Manitou 1050 SRT and Gehl SRT105: Stand-On Mini Track Loader Buyer's Guide

Manitou Group and its Gehl subsidiary have introduced their first stand-on mini track loaders — the Manitou 1050 SRT and Gehl SRT105 — joining Caterpillar, John Deere and SDLG in the U.S. compact utility loader market this year. The 1,050-pound-capacity machines share identical specifications and features but keep separate branding and colour schemes. They will be assembled at Manitou's plant in Madison, Wisconsin, with first shipments later this year, and were unveiled at Equip Expo in Louisville, Kentucky.

The category is small but growing, and worth understanding before you buy. EDA finance data cited by Equipment World shows more than 11,600 new units sold between 1 September 2025 and 31 August 2026, up 2.5% year on year, making mini track loaders the fourth-best-selling equipment category behind compact track loaders, mini excavators and standard excavators. For buyers, that means more choice — and more variation in specifications between brands.

Manitou says it watched the category for about a decade and interviewed customers before designing the machines, targeting the shortcomings of loaders already on the market. Stability came first: the engine and other components sit lower to reduce the centre of gravity on side slopes, where a narrow machine with a log grapple hanging off the front can tip easily.

Track and hydraulic specification is where a buyer should spend time. The loaders carry over Manitou's IdealTrax automatic track tensioning from its larger ride-on compact track loaders: it re-tensions the tracks at the start of each day and de-tensions them at the end, which Manitou says extends track life by 15%. Auxiliary hydraulic flow is rated at a maximum 12.6 gallons per minute at 3,000 psi, with quick-connect hose linkages shared with Manitou's larger loaders. A reversible proportional thumb wheel lets the operator flip control direction from the display if hoses are connected the wrong way, and a "selectable auxiliary max flow" can be set to 25%, 50%, 75% or **** (the default) to match the attachment.

The operator platform folds up vertically so the machine can be walked behind when loading onto trailers or climbing steep slopes, and stowing it shortens overall length by about 2 inches for tight storage. An integrated operator-presence switch recognises the operator anywhere on the platform rather than at a single pedal, and enables timed auto-idle and auto-stop to cut fuel use.

For overseas buyers, three practical points follow. Two brand names on one machine is common in this industry, so always confirm the exact model and serial number against the parts catalogue — Manitou and Gehl share the hardware but may run separate part-number channels. Before ordering buckets, grapples, augers or mulchers, match the attachment's required flow and pressure to the 12.6 gpm / 3,000 psi auxiliary circuit; a mismatch is a common reason a new attachment underperforms. And rubber tracks, track-tensioning components, hydraulic hoses, quick couplers and filters are the wear items that will drive running cost — on a just-launched model, aftermarket and export parts supply can take time to fill in, which is worth checking before committing to a fleet or to resale stock.

When comparing compact loaders across borders, the useful comparison is not just rated operating capacity but the whole support package: hydraulic flow, undercarriage and wear-part availability, dealer coverage, and how quickly consumables can reach your market.

Source: Equipment World, "Gehl, Manitou Reveal Their First Stand-On Mini Track Loaders" by Don McLoud, November 2026.