New Holland L316 vs Gehl R134
Quick take: The New Holland L316 costs $1,000 less; the New Holland L316 has a higher rated operating capacity (1,600 vs 1,350 lbs); the New Holland L316 has more engine power (60 vs 49 hp).
| Spec | New Holland L316 | Gehl R134 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $39,000 | $40,000 |
| Rating | 4.2★ (120) | 4.1★ (60) |
| Type | Wheeled Skid Steer | Wheeled Skid Steer |
| Lift Path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| ROC | 1600 lbs | 1350 lbs |
| Engine HP | 60 hp | 49 hp |
| Operating Weight | 5370 lbs | 4850 lbs |
| Tipping Load | 3200 lbs | 2700 lbs |
| Lift Height | 112 in | 110 in |
| Hydraulic Flow | 18.4 GPM | 16.4 GPM |
| Engine | FPT | Yanmar 4TNV88 |
| Tracks | No | No |
| Vertical lift | No | No |
| High-flow | No | No |
| Enclosed cab | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed | No | No |
| Self-leveling | Yes | No |
| A/C & heat | Yes | No |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2000 hr | 2 yr / 2000 hr |
Pros & cons
New Holland L316
- ✓The light 5370 lb operating weight is easy to tow behind a 3/4-ton pickup with attachments, which owners cite as a key reason to pick it over mid-frame machines.
- ✓Radial-lift geometry gives strong digging and grading performance at ground level, where a small machine like this spends most of its time.
- ✓New Holland prices the L316 below comparable Bobcat and Cat small frames, making it one of the cheapest paths into a new name-brand skid steer.
- ✓The narrow frame slips through gates and between houses where mid-frame machines simply don't fit.
- ✓The 300 Series cab is unusually wide and comfortable for a small-frame machine, with good sightlines to the bucket edge.
- ✓Simple mechanical layout with no high-flow plumbing or two-speed complexity means fewer things to break for low-hour owners.
- ✓The 60 hp FPT engine stays under the 74 hp emissions threshold, avoiding DEF-related complexity that plagues bigger machines.
- ✓Shares its platform with the Case SR160B, so CNH parts availability is better than the thin New Holland dealer count suggests.
- ✗Only 1600 lbs of rated capacity means full pallets of sod or stone are off the menu - many buyers end up wishing they'd sized up.
- ✗No two-speed travel option, so moving across larger properties feels slow compared to mid-frame machines.
- ✗The 18.4 GPM standard flow with no high-flow option rules out demanding attachments like mulchers and cold planers.
- ✗The 112-inch hinge pin height is the lowest in New Holland's lineup, so loading taller dump trucks requires careful positioning.
- ✗New Holland's construction dealer network is thin in many regions, and parts or warranty service can require a long drive.
- ✗Radial lift means the load arcs back over the machine as it rises, giving less reach at full height for truck loading.
- ✗Resale value trails Bobcat and Cat small frames, offsetting some of the purchase-price savings.
- ✗Wheeled traction limits it in mud and on slopes where a small CTL would keep working.
Gehl R134
- ✓At 4,850 lbs it stays within half-ton truck towing range with a bucket on, a sweet spot the bigger 1,600 lb-class machines can't hit.
- ✓The 49 hp Yanmar 4TNV88 avoids DPF-class aftertreatment, and owners praise the engine family as nearly bulletproof with basic maintenance.
- ✓Steps up meaningfully from the R105 with 300 lbs more capacity and 16.4 GPM of auxiliary flow for a wider attachment range.
- ✓Value pricing keeps it well under comparable Bobcat S64 and Cat 236 quotes, a gap that matters most to owner-operators.
- ✓The compact 5-foot-class width fits through standard gates and between buildings where mid-frame machines have to detour.
- ✓Radial lift geometry gives it honest digging and grading manners for a machine this size, especially in packed gravel and dirt.
- ✓Simple mechanical layout with a swing-out rear door makes daily checks and filter changes quick without special tools.
- ✓Shares its platform with the Manitou 1350 R, so wear parts are stocked across both dealer networks.
- ✗No two-speed travel option, so long pushes across bigger properties are slow going.
- ✗The 110-inch hinge pin height is on the short side, and loading standard dump trucks requires careful bucket rollout.
- ✗No high-flow option and 16.4 GPM standard flow rule out hungry attachments like planers and larger mulchers.
- ✗No factory air conditioning is offered, which owners in hot climates call the machine's biggest livability gap.
- ✗Gehl's thin dealer coverage means parts and warranty service can be a long drive outside the Midwest.
- ✗Resale is soft relative to Bobcat and Cat small-frames, so total cost of ownership narrows over a long hold.
- ✗The operator station is snug for larger operators, a common small-frame complaint that applies here too.
- ✗Brand-new model years have had limited third-party review coverage, so buyers have less owner feedback to lean on than with the established R165.