Takeuchi TL12R2 vs Yanmar TL100VS

Takeuchi

Takeuchi TL12R2

$88,000

4.6★ (180)

Yanmar

$88,000

4.4★ (65)

Quick take: The Yanmar TL100VS has a higher rated operating capacity (3,780 vs 2,975 lbs); the Takeuchi TL12R2 has more engine power (111 vs 104 hp).

✓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.
✓A dedicated forestry package with guarding and cooling upgrades is factory-available, not a dealer retrofit.
✓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.
✗Cab entry over the bucket is a climb, and the door cannot open when the boom is raised without the optional arm support engaged.
✗Takeuchi's dealer network is thinner than Cat or Bobcat in much of the country, which matters when a mulching operation is down.
✗Standard-flow buyers pay for capability they cannot use - this machine only makes sense with the high-flow package.

✓The 103.5 hp turbo-intercooled Yanmar diesel with 291 ft-lb of torque puts it in genuine large-frame territory, and operators say it pushes and climbs with the big-name flagships.
✓The 41 gpm high-flow option at nearly 4,000 psi runs full-size mulching heads properly, something mid-frame machines only pretend to do.
✓An 11-foot hinge pin height and vertical lift path load tri-axle dump trucks with room to spare.
✓The 10,800 lb tipping load makes it extremely stable with heavy attachments at full height.
✓Torsion-axle suspension at this weight class produces a ride quality operators consistently praise for material-hauling work.
✓At 4.4 psi ground pressure it treads lighter than most machines with this much power, thanks to the weight spread over wide tracks.
✓Standard 7-inch display, SmartAssist telematics, and a pressurized cab keep it competitive on comfort with premium rivals.
✓Street pricing typically undercuts equivalent Cat and Bobcat flagships by a healthy margin, which is the core of its value pitch.

✗It's the priciest and newest Yanmar CTL, so buyers are betting a flagship-size budget on a brand with no long-term CTL track record.
✗The dealer network problem stings most at this end - contractors who bill by the hour can't wait days for a distant dealer.
✗The 103.5 hp engine sits above the 75 hp threshold, so it carries full Tier 4 aftertreatment and the added complexity that brings.
✗Standard flow is only 23 gpm - unremarkable for the class - so the high-flow package is nearly mandatory for serious attachment work.
✗At 10,555 lbs plus attachments you're into CDL-adjacent towing territory, which surprises smaller operators.
✗Resale on a first-generation flagship is the biggest financial unknown in the lineup.
✗Parts for the 4TNV94FHT are less commonly stocked than the ubiquitous smaller Yanmar engines, so some repairs wait on shipping.
✗No factory smart-attachment or grade-control integration yet, features the same money buys from Bobcat and Cat.