Short answer
Full-size skid steers weigh roughly 5,400 to 10,100 lb (about 2.7 to 5 tons). Of 11 current Bobcat and Cat models, the Bobcat S450 is the lightest full-size machine at 5,370 lb and the Bobcat S86-2 the heaviest at 10,098 lb. The small Bobcat S70 weighs just 2,892 lb, and a common 74 hp mid-size machine weighs 7,046 to 8,296 lb.
Operating weight is the number printed on every spec sheet, and it is the one to start from when you size a trailer or check a truck. Below are the published weights of 11 current skid steers, how weight tracks with horsepower and lift capacity, and the trailer, towing and CDL checks that follow from it. New to these machines? Start with what a skid steer is.
Skid steer weight by model
These are the operating weights Bobcat and Cat publish for current North American models, lightest to heaviest. Rated capacity is 50 percent of tipping load, the figure ISO 14397-1 sets for wheeled skid steers.
| Model | Operating weight | Engine | Rated capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat S70 | 2,892 lb (1.45 tons) | 23.5 hp | 760 lb |
| Bobcat S450 | 5,370 lb (2.69 tons) | 49 hp | 1,370 lb |
| Cat 226D3 | 5,849 lb (2.92 tons) | 67.1 hp gross | 1,550 lb |
| Bobcat S590 | 6,649 lb (3.32 tons) | 68 hp | 2,000 lb |
| Bobcat S64-2 | 6,855 lb (3.43 tons) | 68 hp | 2,300 lb |
| Bobcat S66-2 | 7,046 lb (3.52 tons) | 74 hp | 2,400 lb |
| Bobcat S650 | 7,901 lb (3.95 tons) | 74 hp | 2,690 lb |
| Bobcat S76-2 | 8,014 lb (4.01 tons) | 74 hp | 2,900 lb |
| Cat 262D3 | 8,296 lb (4.15 tons) | 74.3 hp gross | 2,700 lb |
| Bobcat S770 | 9,154 lb (4.58 tons) | 92 hp | 3,350 lb |
| Bobcat S86-2 | 10,098 lb (5.05 tons) | 115 hp | 3,500 lb |
Weight climbs with lift capacity. Across these 11 machines, rated capacity works out to about 26 to 37 percent of operating weight: the S450 is rated for 1,370 lb on a 5,370 lb machine (26 percent), and the S770 for 3,350 lb on 9,154 lb (37 percent).
Skid steer weight by size
Bobcat sorts its skid steers into three horsepower bands on its product page. Using those bands, with the much smaller S70 split out and the Cat models placed by gross power, weight lines up like this:
| Size band | Models | Operating weight |
|---|---|---|
| Compact, 23.5 hp | Bobcat S70 | 2,892 lb |
| 49 to 68 hp | Bobcat S450, Cat 226D3, Bobcat S590, Bobcat S64-2 | 5,370 to 6,855 lb |
| 74 hp | Bobcat S66-2, S650, S76-2, Cat 262D3 | 7,046 to 8,296 lb |
| 92 to 115 hp | Bobcat S770, S86-2 | 9,154 to 10,098 lb |
Frame size matters as much as the engine. The S66-2 and S76-2 both have 74 hp, but the S76-2 is 968 lb heavier: it is a wider machine (72 in vs. 67 in) rated to carry 500 lb more.
How much does a 75 hp skid steer weigh?
None of these models is rated at exactly 75 hp. The closest class is 74 hp, and those machines weigh 7,046 to 8,296 lb, about 3.5 to 4.1 tons:
- Bobcat S66-2: 7,046 lb, rated for 2,400 lb.
- Bobcat S650: 7,901 lb, rated for 2,690 lb. Full figures are on our Bobcat S650 specs page.
- Bobcat S76-2: 8,014 lb, rated for 2,900 lb.
- Cat 262D3: 8,296 lb, rated for 2,700 lb (3,055 lb with Cat’s optional counterweight). Cat lists 74.3 hp gross and 72.9 hp net.
