Head to head
Kubota SVL65-2 against Case TR270B
The Case TR270B saves $297; the Kubota SVL65-2 carries 210 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Case TR270B moves 6.8 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Kubota SVL65-2 | Case TR270B |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $65,297 | $65,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 2,100 lbs | 2,700 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 6,000 lbs | 5,400 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 2,100 lbs | 1,890 lbs |
| Engine power | 68 hp | 74 hp |
| Engine | Kubota V2607-CR-TE4 | FPT |
| Auxiliary flow | 17.4 GPM | 24.2 GPM |
| Lift height | 118 in | 125.1 in |
| Operating weight | 8,565 lbs | 8,270 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Radial 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
Kubota SVL65-2
- At around 8,000 lb the SVL65-2 tows comfortably behind a 3/4-ton pickup on a 10k trailer, which owner-operators call the single biggest reason they chose it over the SVL75.
- Kubota builds its own V2607 engine, and owners report the same trouble-free reliability that made the bigger SVL75 the best-selling CTL in America.
- Vertical lift with a 118.5-inch hinge-pin height is rare in this size class, so it loads dump trailers and stacks pallets that radial-lift competitors its size can't reach.
- Self-leveling comes standard rather than as a paid option, which fork users appreciate when moving pallets on uneven ground.
- The 27 GPM high-flow option is generous for the size, letting it run power rakes and cold planers that surprise operators of a sub-70-hp machine.
- Resale is strong because small, clean SVLs are in constant demand from landscapers and homeowners, protecting the purchase price.
- The 2,100 lb rated capacity runs out quickly with heavy attachments or wet material, and several owners admit they outgrew it and moved up to the SVL75 within a couple of seasons.
- The 17.4 GPM standard flow is modest, so demanding attachments really want the high-flow model, which adds cost.
- The DPF emissions system requires regen cycles that draw complaints during light-duty idling, common to the whole class.
- Cab space is tighter than the SVL75-3, and larger operators find the smaller frame noticeably snugger over a full day.
- Kubota dealer inventory for the smaller SVL can be thin during spring demand, and buyers report waiting for popular configurations.
Case TR270B
- The 74 hp FPT engine meets Tier 4 Final with just a maintenance-free DOC - no DEF, no DPF regens - so owners skip the emissions headaches that plague competitors in this class.
- At 8,270 lbs it's one of the few tracked machines a 3/4-ton truck and 10k trailer can legally haul with a bucket, which small operators call the deciding factor over a TR310B.
- The narrow frame and 12.6-inch tracks squeeze through backyard gates and side yards where mid-frame CTLs simply can't go.
- Case's cab is unusually wide and easy to enter for a small-frame machine, and bigger operators say it's noticeably less cramped than a Bobcat T450 or Cat 239D3.
- The 24.2 GPM standard flow is generous for the size class and runs augers, trenchers, and grapples that starve on competitors' 17-18 GPM small frames.
- Purchase price undercuts equivalent Bobcat and Cat small-frame CTLs by a wide margin, making it a popular first machine for new businesses.
- The one-piece welded chassis and simple radial linkage mean fewer wear points, and long-term owners report the loader geometry stays tight.
- The narrow 12.6-inch tracks put ground pressure at 5.9 psi - the highest in the B-Series - so it ruts soft lawns more than wider-tracked rivals it competes against.
- Radial lift limits reach and dump height at the top of the arc, so loading full-size dump trucks over the side is a stretch at 100.6 inches of dump height.
- The seat-bar and 'operator present' sensor faults common to B-series machines can lock the machine until sensors are cleaned or replaced.
- The 2,700 lb rated capacity sounds bigger than it works - the 1,890 lb 35% rating means a full pallet of sod or pavers is at the machine's limit.
- Resale values trail Bobcat and Cat small frames, so the lower purchase price is partly given back at trade-in time.
- Small-frame CTL track and undercarriage replacement still runs thousands of dollars, a cost wheeled-machine buyers underestimate.
- Owners report display glitches and electrical gremlins on B-series electro-hydraulic machines that usually mean a trip to the dealer for software updates.