Lift Arms
STRENGTH YOU CAN COUNT ON EVERY DAY.
Whether you're lifting heavy pallets or backfilling trenches, Bobcat® skid-steer loaders deliver serious strength and performance through two engineered lift arm options: radius lift path with a single-plane design, and vertical lift path with either single-plane or cast-steel construction.
Both configurations are built to offer exceptional capability and extreme durability for heavy loads and harsh environments—featuring hydraulic cushioned cylinders for smoother motion, protected hydraulic hoses to prevent damage, and an optional attachment control kit for faster tool swaps.
Choose the lift path that fits your work, knowing every Bobcat loader is designed with the structural integrity to take the hit—and keep working.
Cast Steel Lift Arms
Bobcat R-Series loader arms feature a cast steel design and operate in a vertical lift path—designed to deliver maximum durability under extreme loads. Constructed as a single, solid piece of high-strength steel, cast arms allow for material to be added exactly where it’s needed most. This approach creates a slimmer profile for enhanced side visibility, while increasing overall rigidity and arm life in harsh working conditions.
All Bobcat cast steel arms come with a vertical lift path, which means you’ll get superior reach at full lift height—ideal for loading high-sided trucks, clearing hoppers, or placing heavy pallets of block, sod, or supplies with precision.
Integrated hose routing and standard auxiliary coupler blocks keep hydraulic lines protected and accessible.
Single Plane Lift Arms
Our patented single-plane lift arm design has been jobsite-tested for over a decade, and carefully designed to offer exceptional capability, extreme durability, and to minimize the load on hinge pins. This geometry keeps your lift arms aligned and under control across uneven terrain, improving longevity and reducing maintenance over time.
Available in both radius and vertical lift path configurations on M-Series loaders, single-plane arms offer flexibility for a range of jobsite needs. Choose radius lift for mid-lift tasks like backfilling, dumping over retaining walls, or unloading flatbed trucks, where the loader stays low and efficient. Opt for vertical lift when you need higher reach and lift capacity, without sacrificing stability or visibility.
Every configuration includes hydraulic cushioned cylinders for smoother stops, protected hose routing, and an optional attachment control kit—built to work as hard as you do.
Features and Benefits
Cast Steel Lift Arms
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Engineered Cast Steel
Cast steel is formed in precise molds that deliver dense, consistent material throughout. This manufacturing method eliminates unnecessary welds and strengthens critical areas, giving you lift arms that are tough, clean, and built to take punishment.
Maximum Strength and Enhanced Visibility
Cast steel lift arms are precision-molded to deliver strength where it's needed most—around pivot points, hinge pins and high-stress zones—without adding excess bulk. This approach allows for a slimmer arm profile, which enhances visibility to your attachment and the ground below.
Operators also benefit from enhanced side visibility through the loader’s midsection—a key advantage when working in confined areas or navigating around obstacles. Whether you're running forks, grapples or grading buckets, the optimized geometry and open sightlines help you place materials more accurately and operate more confidently.
Manufacturing Consistency
With cast steel, you get pinpoint precision. Mounting holes and hinge points are formed to exact factory specs, ensuring pins stay aligned and lift arms function as they should—shift after shift. This consistency helps prevent premature wear and makes maintenance easier down the line.
Single Plane Lift Arms
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Patented Lift Arm Design
There’s nothing else like it. Single-plane lift arms are a Bobcat original—patented, field-tested, and trusted for over a decade. This streamlined design reduces mechanical stress and boosts component life, giving operators a machine they can count on, year after year.
Radius and Vertical Lift Path
Bobcat’s loader lineup features single-plane lift arms in both radius and vertical lift path models—giving you flexibility to choose the machine that best fits your jobsite needs.
- Radius lift path is ideal for jobs that require strong performance at mid-range lift heights—like backfilling, dumping over walls, or unloading from flatbed trucks. The shorter path gives you faster cycles and great visibility when working closer to the ground.
- Vertical lift path delivers more lift height and reach at the top of the arm’s motion, making it better for loading high-sided trucks, stockpiling, or placing materials at elevated positions.
Both configurations use the patented single-plane design to maintain alignment, minimize wear, and provide stable, predictable lift performance in tough conditions.
Compare Models
Cast Steel Lift Arm
Single Plane Lift Arm
Radius Lift Path
Vertical Lift Path
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a lift arm?
A lift arm is the main structural component that connects a loader’s attachment to the machine’s frame. When you raise, lower, or tilt a bucket or other tool, the lift arms do the heavy lifting. Built to handle demanding jobs, Bobcat lift arms are engineered for strength, stability, and smooth operation.
What is a cast steel lift arm?
Cast steel lift arms are made by pouring molten steel into a mold, creating a single, solid piece with uniform strength throughout. Cast steel arms eliminate unnecessary weld seams—a common stress point—for improved durability. Bobcat cast steel lift arms are designed to deliver maximum strength in the areas that take the most stress.
What is the difference between vertical lift path and radius lift path?
The lift path describes the arc your attachment follows as the lift arms raise from the ground to full height.
- Vertical lift path machines keep the load closer to the machine throughout the lift, then move the load straight up at the end. This design offers maximum lift height and reach at the top of the lift cycle, making it ideal for loading trucks, placing pallets, and handling heavy materials.
- Radius lift path machines move the load in an arc, with more reach at mid-range heights. This design provides excellent visibility, faster cycle times, and great performance for digging, grading, backfilling, and tasks done at ground or trailer height.
Choosing between vertical and radius lift depends on your work style, the height you need to lift, and the type of jobs you do most often.
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WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including engine exhaust (including diesel engine exhaust when equipped), lead and lead compounds, mineral oils, soots, phthalates, and carbon monoxide which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Certain specification(s) are based on engineering calculations and are not actual measurements. Specification(s) are provided for comparison purposes only and are subject to change without notice. Specification(s) for your individual equipment will vary based on normal variations in design, manufacturing, operating conditions, and other factors.