb it's the heaviest machine in its class, requiring a serious truck and trailer to move between jobs.
Kubota SVL97-3
- 41.2 GPM of high flow is among the highest in the class and turns it into a genuine mulcher and cold-planer carrier.
- 3,459 lb of rated capacity against a 9,884 lb tipping load puts it near the top of the compact track loader range.
- The one-piece sealed cab keeps dust out, which is the complaint that dogs CTLs doing demolition and land clearing.
- KubotaNOW telematics is standard rather than a subscription add-on, and the 7-inch touchscreen carries passcode keyless start and a rearview camera.
- The swing-out radiator makes the single worst maintenance job on a track loader - clearing the cooling package - a tool-free one.
- An optional 300 lb counterweight adds 200 lb of rated capacity when the work needs it.
- Kubota publishes the MSRP at $92,274, so the price is checkable rather than dealer-quoted.
- 23.8 GPM standard flow is unremarkable for a 96 hp machine; the flow that sells this loader is the high-flow option.
- At 11,929 lb it needs a heavy truck and a proper trailer - this is not a machine a three-quarter-ton pickup moves.
- The 128.5 in lift height is the same as the much bigger SVL110-3, so the extra money over a mid-frame machine buys capacity and flow, not reach.
- Kubota still sells the superseded SVL97-2 alongside it at $85,481, which muddies the choice for anyone shopping by model number.