Takeuchi TL130 versus Bobcat T300: A Comparison

With so many excellent track loaders available, choosing a make and model can be tough. Both Takeuchi and Bobcat are well-known for their reliability, functionality and versatility, and both the Takeuchi TL130 and the Bobcat T300 have strong reputations among those in the industry.

Which model is best for you will ultimately depend on your particular work requirements and your typical job site match with the TL130 and T300’s individual features and functionality.

The Basics: Takeuchi TL130

With over five decades of experience behind each machine they produce, Takeuchi emphasizes the importance of reliability, operator comfort and performance, and these values shine through in the TL130. In designing the TL130, Takeuchi focused their attention on creating a powerful compact track loader in a maneuverable and agile size.

The TL130’s rubber tracks provide improved operation on a wide variety of surfaces, and a large number of standard features mean that operator comfort has been prioritized with a cab that promotes productivity and lowered operator fatigue.

The Basics: Bobcat T300

Bobcat has been the premier manufacturer of construction equipment in the United States for the past 70 years, and with the T300, Bobcat has produced a compact track loader with a focus on power and performance.

 

With broad, long rubber tracks, the T300 is able to move across every possible surface condition easily and with minimal impact to the ground. A broad range of attachments are available for the T300 in order to adapt the machine to a multitude of functions, while optional features are available to make operating the T300 more comfortable year-round.   

Head-to-Head Comparison between the Takeuchi TL130 and the Bobcat T300

While both the Takeuchi TL130 and the Bobcat T300 offer broad functionality and superior performance, each model displays a number of differences that impact their operation and are important to consider before making a purchase decision.

Dimensions and Weight

Size and weight is always a concern when choosing a compact track loader, and the differences between the Takeuchi TL130 and the Bobcat T300 are rather stark. With a 9,702 lb operating weight, the T300 comes in at more than a ton heavier than the TL130’s 7,646 lb operating weight.

The disparity between the two models is comparable in dimensions as well. The TL130 is just over 135 inches long with its bucket, while the T300 is almost 143 inches long; similarly, the TL130 is just 62 inches wide while the T300 comes in at 78 inches wide. However, the TL130 is taller than the T300, at 88 inches with the cab versus just under 81 inches.

Performance

Unsurprisingly, the disparate dimensions and weight of the Takeuchi TL130 and the Bobcat T300 carry over into their relative performances. While the T300 has an operating capacity of 4,604 lbs, the TL130 can handle just 1,620 lbs. The difference in tipping load is similar: 9,208 lbs for the T300 versus 4,630 lbs for the TL130. The T300 is also able to achieve a greater maximum reach of 36.5 inches as compared with the TL130’s maximum reach of 28.8 inches.

Which machine is better suited to your needs will also depend on the conditions at your typical job site, as the T300 has a ground clearance of 8.7 inches while the TL130 has a ground clearance of 12.2 inches.

However, travel speed is similar between both models, at 6.6 miles per hour for the T300 compared with 6.3 miles per hour for the TL130. Turning radius is also comparable, though the TL130 is slightly more nimble with a radius of 82 inches versus the T300’s 84.2 inches.

Track Type / Specs

Both the Takeuchi TL130 and the Bobcat T300 utilize durable and versatile rubber tracks, allowing both models to operate well in a variety of ground conditions from dry sand to wet mud. The T300 has both longer and wider tracks than the TL130, with a track width of 17.7 inches and a track length of 63.7 inches as compared to the TL130’s track width of 12.6 inches and track length of 54.7 inches.

This contrast in track size also translates into a difference in the ground pressure of each model. At 4.86 psi, the TL130’s ground pressure is higher than the T300’s 3.9 psi, allowing the T300 to have superior flotation and lower ground disturbance than the TL130.

Engine

Under the hood of the Takeuchi TL130 lies a Yammar 4TNV98 4-cylinder engine with 67 horsepower and 181 torque. In contrast, the Bobcat T300 utilizes a Kubota V3800-DI-TE3 4-cylinder engine with 81 horsepower and 217 torque.

While the T300’s larger engine helps this model in terms of operating capacity and speed, the engine size of the T300 does have downsides. While the T300 uses over 3 gallons of fuel per hour, the TL130 consumes just 2.5 gallons per hour.

Standard Features and Options

Both Takeuchi and Bobcat provide a wide range of options designed to promote operator safety and comfort, but Takeuchi makes more of these features standard in its TL130 model. Each TL130 comes equipped with two speed travel, pilot-operated joystick controls, an engine monitoring system, a self-leveling hydraulic bucket and a six-way adjustable suspension seat.

In contrast, each of these features is merely optional in the T300–with the exception of two speed travel, which is simply not available in this Bobcat model.

The TL130 and the T300 do offer some of the same optional features, including air conditioning and heating, while certain safety features such as an emergency shutdown system for the engine and a horn come standard in both models.

In short, both the Takeuchi TL130 and the Bobcat T300 are excellent options for anyone who is in the market for a compact track loader. Which model will work the best for you will ultimately depend on your particular job needs and requirements.

For more information on track loaders and rubber tracks, contact Dominion Equipment Parts at 1-866-360-5489.