Gehl is a Manitou Group brand with a long North American history and solid dealer presence across Canada — particularly strong in eastern Canada and Quebec. R-Series, V-Series, SSQA compatibility, and the full attachment lineup reviewed for Canadian operators.
Gehl is one of North America's established skid steer brands, with roots going back to the 1950s in West Bend, Wisconsin. Since 2009 they've operated as part of the Manitou Group — a French multinational with strong distribution in Quebec and eastern Canada through their European dealer network connections. For Canadian operators, Gehl sits in the OEM mid-tier: solid machines, a full attachment lineup, and dealer coverage that's genuinely competitive east of Ontario.
This guide covers Gehl's machine lines relevant to attachment buyers, hydraulic flow by model, quick-attach compatibility, the Canadian dealer picture, and the full range of Gehl-branded attachments we carry.
Gehl Company was founded in 1859 as a farm equipment maker and eventually became a significant skid steer manufacturer competing with Bobcat and Case. The Manitou acquisition in 2009 brought Gehl and its sister brand Mustang under a European parent — Manitou is best known in Canada for its telehandlers, but the Gehl skid steer line has continued as a distinct product range with its own engineering and dealer support.
One important note for Canadian buyers: Gehl and Mustang machines are essentially the same equipment with different paint and badging. If a Mustang dealer is closer to you than a Gehl dealer, the machines and attachments are interchangeable. Both brands run through the Manitou dealer network.
Gehl's skid steer lineup divides cleanly into two lift-path configurations — the same split you'll find across most major brands.
The R-Series uses a radial lift arm path: the boom arcs forward as it rises, giving you maximum reach at mid-height but less reach at full lift. This is the right configuration for bucket work, loading trucks, trenching, and the majority of general-purpose contractor and agricultural tasks. The R-Series includes the popular Canadian models:
The V-Series uses a vertical lift path: the arm rises nearly straight up, maintaining consistent forward reach from mid to full height. This is the configuration for pallet work, loading at height, and operations where you need to reach over obstacles. The flagship V420 is a large-frame machine with high-flow hydraulics standard — designed for demanding attachment work.
Hydraulic flow matters the moment you run anything beyond buckets and forks. Gehl's Canadian lineup has reasonable high-flow availability, but not every model comes standard with high-flow — and on smaller models, high-flow may not be available at all.
| Model | Type | Standard Flow (GPM) | High-Flow Option | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R150 | Radial | ~18 GPM | Not available | Light-duty attachments only; no high-flow circuit |
| R165 | Radial | ~21 GPM | Not available | Standard-flow attachments; most tillers, augers, brooms |
| R190 | Radial | ~24 GPM | ~37 GPM (optional) | Most popular Canadian model; high-flow opens mulchers, stump grinders |
| V330 | Vertical | ~24 GPM | ~37 GPM (optional) | Vertical lift advantage for pallets and loading at height |
| V420 | Vertical | 41 GPM | Standard (no option needed) | High-flow standard; purpose-built for demanding attachments |
Gehl uses SSQA — Skid Steer Quick Attach — which is compatible with the universal ISO/ANSI quick-attach standard that most of the industry uses. This is an important distinction from some other brands: Gehl attachments will mount to Bobcat, Case, New Holland, Kubota, JD, and most other major machines without adapter plates, and vice versa.
The practical upside: if you own a Gehl machine, you're not locked into Gehl-branded attachments. Any SSQA-compatible attachment works — which represents the vast majority of the market, including every brand covered on this site.
Gehl's attachment lineup covers the full working range, and the SSQA compatibility means you're not limited to Gehl-branded options. That said, buying through your Gehl dealer has the advantage of single-source warranty service and the assurance of proper fit. Here's how the Gehl catalog breaks down by use case:
The Gehl 4-in-1 bucket, utility bucket, dozer blade, and landplane cover the earthmoving basics. The 4-in-1 (also called a combination bucket or clamshell) is particularly versatile — it functions as a standard bucket, a clamshell for grabbing material, a dozer blade, and a scraper in one attachment. For Canadian operators who need to do multiple tasks without multiple attachments, it's a practical choice.
Gehl offers both standard and heavy-duty pallet fork frames. The standard forks handle typical farm and light commercial use (loads to ~4,000 lbs), while the heavy-duty version is rated for heavier palletized material and bulk bag handling. The grapple bucket covers loose material — brush, debris, demolition waste, and mixed loads that won't stay in an open bucket.
