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.
- ✓It's the cheapest new machine wearing the Bobcat badge, and rental operators report the low buy-in and strong utilization make the numbers work better than any mid-frame.
- ✓Bobcat's dealer network is the densest in the industry, so parts, service, and loaners are rarely more than a short drive away even in rural areas.
- ✓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.
- ✗The small-frame cab is tight for bigger operators, and all-day comfort trails the roomier S64 and mid-frame Bobcats by a wide margin.
- ✗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.
Compare the Bobcat S450
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