Head to head
Kubota SVL97-2 against Gehl VT320
The Kubota SVL97-2 saves $3,000; the Gehl VT320 carries 2 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Gehl VT320 moves 5.9 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Kubota SVL97-2 | Gehl VT320 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $82,000 | $85,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 3,200 lbs | 3,201 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 9,140 lbs | 9,145 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,199 lbs | 3,201 lbs |
| Engine power | 96 hp | 114 hp |
| Engine | Kubota V3800-CR | Deutz TD 3.6 |
| Auxiliary flow | 23.1 GPM | 29 GPM |
| Lift height | 128 in | 130 in |
| Operating weight | 11,299 lbs | 11,799 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical 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
Kubota SVL97-2
- Owners consistently point out the SVL97-2 costs tens of thousands less than a comparably-equipped Cat 299D3 while giving up very little in real-world production, making it one of the best value plays in the large-frame class.
- The 96 hp Kubota V3800 is built in-house and has a stellar reliability reputation, and owners report it pulls hard through heavy dirt and mulching work without drama.
- The optional 40 GPM high-flow package is among the highest flows available in a CTL, and land-clearing crews say it runs hungry mulching heads that choke lesser machines.
- The 3,200 lb rated capacity and 128-inch hinge-pin height make loading the tallest trucks and stacking heavy pallets genuinely easy.
- The wide-opening sliding front door lets operators get in and out with the boom at any height, a safety and convenience feature owners repeatedly praise.
- The advanced multifunction valve lets aux hydraulics, boom, and bucket run simultaneously without stalling, which grading and attachment-heavy operators appreciate.
- Resale value is strong because Kubota's SVL series is in high demand used, and the 97-2 routinely brings top money at auction.
- The cab design dates back to the original SVL95 and feels a generation behind Cat and Bobcat interiors, with owners calling the layout functional but dated.
- Earlier SVL95-2s machines were notorious for derating into limp mode under sustained load, and while the 97-2 largely fixed the sensor issue, the reputation still follows the model in forum discussions.
- The 23.1 GPM standard flow is modest for a machine this size, effectively pushing serious attachment users into the high-flow model.
- At over 11,000 lb it needs a heavy-duty truck and trailer, limiting mobility for smaller operators.
- The DPF emissions system draws occasional regen complaints during light-duty idling, same as most machines in the class.
- Track and undercarriage replacement costs on a machine this heavy are significant, especially on abrasive ground.
- Demand is so strong that dealer inventory can be scarce, and buyers report waiting months for a high-flow unit during busy seasons.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.