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.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓At 4,850 lbs it stays within half-ton truck towing range with a bucket on, a sweet spot the bigger 1,600 lb-class machines can't hit.
- ✓The 49 hp Yanmar 4TNV88 avoids DPF-class aftertreatment, and owners praise the engine family as nearly bulletproof with basic maintenance.
- ✓Steps up meaningfully from the R105 with 300 lbs more capacity and 16.4 GPM of auxiliary flow for a wider attachment range.
- ✓Value pricing keeps it well under comparable Bobcat S64 and Cat 236 quotes, a gap that matters most to owner-operators.
- ✓The compact 5-foot-class width fits through standard gates and between buildings where mid-frame machines have to detour.
- ✓Radial lift geometry gives it honest digging and grading manners for a machine this size, especially in packed gravel and dirt.
- ✓Simple mechanical layout with a swing-out rear door makes daily checks and filter changes quick without special tools.
- ✓Shares its platform with the Manitou 1350 R, so wear parts are stocked across both dealer networks.
Cons
- ✗No two-speed travel option, so long pushes across bigger properties are slow going.
- ✗The 110-inch hinge pin height is on the short side, and loading standard dump trucks requires careful bucket rollout.
- ✗No high-flow option and 16.4 GPM standard flow rule out hungry attachments like planers and larger mulchers.
- ✗No factory air conditioning is offered, which owners in hot climates call the machine's biggest livability gap.
- ✗Gehl's thin dealer coverage means parts and warranty service can be a long drive outside the Midwest.
- ✗Resale is soft relative to Bobcat and Cat small-frames, so total cost of ownership narrows over a long hold.
- ✗The operator station is snug for larger operators, a common small-frame complaint that applies here too.
- ✗Brand-new model years have had limited third-party review coverage, so buyers have less owner feedback to lean on than with the established R165.
Compare the Gehl R134
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