Head to head
Wacker Neuson ST45 against Wacker Neuson ST50
The Wacker Neuson ST45 saves $13,000; the Wacker Neuson ST50 carries 350 lb more once both are rated the same way; the Wacker Neuson ST50 moves 3.0 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit.
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| Spec | Wacker Neuson ST45 | Wacker Neuson ST50 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79,000 | $92,000 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 4,500 lbs | 5,000 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 8,999.3 lbs | 10,000.2 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 3,150 lbs | 3,500 lbs |
| Engine power | 74 hp | 100 hp |
| Engine | Kohler KDI 2,504 | Kohler KDI 3,404 |
| Auxiliary flow | 22.1 GPM | 25.1 GPM |
| Lift height | 134.8 in | 136 in |
| Operating weight | 10,315 lbs | 10,785 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | Yes |
| High flow available | Yes | 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
Wacker Neuson ST45
- A 4,500 lb rated operating capacity and 9,000 lb tipping load put it in genuine large-frame territory - it forklifts pallets of sod and block that mid-frames refuse.
- The 134.8-inch hinge pin height is one of the taller lift heights in the class, clearing high-sided dump trucks and hoppers with ease.
- The 74.3 hp Kohler KDI needs no DPF and no DEF, so a big machine stays refreshingly simple to run and maintain.
- Kohler's 4-year/4,000-hour engine warranty on top of 2-year/2,000-hour machine coverage means the expensive bits are covered longest.
- This platform has been in production longer than the uni-body models, so it has more accumulated field hours and known reliability.
- It typically prices well below 100 hp flagship rivals while lifting just as much.
- With only 74.3 hp moving a 10,267 lb machine, it's tuned for lifting rather than aggressive dozing - operators who push hard wish for the ST50's extra power.
- Standard 22.1 gpm auxiliary flow is modest for a large frame, and even the 31.4 gpm high-flow option is midpack.
- The Series-II design predates the uni-body machines, so service access and cab refinement feel a generation older.
- Resale values trail the big four brands by a wider dollar margin at this price point.
- At over 10,000 lbs it needs heavy trailer capacity, a cost some step-up buyers underestimate.
- Limited factory tech - no grade control and basic displays - for contractors accustomed to flagship-level electronics.
- Brand-name attachment packages and dealer-installed options are fewer than what Bobcat or Cat dealers can spec.
Wacker Neuson ST50
- The 100 hp Kohler KDI 3404 gives it true flagship muscle for dozing, grading, and running hungry hydraulic attachments.
- A 5,000 lb rated operating capacity and 10,000 lb tipping load rank among the strongest in the compact track loader class.
- Kohler's KDI design skips the DPF even at 100 hp, so there are no regen cycles interrupting work - rare at this power level.
- The 37.4 gpm high-flow option at up to 4,000 psi runs full-size mulching heads and cold planers credibly.
- The 136-inch hinge pin height loads the tallest trucks in the fleet without ramps or creativity.
- The 4-year/4,000-hour Kohler engine warranty plus 2-year/2,000-hour machine warranty is exceptional coverage for a flagship-class machine.
- It consistently comes in thousands cheaper than equivalent Bobcat T86 or Cat 285 builds, the core of its appeal.
- The 100 hp Kohler uses DEF for Tier 4 compliance, so while it skips the DPF it doesn't skip exhaust fluid entirely.
- Wacker Neuson's limited dealer footprint is the biggest risk on a machine that anchors production work.
- The platform predates the uni-body redesign, so cab refinement and service layout trail the newest ST27/ST31/ST37.
- At 10,677 lbs plus attachments, transport needs a serious trailer and truck - CDL considerations apply for some configurations.
- The KDI 3404 is less common in North America than Cat, Kubota, or Deere engines, so independent shops are less familiar with it.
- No factory grade-control or advanced assist features that competitors now offer at this price tier.
- Fewer high-hour ST50s exist in the field, so long-term durability evidence is thinner than for the Bobcat and Cat machines it challenges.