Bobcat
Bobcat S450
The Bobcat S450 is the smallest radius-lift wheeled skid steer in Bobcat's lineup, a 49 hp machine that weighs just over 5,000 lbs. Its non-DPF Tier 4 engine and low price make it a favorite entry point for homeowners, farms, and rental fleets that don't need mid-frame muscle.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓At roughly 5,000 lbs it's one of the few real skid steers a half-ton pickup can legally tow with a bucket on the trailer, which owners cite as the deciding factor over mid-frame machines.
- ✓The 49 hp Tier 4 engine needs no DPF and no regen cycles, so there's none of the aftertreatment drama that plagues short-run, low-load machines in this class.
- ✓The radius lift path gives good reach at mid-range heights for dumping over walls and backfilling, which suits the grading and loading work small frames actually do.
- ✓The 58.7-inch width slips through gates and between houses where mid-frame machines can't go, making it popular for backyard and fenced-property jobs.
- ✓The cab-forward design gives surprisingly good visibility to the bucket edge, and operators moving from older Bobcats note the improved sightlines to the tires.
- ✓Resale is strong because the entry-level Bobcat name is in constant demand from homeowners and landscapers, so used S450s sell fast at solid prices.
Cons
- ✗The 1,370 lb rated capacity runs out fast with wet material or pallets, and owners doing regular truck-loading almost universally wish they'd bought an S550 or larger.
- ✗There is no high-flow option, so the 16.7 GPM standard flow rules out mulchers, cold planers, and most serious hydraulic attachments.
- ✗The 2-micron fuel filters on these Doosan-engined machines plug quickly on marginal fuel, and forum owners stress religious filter changes and clean fuel to avoid derates.
- ✗Doosan injectors have a reputation for failing, and out-of-warranty injector jobs on an entry-level machine sting owners who bought it to save money.
- ✗Cold-weather owners report intake sensor faults and limp-mode episodes until the engine fully warms, a known annoyance in northern climates.
- ✗The 49 hp engine works hard pushing a full bucket in clay or on grades, and operators say it feels underpowered next to the 60+ hp small frames from Kubota and Deere.
- ✗Two-speed travel and the enclosed cab with A/C are extra-cost options, and a comfortably equipped S450 lands close enough to S64 money that many buyers step up.
Common Questions
Can a half-ton pickup really tow the S450?
Will pallet forks work on an S450?
What are the known problem areas on the S450?
What attachments is it too small for?
Is the enclosed cab standard?
Compare the Bobcat S450
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