A compact track loader with similar power weighs more. The Kubota SVL75-3, at 71.6 hp gross, weighs 9,190 lb with an open cab.
What operating weight includes
Cat spells out what its figure covers: a 165 lb (75 kg) operator, all fluids, a low-profile bucket, standard tires and standard-flow hydraulics, with no optional counterweights. Other makers use similar but not identical assumptions, so read the footnotes on the spec sheet for the machine you are hauling.
When you add up what goes on the trailer, adjust for these:
- Attachments: pallet forks, a grapple, a spare bucket or a breaker riding on the trailer are not in the operating weight. Use each attachment’s published weight.
- Counterweights: Bobcat offers 200 lb and 300 lb counterweights for the S650, for example. Check whether your machine has one fitted.
- Options: a closed cab, high-flow hydraulics or over-the-tire tracks are not in a base figure. The dealer can tell you what they add.
- The operator: Cat’s figure includes 165 lb for an operator who will not be on the trailer. Leaving it in gives you a little margin.
What size trailer do I need to haul a skid steer?
Size the trailer by two things: payload and deck. Payload is the trailer’s GVWR minus its own empty weight, and it has to cover the machine plus everything else you load. The deck has to be longer than the machine with its bucket and wide enough for the tires to sit fully on it. Our trailer weight calculator runs the weight checks for you.
| Model | Width | Length with bucket | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat S70 | 35.5 in | 97.3 in | 2,892 lb |
| Bobcat S450 | 58.6 in | 124.9 in | 5,370 lb |
| Cat 226D3 | 58.9 in | 127.3 in | 5,849 lb |
| Bobcat S590 | 64.7 in | 132.5 in | 6,649 lb |
| Bobcat S64-2 | 64.6 in | 134.9 in | 6,855 lb |
| Bobcat S66-2 | 67 in | 134.9 in | 7,046 lb |
| Bobcat S650 | 72.1 in | 136.4 in | 7,901 lb |
| Bobcat S76-2 | 72 in | 142 in | 8,014 lb |
| Cat 262D3 | 66 in | 146.2 in | 8,296 lb |
| Bobcat S770 | 72.1 in | 141.1 in | 9,154 lb |
| Bobcat S86-2 | 72 in | 148.9 in | 10,098 lb |
Example: a Bobcat S650 is 136.4 in (about 11 ft 4 in) long with its bucket and 72.1 in wide, and the standard bucket is 74 in across. At 7,901 lb, it needs a trailer with at least 7,901 lb of payload before you add any attachments, and a deck longer than 11 ft 4 in. Tie it down at the points shown in the operator’s manual.
Can a half-ton truck tow a skid steer?
It depends on the total. Add everything behind the hitch, the machine, its attachments and the trailer’s empty weight, then check that total against the trailer’s rating, the truck’s rating and the CDL line.
Ford lists the 2026 F-150 at up to 13,500 lb of towing when properly equipped, and 11,600 lb for the PowerBoost hybrid. Those are the top ratings, and the rating for your truck can be lower, so use the figure for your exact engine, axle and cab from the owner’s manual or Ford’s towing guide. Here is how much each rating leaves for the trailer and attachments:
| Machine | Weight | Left at 13,500 lb | Left at 11,600 lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobcat S70 | 2,892 lb | 10,608 lb | 8,708 lb |
| Bobcat S450 | 5,370 lb | 8,130 lb | 6,230 lb |
| Bobcat S650 | 7,901 lb | 5,599 lb | 3,699 lb |
| Cat 262D3 | 8,296 lb | 5,204 lb | 3,304 lb |
| Bobcat S770 | 9,154 lb | 4,346 lb | 2,446 lb |
| Bobcat S86-2 | 10,098 lb | 3,402 lb | 1,502 lb |
Tow rating is not the only limit. The trailer’s tongue weight counts against the truck’s payload, and the truck’s gross combination weight rating (GCWR) and rear axle rating apply too. Find them on the driver’s door-jamb label and in the owner’s manual or towing guide. The same math works for any pickup: swap in your truck’s rating.
