Bobcat
Bobcat T650
The Bobcat T650 is the mid-frame vertical-lift compact track loader that anchored Bobcat's M-Series for over a decade and now sells as a value-priced Classic model. With a 74 hp non-DPF diesel and 2,570 lb rated capacity, it's one of the most common CTLs on American jobsites and in rental fleets.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Over a decade of production means every quirk is documented, every mechanic knows it, and owners call it one of the most proven CTL platforms ever built - there are no surprises left in a T650.
- ✓Bobcat's 74 hp Tier 4 engine skips the DPF entirely, so owners never deal with regen cycles or clogged filters that sideline competitor machines mid-job.
- ✓The vertical lift path and 124-inch hinge pin height load tri-axle dump trucks and stack pallets high with ease, which is exactly why grading and material-handling crews standardized on it.
- ✓As a Classic-line machine it undercuts the newer T66 on price by thousands while offering more rated capacity (2,570 vs 2,450 lbs), a trade plenty of buyers happily make.
- ✓The used market is enormous - rental fleets turned over thousands of T650s, so parts, tracks, and complete machines are cheap and everywhere, and resale liquidity is excellent.
- ✓Bobcat's dealer network is the deepest in the industry, and owners report same-day parts availability even in rural areas keeps downtime minimal.
- ✓The optional 30.5 GPM high-flow package runs mulchers, cold planers, and stump grinders, giving it attachment range well beyond its frame size.
- ✓The swing-open tailgate and transversely-mounted engine give easy access to filters and daily checks, and forum mechanics consistently rank it among the easiest CTLs to service.
Cons
- ✗The M-Series cab is louder and rides rougher than the newer R-Series T66/T76, and operators who demo both say the refinement gap is obvious on long days.
- ✗The solid-mounted undercarriage has no suspension, so the ride across rough ground is punishing at travel speed compared to torsion-suspended rivals like ASV.
- ✗Standard 23 GPM auxiliary flow is only adequate - flow-hungry attachments really need the high-flow option, which adds meaningful cost.
- ✗Bobcat parts and dealer labor pricing run notoriously high, and owners grumble that filters, tracks, and fittings cost far more than aftermarket equivalents.
- ✗The Bob-Tach attachment system and proprietary controls nudge you toward Bobcat-branded attachments, and some third-party tools need adapters.
- ✗As a Classic (outgoing) model it lacks modern touches like the clear-side cab, improved pressurization, and touch display of current-generation machines.
- ✗Cab dust sealing is a long-running M-Series complaint - owners in dry climates report sweeping out the cab daily despite the pressurization system.
- ✗At 9,113 lbs plus a trailer and attachments you're past what a half-ton truck should tow, so budget for a three-quarter-ton or bigger to move it legally.
Compare the Bobcat T650
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