Bobcat has introduced its largest excavator yet, the E165. With a few class-leading performance specs to its credit, this new machine continues a confident expansion of the Bobcat parts excavator lineup into the mid-size excavator market.
As the largest excavator the company has offered to date, the E165 obviously represents new territory for Bobcat. There’s no question that the company is leaning on synergies with sister company Doosan Infracore to enter into the mid-size excavator market, but what’s impressive about both the reduced-tail swing E145 that was introduced last year and this new conventional swing E165 is that Bobcat is taking these first steps into these larger markets pretty aggressively.
Like the E145, the new E165 is entering its size class with what Bobcat says is class-leading lifting capacity and hydraulic performance. Now, Bobcat hasn’t offered up any specific numbers on lift capacity to support that claim, however, they have provided numbers for max reach, bucket and arm digging force that are best in class when you compare them to competing models.
The E165 is powered by a 131 horsepower turbo-charged engine and weighs in at 38,376 pounds. Bobcat places the excavator’s arm digging force at 18,077 pound feet while bucket digging force comes in at 25,794 pound feet.
Bobcat hasn’t provided a specific figure on slew torque but does say the machine boasts enough for slewing uphill, capable backfilling and better all-around productivity than its smaller models.
The machine’s max reach at ground level is 28.8 feet. Dig depth is 20 feet and maximum dump height is 21.3 feet.
As I mentioned earlier, the E165 is a conventional tail swing model. In terms of width, the machine is 8.5 feet across. Like the E145, it sits on Bobcat’s X-Frame Undercarriage which offers increased ground clearance and maneuverability in softer ground conditions. This undercarriage is also designed to reduce the amount of time you’ll spend cleaning it. It has sloped surfaces that shed debris to prevent material buildup.
Given these specs, the E165 fits in comfortably in the 16-18 ton size class of excavators and compares very favorably even to more established competitors. Bobcat says it makes for a great road and bridge building machine, but also fits in on underground utility sites, commercial and residential building sites due to its ability to perform more intensive digging and lifting tasks than the rest of its lineup.
They also note that the machine fits in well on job sites where their larger 700 and 800 frame size class Bobcat CTLs and skid steers are in use.