Do you need a CDL to haul a skid steer?
For commercial hauling, federal rules (49 CFR 383.91) put a truck and trailer in Group A, which needs a Class A CDL, when the combination’s GCWR is 26,001 lb or more and the trailer’s GVWR is over 10,000 lb. The ratings count, not what is actually on the trailer.
So a trailer rated at 10,000 lb GVWR or less keeps the combination out of Group A. With a 7,901 lb Bobcat S650, a 10,000 lb trailer leaves 2,099 lb for the trailer’s own empty weight and any attachments. Whether that is enough depends on the trailer, so check its empty weight on its paperwork or a scale ticket. Rules for non-commercial use, trailer brakes and permits vary by state, so check with yours too.
More machines, with full spec tables: Equipment specs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a skid steer weigh?
Full-size skid steers weigh roughly 5,400 to 10,100 lb, about 2.7 to 5 tons. Among 11 current Bobcat and Cat models, the Bobcat S450 weighs 5,370 lb and the Bobcat S86-2 10,098 lb. The small Bobcat S70 weighs 2,892 lb.
How much does a 75 hp skid steer weigh?
About 7,000 to 8,300 lb. The 74 hp Bobcat S66-2, S650 and S76-2 weigh 7,046, 7,901 and 8,014 lb, and the Cat 262D3 (74.3 hp gross) weighs 8,296 lb.
Can a 1500 pull a skid steer?
It can if the total fits the truck’s ratings. Add the machine, attachments and the trailer’s empty weight, compare that with the tow rating for your exact truck, then check payload and GCWR. Ford rates the 2026 F-150 at up to 13,500 lb when properly equipped; ratings for other half-ton trucks vary by engine, axle and cab.
Can a Ford F-150 tow a skid steer?
Ford rates the 2026 F-150 at up to 13,500 lb of towing when properly equipped, or 11,600 lb for the PowerBoost hybrid. Behind a 7,901 lb Bobcat S650, the 13,500 lb rating leaves 5,599 lb for the trailer and attachments. Check the rating for your specific truck, which can be lower.
What size trailer do I need to haul a skid steer?
One whose payload (GVWR minus its empty weight) covers the machine plus attachments, with a deck longer than the machine with its bucket. The 11 current models we checked are 97.3 to 148.9 in long with a bucket, 35.5 to 72.1 in wide, and weigh 2,892 to 10,098 lb.
How many tons does a skid steer weigh?
About 1.4 to 5 tons. The Bobcat S70 is 1.45 tons, 74 hp machines are about 3.5 to 4.1 tons, and the Bobcat S86-2 is 5.05 tons (US short tons of 2,000 lb).
Is a skid steer lighter than a compact track loader?
The ones we compared are. The 74 hp skid steers weigh 7,046 to 8,296 lb, while the Kubota SVL75-3 track loader, at 71.6 hp gross, weighs 9,190 lb with an open cab.
Do I need a CDL to haul a skid steer?
For commercial use, a Class A CDL is required when the truck and trailer have a GCWR of 26,001 lb or more and the trailer’s GVWR is over 10,000 lb (49 CFR 383.91). Rules for private use vary by state.
Sources
- Bobcat skid-steer loader product pages: S70, S450, S590, S64-2, S66-2, S650, S76-2, S770 and S86-2, checked September 26, 2026.
- Cat specifications for the 226D3 and 262D3 skid steer loaders, checked September 26, 2026.
- Ford, 2026 F-150 towing and hauling, checked September 26, 2026.
- 49 CFR 383.91, Commercial motor vehicle groups, via Cornell Legal Information Institute.
- ISO 14397-1, rated operating load for loaders. Kubota SVL75-3 figures from our SVL75 page, which cites Kubota’s 2025 brochure.
Bobcat, Cat, Kubota and Ford are trademarks of their owners. BucketMath is independent and not affiliated with any of them. Weights change with options and model updates, so confirm with the dealer and the machine’s own documents before you haul. Towing and licensing information here is general, not legal advice; see our disclaimer.