Caterpillar loads up new SSLs, CTLs

Caterpillar has expanded its lineups of skid-steer loaders and compact track loaders.

The company revealed its Cat 250, 260, 270 and 270 XE skid-steer loaders and Cat 275, 275 XE, 285 and 285 XE CTLs at a media event in Peoria, Illinois. Notably, the 285 and 285 XE mark the company’s largest-ever entries in its CTL lineup, which expanded in 2023 with the introduction of the 255 and 265.

The event included a grand reveal at its 150,000-square-foot dirt testing arena, machine walkthrough stations and a customer panel with those who tested out the new skid-steers and CTLs. Lawn & Landscape was on site for the demonstrations.

DELIVERING MORE. Marketing manager Dante Thomas joked often at the event that Caterpillar’s motto for the day was “more.” At one point, while he walked attendees through the new machines in a press briefing, he likened the increased performance of the machines to getting ice cream with your choice of caramel, chocolate or sprinkles on top.

“You’re able to get a little bit more for what you’re looking for to accomplish different jobs,” Thomas says.

Ultimately, the new models all offer more rated operating capacities and tilt and lift breakout forces over the D3 series they replace. All machines are made with a vertical lift design. The smallest of the new skid-steer loader models, the 250, offers a rated operating capacity at 2,916 pounds. The rated operating capacity on the additional SSLs, which is measured as 50% of the machine’s tipping load, is 3,390 pounds on the 26 and, 3,914 on the 270. The 270 XE, which offers the high-flow hydraulic capability option like all other XE machines Caterpillar revealed, offers a rated operating capacity of 4,372 pounds.

On the new CTLs, the rated operating capacity is calculated by using 35% of the tipping load. The 275 offers 4,261 pounds of rated operating capacity, while the 275 XE manages 4,484 pounds. The 285 and 285 XE respectively manage 4,719 and 4,816 pounds of rated operating capacity.

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UP, UP AND AWAY. Caterpillar product experts say all new models offer increased lift heights over the previous machines they replace. The Cat 250 skid-steer loader’s lift height reaches 124 inches, which is three inches higher than the 242D3. The Cat 260’s lift height of 132 inches is seven inches higher than the 262D3. The 270 and 270 XE reach 133.5 inches in lift height, which is 6.4 inches taller than the 272D3.

Meanwhile, the 275 and 275 XE CTLs also include higher limits than the D3 models. They reach 134.4 inches, which is eight inches more than the 299D3. The 285 and 285 XE enter a new class size for Caterpillar, so while there’s no comparable machine in its lineup, they reach 146 inches of lift height.

HIGHER HYDRAULIC STANDARDS. The skid-steer loaders all produce a hydraulic pressure of 3,500 pounds per square inch with a flow rate of 23 gallons per minute. The high flow rate reaches 4,061 psi and 30 gallons per minute on the 250 and 270, plus 34 gallons per minute on the 260 and 270 XE.

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“(The high flow) is just another option that you have that you can step up and get more hydraulic power performance of the choice that you need for the machine,” Thomas says.

The CTLs offer a standard hydraulic pressure of 3,500 psi and flow of 23 gallons per minute. Their high flow XPS reaches 4,061 psi and 34 gallons per minute across all new CTL models.

“We have increased the amount of hydraulic horsepower. Our machines are hydraulic powerplants to run attachments,” Thomas says. “Our attachments are in the business of getting things done. We have increased our hydraulic pressure for the more demanding hydraulic attachments. We’re super excited about this boost in performance.”

POWERING THE PRODUCTS. The new Cat C3.6TA engines are in all CTL models and the 270 and 270 XE skid-steers. The engines are designed, sourced and manufactured by Caterpillar. The 250 and 260 skid-steer loaders are powered by the Cat 2.8T. Caterpillar says these engines increase torque in all models, including 50% increases in the 275 and 285 CTL models.

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Caterpillar drew up new engine compartments that move the engine lower into the frame, which Product Manager Jayesh Menon says enabled engineers to offer 22% more cab space than previous models. Placing the engine and cooling system lower also allows for more space for operators to turn and view behind them in the cab, though the cab is also equipped with rear and side cameras.

“We’re excited about all the additional torque that these engines are able to generate and to fit into our machines,” Thomas says. 

COZY IN THE CAB. Caterpillar increased its cabs by nearly 3 inches in interior width and equipped the machines with five-inch LCD monitors or eight-inch touchscreen monitors – the choice is up to the buyer. Caterpillar also lowered the entry point into the cab for operators, who can also open the cab door without lowering the lift arms fully into the frame stops. When removing the cab door becomes necessary, a two-step removal process can be done without any tools.

The company also offers a new seat that’s both heated and ventilated. The cabs are equipped with auto temperature controls to help the HVAC system cool off the inside. For visibility’s sake, the rear window is 59% larger and the top window offer 15% more in viewable area over the last cab design.

Caterpillar also redesigned its CTLs to come with a new equalizer bar undercarriage to help operators feel steady when driving on uneven terrain.

“We thought comfort and performance go hand in hand; a solution for us was that we wanted the machine to feel planted as it’s lifting and raising,” Menon says. “The equalizer bar and the undercarriage were our way of trying to be able to provide the comfort, the stability and the performance that these machines can deliver.”

WATCH: A Caterpillar product manager demonstrates the cab door removal 

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE PACKAGE. The SSLs and CTLs have applications beyond the green industry, but Caterpillar also showcased its land management package that can come with the 275 XE and 285 XE.

“We have developed a special configuration for land management and debris management. There’s a lot of work that happens with contractors to remove trees or remove brush.

Caterpillar still offers an auxiliary cooler that fits on the roof for this package, and over the years, the company has added side-mounted fuel tanks. The debris guarding package will keep things out of the machine that shouldn’t be there while maintaining airflow. The package matches the right attachments like the HM416 and HM418 mulchers or the BMX418 brushcutter.

NEW NUMBER, WHO’S THIS? Caterpillar hopes its new numbering system will simplify the process in buying the machines. The new nomenclature eliminates the series letter designation, instead opting for all skid-steer loaders to end their model numbers with 0 and all compact track loaders to end their model numbers with a 5. The middle number represents the machine size.