Head to head
Takeuchi TL12R2 against Gehl VT275
The Takeuchi TL12R2 saves $1,950; the Takeuchi TL12R2 carries 271 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Gehl VT275 moves 2.7 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Takeuchi TL12R2 | Gehl VT275 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $88,000 | $89,950 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 2,975 lbs | 2,750 lbs |
| Rated at | 34% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 8,630 lbs | 7,858 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,021 lbs | 2,750 lbs |
| Engine power | 111 hp | 72 hp |
| Engine | Kubota V3800-TIEF4B | Yanmar 4TNV98CT-XNGL |
| Auxiliary flow | 23.3 GPM | 26 GPM |
| Lift height | 126 in | 129 in |
| Operating weight | 12,590 lbs | 10,249 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 | 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
Takeuchi TL12R2
- The 111.3 hp Kubota V3800 and available 40.4 GPM high-flow circuit make it a legitimate dedicated mulcher carrier straight from the factory.
- Over 8,200 lbs of bucket breakout force lets it rip roots and hardpan that stall lighter machines.
- The simple radial boom has fewer pivots than vertical-lift linkages - less to grease, less to wear, and less to flex under mulcher loads.
- Takeuchi's heavy undercarriage with sealed rollers is a proven long-life design, and owners regularly exceed 1,500 hours on original tracks.
- At 12,590 lbs it is stable on slopes and resists getting pushed around by big attachments the way mid-frames do.
- The pressurized cab seals out mulching dust well, and the high-back suspension seat keeps operators fresh through long clearing days.
- Strong resale and a loyal owner base - used large-frame Takeuchis command premium prices in land-clearing markets.
- Radial lift means less reach at full height - loading tall dump trucks is noticeably clumsier than with the TL12V2 or other vertical-lift machines.
- The 111 hp Kubota requires DEF plus a DPF, adding fluid costs and regen management that smaller Takeuchis avoid.
- At 12,590 lbs plus attachment weight it is a one-ton-truck-and-gooseneck proposition - transport is a real cost of ownership.
- The 2,975 lb rated capacity trails the vertical-lift TL12V2 by over 1,100 lbs, so pallet-heavy contractors are in the wrong spec.
- Fuel burn under mulcher load is substantial - owners report 5+ gallons per hour in heavy vegetation.
- Takeuchi's dealer network is thinner than Cat or Bobcat in much of the country, which matters when a mulching operation is down.
Gehl VT275
- 2,750 lbs at 35% of tipping load is a strong figure conservatively stated - the equivalent 50% number would read 3,929 lbs.
- 33 GPM high flow runs mulching heads and cold planers that 23-30 GPM machines only manage marginally.
- 129-inch hinge pin height loads high-side and tri-axle bodies.
- Directly replaces the radial RT255, so buyers gain vertical geometry and capacity in the same step.
- Self-leveling and an A/C enclosed cab are available, which matters on a machine likely to run full days.
- 2026 dealer listings around $90,000 put it below comparably specified premium-brand track loaders.
- Gehl does not publish a tipping-load row for this model; 7,858 lbs is derived from its own 50% rating, with a trade spec guide independently giving 7,852 lbs.
- No two-speed travel listed, which is a notable omission on a 10,249 lb machine.
- Undercarriage and final-drive replacement on a machine this heavy is the dominant lifetime cost.
- Gehl's dealer coverage is the weak point at this price, where downtime is expensive.