The Gehl attachment lineup for vegetation work includes a power rake (soil conditioner), rotary cutter (72" width), flail mower, and root grapple. The power rake is the go-to attachment for seedbed preparation and gravel grooming. The rotary cutter handles tall grass, light brush, and roadside vegetation. The flail mower is the more specialized tool for precise finish mowing and orchard/vineyard work.
Gehl offers four trencher widths (36", 48", 60", 72") covering everything from utility line installation to irrigation trenching. The auger drive with appropriate bit handles post holes, fence lines, tree planting, and footing drilling. Canadian frozen-ground conditions are a factor here — confirm the drive unit's breakout torque spec for your soil and frost depth before buying.
The Gehl hydraulic breaker lineup covers light-duty (concrete curbs, asphalt, light frost) and heavy-duty applications (reinforced concrete, large rock, hard frost). Verify your machine's GPM output matches the breaker's rated flow range — running a breaker outside its rated flow damages the hammer and wastes energy.
Gehl offers both a snow blade and a snow pusher. The snow blade (dozer-style) is for pushing and windrowing; the snow pusher is a containment-style attachment for clean, efficient clearing of parking lots and large paved areas. For Canadian winter work, both are practical choices given the SSQA compatibility with any operator's existing fleet.
The Gehl lineup also includes a cement mixer (useful for small pours, footings, and repair work without a transit mixer), a concrete mixer variant, post drivers in standard and heavy-duty configurations for fence installation, and stump grinders in compact, standard, and large sizes for tree removal work.
Multi-function combination bucket — standard bucket, clamshell, dozer blade, and scraper in one.
Hydraulic angle broom for sweeping paved surfaces, gravel, and debris management.
Hydraulic auger drive for post holes, footings, and fence lines in Canadian soil conditions.
Skid steer-mounted cement mixer for small pours, footings, and concrete repair work.
Hydraulic concrete mixing attachment for construction and repair applications.
Fixed-angle dozer blade for grading, pushing, and rough levelling.
Hydraulic flail mower for finish mowing, orchard work, and vegetation along fences and ditches.
Hydraulic grapple bucket for loose material, demolition debris, and mixed loads.
Light-duty hydraulic hammer for concrete, asphalt, and frost work.
Heavy-duty hydraulic hammer for reinforced concrete, large rock, and hard demolition.
Rear-mounted landplane for levelling gravel roads, yards, and agricultural surfaces.
Standard-duty pallet fork frame for pallets, lumber, and material up to ~4,000 lbs.
Heavy-duty pallet fork frame for demanding material handling and heavier loads.
Standard post driver for T-posts, round posts, and fence installation.
Heavy-duty post driver for larger steel posts and demanding fence construction.
Soil conditioner/power rake for seedbed prep, gravel grooming, and topsoil incorporation.
Tined root grapple for stumps, rocks, root balls, and heavy land clearing debris.
72-inch rotary cutter for tall grass, light brush, and roadside vegetation management.
Hydraulic angle snow blade for pushing and windrowing snow in Canadian winters.
Containment-style snow pusher for efficient, clean parking lot and pavement clearing.
Rotary soil conditioner for aggressive seedbed preparation and material incorporation.
Compact stump grinder for smaller stumps in tight residential and landscaping applications.
Standard stump grinder for residential and light commercial stump removal.
Large stump grinder for big hardwood stumps and high-production clearing work.
36-inch trencher for shallow utility lines, drainage pipe, and irrigation.
48-inch trencher for deeper utility installations and drainage work.
60-inch trencher for deeper excavations and water/sewer lines.
72-inch trencher for deep utility installations and large-diameter pipe.
72-inch utility bucket for general earthmoving, gravel, and bulk material handling.
Gehl operates through the Manitou Group dealer network in Canada. Coverage is strongest in Quebec and eastern Canada, with dealers across Ontario and into western Canada through agricultural and construction equipment channels.
Gehl works well for you if: You're in Quebec, Ontario, or the Maritimes where dealer coverage is strong; you want a full-service OEM attachment relationship where machine and attachment warranty sit under the same roof; or you prefer the SSQA universal compatibility that keeps your options open in the secondhand attachment market.
Consider alternatives if: You're in western Canada where dealer density drops significantly; you're looking for specialized heavy-duty forestry attachments where purpose-built brands like FAE or Fecon are better matched; or you want the broadest possible Canadian dealer network (Bobcat and Case still win that comparison nationally).