How to Choose the Right Undercarriage for Your Cat® Machine
Selecting the right undercarriage is one of the most critical decisions you can make for your equipment. Did you know that undercarriage typically represents up to 50% of your machine’s owning and operating expenses? That’s why choosing the right system can significantly impact your machine’s performance, uptime, and long-term cost of ownership.
Read on as we guide you through the most important factors to consider when selecting the best undercarriage for hydraulic excavators, track loaders, dozers and specific work conditions.
1. Understand Your Machine’s Work Environment
The type of terrain and soil conditions your machine works in can significantly affect the wear and performance of your undercarriage. Machines operating in abrasive conditions may require stronger, more durable components, while those in softer terrain may need wider track shoes to reduce ground pressure.
Questions to Consider:
- Are you working in high-abrasion or high-impact environments?
- Are there steep grades, uneven terrain, or obstacles on your jobsite?
2. Evaluate Your Machine’s Usage
How often and how long your machine runs is another important factor. Machines used for heavy-duty applications with constant, high-impact work require stronger undercarriages compared to those used for lighter workloads. Knowing the number of hours your machine operates per week will help determine which system will offer the best wear life and cost efficiency.
Questions to Consider:
- How many hours per week will you be running your machine?
- What’s the level of impact your machine typically faces?
3. Choose the Right Undercarriage Configuration
One of the most important factors in helping you achieve the lowest owning and operating costs and maximizing equipment uptime is matching the right undercarriage option to your specific machine model and work application. Here’s a quick summary of the different undercarriage options available:
Here’s a quick overview:
- General Duty: Ideal for low-to-moderate impact applications with interchangeable components for added flexibility
- Heavy Duty: Designed for high-impact, aggressive work environments, offering extended wear life and reduced maintenance costs
- Heavy Duty XL: Built for extreme conditions, offering enhanced durability and wear life in the toughest, high-impact applications with added stability for larger, more demanding machines
- Cat Abrasion™: Perfect for high-abrasion, low-to-medium impact applications, delivering the lowest cost-per-hour
Expert Support from Carter Machinery
Choosing the right undercarriage for your machine can feel complicated, but you don’t have to make the decision alone. Carter Machinery is here to help you find the ideal undercarriage solution for your specific machine, application, and work environment. Our experts can also provide a detailed cost-per-hour analysis to ensure you’re selecting the most cost-effective option and minimizing future maintenance costs.
Need help? Schedule a free consultation or contact us to connect with one of our undercarriage experts today.
Offers expire 12/31/2024. *Valid on full undercarriage sets only for Cat hydraulic excavators, track loaders, and D1-D8 dozers. Any additional parts needed will be at cost to the customer.
** Minimum spend of $500 in Cat parts required, with or without service. Subject to credit approval. Other restrictions may apply.
