Best Budget Skid Steers Under $40k (2026)
You don't need to spend big to get a skid steer that earns its keep for years. Every pick here costs $40,000 or less and is ranked by owner rating, so the highest-rated value champions come first. Our #1 pick is the ASV RT-25.
ASV
ASV RT-25
The ASV RT-25 is the smallest sit-in compact track loader on the market - a 48-inch-wide, 3,755 lb Posi-Track machine that fits through a standard backyard gate. It gives fencing crews, landscapers, and rental fleets a real cab-and-joysticks loader where only walk-behinds used to fit.
New Holland
New Holland L316
The New Holland L316 is the smallest wheeled skid steer in the 300 Series, a radial-lift machine powered by a 60 hp FPT diesel. Its light 5370 lb frame and narrow footprint make it a value pick for landscaping, barns, and tight-access work.
Gehl
Gehl R105
The Gehl R105 is the smallest wheeled skid loader in Gehl's lineup (sold in Manitou colors as the 1050 R). With a 1,050 lb rated capacity, a 34.7 hp Yanmar diesel under 25 kW emissions thresholds, and a narrow, low-profile frame, it's built for barns, hobby farms, and tight spots full-size machines can't enter.
Gehl
Gehl R134
The Gehl R134 is a small-frame radial-lift wheeled skid loader introduced in 2020 to replace the R135 (its Manitou-badged twin is the 1350 R). A 1,350 lb rated capacity, a 49 hp Yanmar diesel, and a sub-5,000 lb operating weight make it an easy-to-tow all-rounder for small farms, landscapers, and rental fleets.