Gehl
Gehl RT255
The Gehl RT255 is the flagship radial-lift track loader in the Gehl line, built by Manitou Group and also sold as the Manitou 2550 RT. An 11,596 lb machine with a 74.3 hp Deutz turbo-diesel and a 2,551 lb rated capacity, it brings serious pushing power and flotation to the Bobcat T770/Cat 285 class for less money.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓The 2,551 lb rating comes at a conservative 35% of its 7,286 lb tipping load - rated the way Bobcat rates machines it would advertise over 3,600 lbs, so real-world stability is exceptional.
- ✓The 74.3 hp Deutz TD 3.6 turbo-diesel makes strong low-end torque while staying under the 75 hp DEF threshold, keeping emissions equipment simple.
- ✓A 29 GPM standard auxiliary circuit out-flows most competitors' base hydraulics, and the optional high-flow package reaches about 37 GPM for mulchers and planers.
- ✓Over 12,400 lbs of drawbar pull and 11,600 lbs of machine weight make it a genuine pushing machine for dozing, grubbing, and backfilling.
- ✓Wide 18-inch tracks with five rollers per side spread the weight for surprising flotation, and 12 inches of ground clearance clears stumps and rutted ground.
- ✓The 128-inch hinge pin and 98-inch dump height load tri-axles and hopper feeders without needing a vertical-lift boom.
- ✓IdealTrax automatic track tensioning eliminates manual tension checks on an undercarriage size where neglected tracks get very expensive.
- ✓It undercuts the Bobcat T770/Cat 285 class by a wide margin and carries Gehl's standard 2-year/2,000-hour full-machine warranty.
Cons
- ✗The radial-only lift path is unusual in the 2,500+ lb class where most competitors are vertical-lift, so reach at full height trails the machines it's priced against.
- ✗At 11,596 lbs before the trailer and attachments, hauling it legally usually means a dedicated heavy-duty truck and a beefy trailer setup.
- ✗Deutz engine parts and service expertise are harder to find at general repair shops in North America than the Yanmar and Kubota power in smaller Gehls.
- ✗Gehl's dealer network is thin in many regions, and downtime waiting on large-frame-specific parts hurts more on a production machine like this.
- ✗Resale values trail Bobcat and Cat noticeably, which matters most in this price bracket where trade-in cycles are shorter.
- ✗The rigid undercarriage rides rough at speed compared to suspended-track rivals, fatiguing operators during all-day carry work.
- ✗Top ground speed of about 8.9 mph with two-speed lags the 10-11 mph large-frame competition on big sites.
- ✗The same machine is sold as the Manitou 2550 RT, and Manitou Group's ongoing brand consolidation leaves some buyers unsure about the Gehl badge's future.
Compare the Gehl RT255
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