Gehl
Gehl R165
The Gehl R165 is a mid-frame radial-lift wheeled skid loader from Manitou Group (also sold as the Manitou 1650 R). With a 1,650 lb rated capacity and a proven Yanmar diesel, it's a value-priced digging and grading machine popular with farms, landscapers, and budget-minded contractors.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Typically priced thousands below a comparable Bobcat S66 or Cat 246, making it one of the best value buys in the 1,600-1,700 lb class.
- ✓The Yanmar 4TNV98C diesel meets Tier 4 without a DPF headache on this power class, and owners praise it as a simple, reliable, easy-starting engine.
- ✓Radial lift geometry with a 119-inch hinge pin height digs and grades aggressively at ground level, where farm and dirt-work operators spend most of their time.
- ✓Buyers can choose T-bar hand controls, dual-hand controls, or joysticks, so operators coming from any brand feel at home quickly.
- ✓Heavy 80K drive chains and a simple hydrostatic drivetrain mean fewer electronics to fail, and long-time Gehl owners report low lifetime repair costs.
- ✓An optional counterweight kit bumps rated capacity to 1,800 lbs, letting the same machine handle heavier pallet and bale work.
- ✓The wide cab opening and low entry step make it one of the easier skid steers to climb in and out of all day.
- ✓Manitou Group parts commonality means the identical Manitou 1650 R shares components, improving parts availability through two dealer networks.
Cons
- ✗Gehl's dealer network is far thinner than Bobcat, Cat, or Deere, so service and parts can mean a long drive in many regions.
- ✗Resale value trails the big brands noticeably, and used Gehl machines sit on lots longer, which offsets some of the purchase savings.
- ✗The 18.9 GPM standard hydraulics limit attachment options, and there's no factory high-flow package on this model.
- ✗The cab interior feels dated next to Bobcat R-Series and Deere P-Tier machines, with harder plastics and a more basic display.
- ✗Radial lift means reach at full height is limited, so loading tall dump trucks over the side takes more finesse.
- ✗Two-speed travel is optional rather than standard, and single-speed base units feel slow moving across bigger sites.
- ✗Self-leveling is not offered on this model, so operators must feather the bucket manually when lifting pallets and bales.
- ✗Brand recognition is low among newer operators, and some owners report longer waits for backordered Gehl-specific parts.
Compare the Gehl R165
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