Bobcat E35 Compact Excavator

Introduction

The Bobcat E35 is the best-selling compact excavator Bobcat builds, and one of the most popular machines in the entire 3-tonne class. There’s a reason it’s everywhere on prairie job sites and acreages: it pairs zero tail swing with genuine digging capability — about 10 feet of dig depth, strong breakout force, and an in-track swing frame that lets it work flush against walls and obstacles. For drainage, utility, foundation, and landscaping work where a machine has to dig real depth but also fit and maneuver in tight spaces, the E35 hits the sweet spot better than almost anything in its class.

On Aglist, the value is in understanding where the E35 fits in the compact excavator market, with real owner and operator feedback beside the spec sheet. The numbers tell you what it digs; the reviews tell you how it performs in frost-hardened spring ground, how the controls feel over a long day, and how it holds up over seasons of work.

The E35’s defining feature is its zero tail swing combined with Bobcat’s in-track swing frame — and that combination is a real competitive advantage. We explain it below, because tail swing is the most important design choice on any compact excavator.

Configurations & Pricing Context

The E35 is part of Bobcat’s R2-Series compact excavator lineup, in the 25-horsepower configuration. (Note: Bobcat’s 33-horsepower version of this machine is now sold as a separate model, the E38, aligned to the 3.8-tonne class.) The E35 is offered in standard, long-arm, and clamp-ready extendable-arm configurations, with a canopy or optional enclosed cab. For Canadian year-round work, the enclosed cab with heat and A/C is the sensible choice.

The E35 runs the full range of compact excavator attachments — trenching and grading buckets, augers, hydraulic breakers, compactors, and more — with Bobcat’s coupler options including the X-Change system for quick changes. For prairie drainage, utility, and landscaping work, it’s a highly versatile machine.

Pricing varies by configuration, attachments, and dealer. Because Dmytro has direct knowledge of Saskatchewan dealer and used pricing, we defer to local market figures over manufacturer-advertised numbers.

Key Specifications

Specification	Bobcat E35 (25 hp)
Machine class	Compact excavator
Operating weight	7,699 lb (3,474 kg) standard
Operating weight (long / extendable arm)	8,377 lb / 8,597 lb
Weight class	3.5 tonne
Tail swing	Zero tail swing + in-track swing frame
Horsepower	24.8 hp
Emissions	Tier 4 (no DPF)
Maximum dig depth (standard arm)	~10 ft 3 in (3.1 m)
Maximum dig depth (extendable arm)	~12 ft 11 in (3.9 m)
Maximum reach at ground level	~204 in (5.2 m)
Lift capacity (standard arm)	~3,318 lb (1,505 kg)
Bucket breakout force	~7,284 lbf
Fuel capacity	~13.7 gal (52 L)
Arm options	Standard / long / clamp-ready extendable

Specifications are verified against Bobcat specification data and independent spec databases. Confirm exact figures for the specific machine, year, and option package with your dealer.

Understanding Tail Swing (Read This Before You Compare)

Tail swing is the most important design concept on any compact excavator, and the E35’s implementation is one of the best in its class.

Tail swing describes how far the rear of the machine — the counterweight and engine housing — extends past the tracks when the upper structure rotates. The E35 is a zero-tail-swing (ZTS) machine: the rear of the house stays within the track width through full rotation, so you can dig flush against a wall, fence, or building without the tail sweeping into anything.

What sets the E35 apart from many zero-tail-swing competitors is Bobcat’s in-track swing frame. When you dig in an offset position — boom angled to one side to reach around an obstacle — the swing castings and cylinders also stay within the tracks. In Bobcat’s own head-to-head against a comparable Cat machine, this meant the E35 could turn right up against a wall without bumping it, where the competitor’s components would extend outside the tracks. For prairie operators who frequently work near foundations, walls, buildings, and trees, this is a genuine, practical advantage — not just a spec-sheet number. The trade-off versus a conventional machine is slightly less lift-over-side stability, though the integrated counterweight design narrows that gap.

Build & Engineering Detail

The E35 runs a 24.8-horsepower Tier 4 diesel — and importantly, it meets emissions without a diesel particulate filter. This is a brand-wide Bobcat advantage worth understanding: most competitor compact excavators require a DPF, and DPF regeneration can interrupt work mid-task while cleaning adds downtime and maintenance cost. The no-DPF design means the E35 keeps working without regeneration cycles, which matters on a busy job site.

