Caterpillar Goes Small and Wide: Five New Compact Machines Aim at the Tightest Jobsites

From a stand-on utility loader to a micro excavator that fits through a doorway, Cat’s latest launch targets landscapers, rental fleets and interior contractors

Caterpillar is pushing further into the smallest corners of the jobsite. The company has launched five new compact machines: the TUL100 compact utility loader, the 253 compact track loader, the 301 CR micro hydraulic excavator and the 302.4 CR and 302.6 mini excavators. Three of them were previewed at CONEXPO-CON/AGG earlier this year. All five will be on display, and available to operate, at Equip Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 21 to 23.

The common thread is access. Each machine is designed to work where space, weight or transport limits rule out larger equipment.

A new category: the TUL100

The most significant addition is the TUL100, Cat’s entry into compact utility loaders, the stand-on machines widely used by landscapers and utility contractors. It has a rated operating capacity of more than 1,000 lb (454 kg) and comes in two track widths: 35.7 in (907 mm) with a 7.9 in track, and 41.5 in (1,054 mm) with a 10.8 in track.

Power comes from a Cat C1.1 turbo diesel rated at 23.9 hp (17.8 kW), which meets US EPA Tier 4 Final without aftertreatment. Auxiliary hydraulic flow is 16 gpm at 3,046 psi. Operators can choose between S and C steering patterns, and the machine offers two-speed travel, creep control and either a CII or narrow skid steer coupler. Caterpillar is starting with an attachment list that includes buckets, pallet forks, an auger, a trencher, a power box rake, a grapple and a hammer.

The 253: a smaller CTL on a proven base

The Cat 253 compact track loader builds on the 259D3 platform. It offers a rated operating capacity of 2,006 lb (910 kg) and an operating weight of 9,343 lb (4,238 kg), with a new undercarriage that has four independent, frame-mounted axles and 15 in C-pattern tracks for grading, stability and traction in soft ground. Its lighter weight is meant to make transport between jobsites easier.

The engine is a Cat 3.3B meeting Tier 4 Final and Stage V. Standard flow is 20 gpm on canopy models and high flow reaches 30 gpm on cab models, both at 3,336 psi.

Three new excavators for confined work

The 301 CR micro excavator is designed for interior demolition, landscaping and similar tight-access jobs. With its ROPS folded, it passes through a 30 by 78 in (762 by 1,981 mm) doorway. Compared with the existing Cat 300.9D, Caterpillar quotes double the travel speed, 38% more stick force and more than 80% more lift capacity, helped by an expandable undercarriage.

The 302.4 CR and 302.6 sit in the 2.4 and 2.6 tonne classes. The 302.6 weighs 6,681 lb (3,030 kg), light enough in the US to be towed without a commercial driver’s licence, yet Caterpillar says it lifts about 40% more than the 302.7 CR on a fixed undercarriage. The 302.4 CR offers a lift capacity of 2,160 lb (980 kg) and a top travel speed of 3 mph.

Why it matters

For rental companies and small contractors, the launch fills gaps rather than simply refreshing models. The TUL100 in particular puts Caterpillar in a segment where it had no presence, with the backing of its dealer network. Pricing and full availability dates have not been announced, and buyers are directed to their Cat dealer.

Caterpillar Goes Small and Wide: Five New Compact Machines Aim at the Tightest Jobsites published on The HeavyQuip Magazine.