Gehl
Gehl RT135
The Gehl RT135 is a small-frame radial-lift compact track loader from Manitou Group, also sold as the Manitou 1350 RT. It slots between the gate-friendly RT105 and mid-frame RT165 with a 46.6 hp Yanmar diesel, a 1,350 lb rated capacity, and a 57-inch width aimed at the Bobcat T550/Cat 249D class.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓The 57-inch overall width threads through narrow side yards and double gates where 66-inch mid-frames have to stay on the driveway.
- ✓A 1,350 lb rating at a conservative 35% of tipping load carries real pallets of sod and stone without the light-in-the-rear feel of aggressively-rated rivals.
- ✓Low-effort pilot joystick controls are a headline feature, giving this small frame the same smooth proportional feel as Gehl's larger Pilot Series machines.
- ✓IdealTrax automatic track tensioning comes standard, protecting the undercarriage from the neglect that shortens track life on manually-tensioned competitors.
- ✓The 46.6 hp Yanmar 4TNV88 needs no DEF and no complicated aftertreatment babysitting, keeping ownership simple for small operations.
- ✓At 6,510 lbs it's still towable behind a well-equipped half-ton or light three-quarter-ton truck with a standard equipment trailer.
- ✓A full cab enclosure with heat and air conditioning is available - a genuine comfort upgrade the smaller RT105 can't be optioned with.
- ✓It prices thousands below a comparably-equipped Bobcat T550 and carries Gehl's 2-year/2,000-hour full-machine warranty.
Cons
- ✗There's no two-speed drive available, so the 6 mph top speed makes long ground moves and big-property work tedious.
- ✗No high-flow hydraulic option means mulchers, cold planers, and other flow-hungry attachments are off the menu permanently.
- ✗Gehl's dealer network is thin in many regions, and owners report parts waits that Bobcat and Cat customers rarely experience.
- ✗Resale values run noticeably below the major brands, clawing back some of the up-front savings at trade-in.
- ✗The radial-only lift path limits reach at full height, so loading over tall truck sides takes more care than a vertical-lift machine.
- ✗The rigid undercarriage transmits chatter on frozen or rutted ground, and there's no suspension option like ASV offers in this size.
- ✗A/C cab, Power-A-Tach coupler, self-leveling, and suspension seat are all extra-cost options that quickly close the price gap.
- ✗The same machine wears a Manitou 1350 RT badge, and Manitou Group's brand consolidation makes some buyers nervous about long-term Gehl support.
Compare the Gehl RT135
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