Compare Two Premium Options: Bobcat’s Small Articulated Loader and a Vermeer’s Compact Articulated Loader

As one of the newest machines to enter the landscaping industry, articulated loaders have quickly risen to become a customer favourite. It performs heavy duty tasks in compact areas which helps landscapers maximize their productivity. Williams Machinery is dedicated to matching you with the best equipment for your job, and proud to be a certified dealership for premium brands including Bobcat Equipment and Vermeer.

View our Bobcat and Vermeer Units.

Known for their high performing equipment, Bobcat Equipment and Vermeer both offer great options for articulated loaders. While Bobcat is recognized for their strong and reliable machines, Vermeer excels in designing specialized machines to tackle specific jobs. In this article, we look at Bobcat’s L23 and L28, and Vermeer’s ATX530 and ATX850 to help you decide which machine is right for you.

Engine

Both Bobcat and Vermeer line-ups feature a strong 24.8 HP D1305 Kubota engine, which is the best displacement engine in the class.

Rated Operating Capacity

Bobcat offers the heaviest lift capacity for this class, industry wide. Bobcat’s L23 provides a lift capacity of 1,395 lbs, whereas their L28 can handle up to 1,534 lbs. In comparison, Vermeer’s line-up excels in projects where sensitivity to ground surfaces is important. The ATX530 has a capacity of 933 lbs, offering up a great alternative to those in need power, while being mindful of turf disturbance. The ATX850 offers a lift capacity of 1,590 lbs and weighs 4,254 lbs, making it the leader of the class in lift-to-weight ratio.

Inside and Outside Turning

Both Bobcat and Vermeer models have a comparable inside and outside turning radius.

Boom

Both Vermeer’s ATX530 and ATX850 are equipped with a telescopic arm, allowing operators to easily dump material over the backside of a retaining wall or grab material over an obstruction. Offering exceptional maximum reach, the ATX530 goes up to 35.4 inches. The ATX850 reaches 46.6 inches and has the greatest pivot point height on the market. Bobcat L28 also offers a telescopic arm, reaching 30.9 inches. A key difference is that Bobcat machines are engineered with a single arm design to improve operators’ visibility.

Machine Build

Vermeer machines come standard with HD plastic, making them more malleable with greater flex across the board. This is beneficial as it increases the durability of the machine. Bobcat machines also offer the option to upgrade to HD plastic.

Attachments

Bobcat is known for extending the capabilities of one machine with the help of their countless attachments. Their articulated loaders are no exception and come standard with a universal mounting plate. Utilizing hydraulics, operators can easily connect and disconnect attachments from right inside the cab. Vermeer is working to match this feature; each of their articulated loaders are built with a universal mini skid steer mounting plate to use a variety of Vermeer authorized attachments.

Operator Cab

In the operator cab, both brands have prioritized functionality and comfort. Bobcat includes ergonomic controls and a spacious cab that enables cross-ventilation and optional enclosed heated cabs. A key design win is their intuitive twin-pedal travel controls, which enables quick and easy direction changes. These pedals are smaller and wider apart which sets operators up with greater accuracy, even when wearing large boots. Vermeer machines also offer economic controls and feature a multifunction joystick. This utilizes electric-over-hydraulic toggles for ease of access to machine functions like the telescopic boom, auxiliary hydraulic controls, and the DBS. The cab is designed for comfort, with an adjustable seat, to help operators easily work all day. Additional features such as a heated seat, enclosed and heated cab, and work lights are also available for certain models.

Both Bobcat and Vermeer offer great options to articulated loaders, each excelling in different features. See the table below for a comparison of each machine’s key specifications to help you choose the right machine for your job.

Four-Way Comparison

Still not sure which articulated loader is best for you? Reach out to one of our sales representatives and let us help maximize your productivity with the right machine.