When choosing a machine, people often think of specs or dimensions at first, but the operating weight is also important. It directly influences the transport requirements, stability with heavy attachments, and suitability for your specific job site. This guide will help you learn the operating weight of Kubota’s most popular models, including the Kubota tracked SVL and wheeled SSV series, ensuring you select the perfect machine for your operational needs.
Note: “Operating Weight” is an industry standard, including the machine with a bucket, full fuel tank, and a 175 lb. (80 kg) operator.
Kubota SSV Series
The Kubota SSV series (skid steer loader) uses wheels, making these machines significantly lighter and faster on hard surfaces like concrete and asphalt. Their lower weight makes them easier to transport and more maneuverable in tight spaces.
Kubota SSV65: Approximately 6,800 lbs (3,084 kg)
Profile & Applications:
As the lightest machine in the lineup, the SSV65’s weight is its greatest asset for specific tasks. It is exceptionally nimble and exerts lower ground pressure than heavier models, making it ideal for work on sensitive or finished surfaces.
- Landscaping & Turf Work: Its relatively low weight minimizes damage to established lawns and delicate ground, making it a favorite for landscapers doing final grading or moving materials on residential properties.
- Snow Removal: When equipped with a snowblower or blade, its speed and agility are perfect for efficiently clearing parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways without the excessive weight that could damage the pavement.
- Warehouse & Paving: Its compact size and agility make it suitable for indoor work or for supporting paving crews on asphalt, where tracks are not necessary.
Kubota SSV75: Approximately 8,157 lbs (3,700 kg)
Profile & Applications:
The SSV75 is Kubota’s most popular wheeled model because its weight provides a perfect balance of power and agility. It’s heavy enough for serious construction tasks but still retains the speed and maneuverability advantages of a wheeled machine.
- General Construction: This is the go-to machine for loading dump trucks, moving pallets of materials, and performing site cleanup on firm ground. Its weight provides the necessary traction and stability for these common tasks.
- Road Work & Demolition: The SSV75 has enough heft to handle attachments like hydraulic breakers or road saws for light demolition and road repair jobs.
- Agriculture: On farms with concrete feedlots or paved paths, the SSV75 is an efficient tool for cleaning barns and moving feed.
Kubota SVL Series
The Kubota SVL series (compact track loader) is defined by its robust track-based undercarriage. This design distributes the machine’s significant weight over a large surface area, resulting in superior traction, lower ground pressure, and unmatched stability, especially on challenging terrain.
Kubota SVL65 & SVL65-2
- Operating Weight (SVL65-2): Approximately 8,466 lbs (3,840 kg)
- Operating Weight (SVL65): Approximately 8,035 lbs (3,645 kg)
Profile & Applications:
As Kubota’s entry-level track loader, the SVL65 series offers the exceptional stability of tracks in a more compact and transportable package. Its weight is high enough for excellent traction but low enough to keep the machine relatively nimble.
- Muddy & Soft-Soil Sites: This is where the SVL65 shines. Its weight, spread across the tracks, allows it to “float” over soft ground where a wheeled SSV65 would instantly get stuck. It’s perfect for new residential construction and landscaping in wet conditions.
- Grading on Slopes: The stability provided by its 8,400+ lb weight and tracked footprint makes it far safer and more effective for grading on hillsides and uneven terrain compared to a lighter wheeled machine.
Kubota SVL75, SVL75-2 & SVL75-3
- Operating Weight (SVL75-3, Latest): Approximately 9,100 lbs (4,128 kg)
- Operating Weight (SVL75-2): Approximately 9,039 lbs (4,100 kg)
- Operating Weight (SVL75, Older): Approximately 9,000 lbs (4,082 kg)
Profile & Applications:
The SVL75 is the industry’s sweet spot, and its ~9,100 lb weight is the reason why. It provides the perfect blend of power, stability, and reasonable transport requirements, making it the ultimate multi-purpose workhorse. The generational updates (SVL75-2 with an improved cab, SVL75-3 with a new sealed cab and DPF-free engine) have added slight weight and significant operator comfort.
- Heavy-Duty Construction & Excavation: Its substantial weight acts as an anchor, allowing it to exert tremendous breakout force for digging into tough soil or lifting heavy loads of rock and debris.
- Attachment Versatility: This weight class provides the hydraulic power and stability needed to run a wide variety of attachments effectively, from augers and trenchers to grapple buckets.
- Farm & Ranch Work: It’s heavy enough to handle large round bales, clear fence lines, and perform serious earthmoving tasks that are beyond the scope of smaller machines.
Kubota SVL97-2: A formidable 11,574 lbs (5,250 kg)
Profile & Applications:
The SVL97-2 is Kubota’s flagship, and its massive operating weight is its defining feature. This machine is an anchor of stability, designed specifically for tasks where maximum power and control are non-negotiable. Transporting this machine requires a heavy-duty truck and a high-capacity trailer.
- Forestry & Land Clearing: Its nearly 12,000 lb weight is essential for safely operating high-powered forestry mulchers and stump grinders. The weight counteracts the immense forces of the attachment, keeping the machine stable and productive.
- Large-Scale Earthmoving: With its high lift capacity and immense pushing power, the SVL97-2 is built for major grading projects and moving vast amounts of material quickly.
- Heavy Material Handling: This is the machine of choice for lifting the heaviest pallets of stone, loading large logs, or performing commercial demolition tasks. Its weight ensures it remains planted and stable when lifting loads that would tip a smaller machine.
Kubota Models Weight & Application Overview
| Model | Operating Weight | Primary Applications |
|---|---|---|
| Kubota SSV65 | ~6,800 lbs (3,084 kg) |
|
| Kubota SSV75 | ~ 8,157 lbs (3,700 kg) |
|
| Kubota SVL65 / SVL65-2 | ~ 8,035 – 8,466 lbs (3,645 – 3,840 kg) |
|
| SVL75 / SVL75-2 / SVL75-3 | ~ 9,000 – 9,100 lbs (4,082 – 4,128 kg) |
|
| Kubota SVL97-2 | 11,574 lbs (5,250 kg) |
|
Keep Your Kubota Performing at Its Peak
As the table shows, differentiating the weight helps you find the right model for different job sites. But it’s only the first step. After selecting the right model, maintaining it regularly to extend its lifespan is also critical. To ensure your Kubota machine can work long and strong, FridayParts is here to help.
Whether it’s a light and agile SSV for finished surfaces or a heavy and stable SVL for demanding terrain, we offer a wide range of quality replacement parts. Our aftermarket Kubota loader parts boast both durability and good compatibility. Choose FridayParts to keep your models in their best condition. Visit FridayParts.com to browse our full catalog now!