The machine’s standout flexibility is its three arm options. The standard arm delivers maximum breakout force; the long arm adds reach and depth; and the clamp-ready extendable arm hydraulically extends up to 30 inches on demand, pushing dig depth to nearly 13 feet — the only clamp-ready extendable option in its class. Critically, bucket force stays constant across all three arms, so you never trade digging punch for reach. A dual-flange track roller system improves over-the-side digging and ride quality.

Inside, the R2-Series brings low-effort joysticks with fingertip boom-swing and auxiliary control, a touch display option, and Bobcat’s depth check system for accurate digging without leaving the cab. Steel hydraulic lines routed through protected channels and sealed electrical connections suit the dirty, wet, dusty conditions of real job sites.

Best Applications

The E35 is a strong fit for:

• Drainage and tile work — the ~10-foot dig depth (nearly 13 with the extendable arm) handles tile drainage, water lines, and ditching on farms and acreages.
• Foundation and footing work — enough depth and force for footings and small basements.
• Work flush against structures — the zero tail swing and in-track swing frame make digging beside foundations, walls, and buildings safe and efficient.
• Landscaping and utility work — versatile across trenching, grading, backfilling, and material handling.

For deeper or heavier work, the E48 and E55 step up; for the smallest access, the sub-2-tonne machines fit tighter. But the E35’s balance of dig depth, tight-quarters capability, and transportability is exactly why it’s Bobcat’s best-seller.

How the E35 Fits the Bobcat Lineup

The E35 sits in the popular heart of Bobcat’s compact excavator range — a 3.5-tonne machine above the entry E26 and E32, and below the E38 (the 33-horsepower sibling), E40, E48, and E55. With zero tail swing and the in-track swing frame, it’s the machine for buyers who need real dig depth without sacrificing the ability to work tight against obstacles. It’s the default choice for a huge share of prairie compact excavator buyers.

Bobcat E35 Reviews & Ratings

On Aglist, open the Reviews & Ratings section on this page to see how the E35 performs where it matters: dig depth and force in different soils, tight-quarters maneuverability, lift-over-side stability, hydraulic smoothness, control feel and visibility, and serviceability over seasons. If you own an E35, your review helps the next prairie buyer judge Bobcat’s best-selling compact excavator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the operating weight of the Bobcat E35? About 7,699 lb (3,474 kg) in standard configuration, placing it in the 3.5-tonne class. Long-arm and extendable-arm versions weigh more. It’s transportable behind a three-quarter-ton truck.

Does the Bobcat E35 have zero tail swing? Yes — and it pairs zero tail swing with Bobcat’s in-track swing frame, so both the rear of the house and the swing castings stay within the track width. This lets you dig flush against walls and obstacles even when digging in an offset position, a real advantage over many competitors.

How deep can the Bobcat E35 dig? Maximum dig depth is about 10 feet 3 inches with the standard arm, extending to nearly 12 feet 11 inches with the clamp-ready extendable arm — the only extendable option of its kind in the class.

Does the Bobcat E35 have a DPF? No. Its 24.8-horsepower Tier 4 engine meets emissions without a diesel particulate filter — a brand-wide Bobcat advantage. Most competitors require a DPF, whose regeneration cycles interrupt work and add maintenance.

What’s the difference between the E35 and the E38? They share the same base machine, but the E35 is the 25-horsepower version (3.5-tonne class) and the E38 is the 33-horsepower version (3.8-tonne class), now sold as a separate model. If you want more power, the E38 is the higher-output choice; the E35 is lighter and slightly more economical.

What are the arm options on the Bobcat E35? Three: a standard arm for maximum breakout force, a long arm for added reach and depth, and a clamp-ready extendable arm that hydraulically extends up to 30 inches on demand. Bucket force stays constant across all three.

What’s the lift capacity of the Bobcat E35? Lift capacity is about 3,318 lb with the standard arm, with bucket breakout force around 7,284 lbf. Actual lifting varies with reach and angle — check the lift chart for the positions you’ll use.

Is the Bobcat E35 good for cold-weather work? With the optional enclosed cab, heat, and A/C, yes — it’s well suited to year-round prairie work, including digging in frost-hardened spring ground. For winter use, the enclosed cab is worth specifying.

Why is the Bobcat E35 so popular? It combines real dig depth (about 10 feet), zero tail swing with an in-track swing frame for tight-quarters work, no-DPF reliability, and three arm options — all in a transportable 3.5-tonne package. That balance makes it Bobcat’s best-selling compact excavator.

Related Models

• Compact & Mini Excavators — browse and compare excavators across all brands on Aglist.
• Bobcat E38 — the 33-horsepower sibling, for more power in the same base machine.
• Bobcat brand hub — explore the full Bobcat equipment lineup.