Head to head
Takeuchi TL6R against Takeuchi TL8R2
The Takeuchi TL6R saves $16,000; the Takeuchi TL8R2 carries 270 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Takeuchi TL8R2 moves 2.3 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
| Spec | Takeuchi TL6R | Takeuchi TL8R2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $56,000 | $72,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 1,840 lbs | 2,115 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 5,270 lbs | 6,040 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 1,844 lbs | 2,114 lbs |
| Engine power | 65 hp | 74 hp |
| Engine | Kubota V2403-CR-TE4B | Kubota V3307-CR-TE5B |
| Auxiliary flow | 17.7 GPM | 20 GPM |
| Lift height | 114 in | 121.2 in |
| Operating weight | 7,780 lbs | 9,182 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Radial Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | Yes |
| High flow available | No | 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
Takeuchi TL6R
- At just over 5 feet wide and 6.5 feet tall, the TL6R squeezes through gates, doorways, and low canopies that stop every mid-frame CTL, which is exactly why backyard-access contractors buy it.
- The 5,935 lbf bucket breakout force punches far above its weight class, and operators say it digs like a machine a size bigger.
- At around 7,800 lb it tows easily behind a 3/4-ton pickup with attachment on the trailer, keeping the whole rig legal and simple.
- Takeuchi's independent dealers have a loyal following for personal service, and the 2-year/2,000-hour warranty matches the best in the industry - with an optional 3-year/3,000-hour Premier plan above it.
- Travel speeds of 6.2 mph high and 4.3 mph low are quick for a machine this small, so moving between work areas on a site doesn't eat the day.
- The 1,840 lb rated capacity is genuinely small, and contractors doing heavier work quickly bump against its limits with full pallets or wet material.
- No high-flow option is offered at all - alone in Takeuchi's track loader line - so 17.7 GPM is the ceiling and demanding attachments are simply out of reach.
- Takeuchi's dealer network is smaller and more regional than the big brands, so parts and warranty support vary by location.
- The 114-inch hinge-pin height trails vertical-lift competitors, and loading over high trailer sides can require building a ramp of material.
- The cab is snug for larger operators, a common trade-off in the compact class that taller users notice on long days.
- Ride quality at travel speed is bouncier than suspended-undercarriage machines because of the short, rigid track frame.
Takeuchi TL8R2
- Takeuchi's undercarriage reputation holds up - heavy track frames and sealed rollers routinely push original tracks well past 1,500 hours.
- The 74.3 hp Kubota V3307 needs no DEF, and sharing its engine family with Kubota's own SVL75 means parts and mechanic familiarity everywhere.
- Radial lift geometry with strong breakout force makes it a natural digger and grader - owners consistently call it a dirt machine first.
- The optional 33.8 GPM high-flow package runs mulchers and planers that many 74 hp competitors cannot support.
- The R2 cab is far quieter and roomier than the old TL8's, with a wide door, good sightlines to the bucket edge, and effective A/C.
- New creep mode lets you dial ground speed independently of engine rpm, transforming trencher and mulcher control.
- The Kubota still carries a DPF, and short-cycle users report regen interruptions on cold mornings.
- Takeuchi's dealer network remains thinner than Bobcat, Deere, or Cat in the Plains and Mountain West, which can stretch parts turnaround.
- The standard 19.1 GPM circuit is midpack, and the worthwhile high-flow package adds meaningful cost to the sticker.
- At 9,182 lbs with cab it needs a 3/4-ton truck and a stout trailer, unlike small-frame machines a half-ton can pull.
- No factory vertical-lift version exists at this size - Takeuchi pushes you up to the TL10V2 if you need truck-loading geometry.