Wacker Neuson ST31 vs Wacker Neuson ST37

Wacker Neuson

Wacker Neuson ST31

$62,000

4.3★ (85)

Wacker Neuson

$68,000

4.2★ (45)

Quick take: The Wacker Neuson ST31 costs $6,000 less; the Wacker Neuson ST37 has a higher rated operating capacity (3,700 vs 3,100 lbs).

✓No DPF and no DEF on the 74 hp Kohler KDI means zero regen downtime - owners coming from regen-plagued machines call this the main reason they bought it.
✓The 4-year/4,000-hour Kohler engine warranty plus 2-year/2,000-hour machine coverage is about the strongest paper protection in the segment.
✓The 2024 uni-body redesign stiffened the frame and improved service access dramatically, with a tilting cab and large rear door.
✓A 3,100 lb rated capacity and 6,200 lb tipping load put it squarely in the heart of the mid-frame class where most buyers shop.
✓Vertical lift and a 128-inch hinge pin height load dump trucks cleanly for a machine this size.
✓Buyers can choose H-pattern or ISO joystick pilot controls, a flexibility traditionalists appreciate.
✓Designed and assembled in Wisconsin, with the engineering focus on mechanical simplicity over electronic complexity.
✓Aggressive pricing and frequent promotional financing make it one of the better value plays among 74 hp verticals.

✗The thin US dealer network remains the biggest knock - great machine, but support depends heavily on your zip code.
✗Resale lags Bobcat, Cat, and Kubota noticeably, so total cost of ownership math needs honest trade-in assumptions.
✗Standard 20.1 gpm aux flow is average, and the 30.1 gpm high-flow option tops out below what dedicated mulching outfits want.
✗Brand awareness is low among US buyers, which can complicate insurance, financing, and eventual private-party sale.
✗The uni-body generation is new enough that high-hour durability reports are scarce.
✗Cab noise levels are acceptable but behind the best-in-class pressurized cabs.
✗Limited factory tech options - no grade control, camera packages are basic, and telematics is less developed than the majors.
✗Parts are domestically sourced but stocked in fewer depots, so less-common components can take days to arrive.

✓A 3,700 lb rated capacity from a 74 hp machine is excellent work-per-horsepower, and the 7,400 lb tipping load keeps it planted with heavy pallets.
✓Ground pressure of 4.3 psi is the best in the ST line, floating over soft turf and mud that ruts standard mid-frames.
✓The Kohler KDI's no-DPF, no-DEF Tier 4 solution eliminates regens entirely - a simplicity argument that resonates with high-hour users.
✓Kohler's 4-year/4,000-hour engine warranty plus the 2-year/2,000-hour machine warranty leads the class on coverage.
✓The uni-body frame and tilt-up cab make daily checks and major service faster than most competitors.
✓Standard 23 gpm aux flow is strong for the class, with a 33.1 gpm high-flow option that handles mid-size mulchers.
✓Vertical lift and a 128-inch hinge pin height make truck loading a one-motion affair.
✓It undercuts comparable Bobcat T76 and Cat 265 configurations on price by a meaningful margin.

✗Dealer coverage is the perennial Wacker Neuson issue - buyers far from a dealer are effectively self-supporting.
✗The model launched in 2024, so there's almost no long-term field history at high hours.
✗Resale discount versus the majors applies here too, and bigger machines feel it more in dollar terms.
✗The same 74 hp engine that feels strong in the ST27 works harder in this 9,000 lb frame, and operators notice on sustained mulching or hills.
✗Wide tracks that help flotation make it wider than some site gates allow, and replacement rubber costs more.
✗No 100 hp option in the uni-body generation yet, so power-hungry buyers must jump to the older-design ST50.
✗Fewer rental units in circulation means limited chances to demo before committing.
✗Basic telematics and no factory grade-control integration keep it behind the tech curve for GPS-heavy contractors.