Head to head
Cat 226D3 against Cat 232D3
The Cat 226D3 saves $3,910; the Cat 232D3 carries 350 lb more once both are rated the same way.
| Spec | Cat 226D3 | Cat 232D3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $46,000 | $49,910 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 1,550 lbs | 1,900 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 50% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 3,100 lbs | 3,800 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 1,550 lbs | 1,900 lbs |
| Engine power | 67 hp | 67 hp |
| Engine | Cat C2.2 CRDI | Cat C2.2 CRDI |
| Auxiliary flow | 18 GPM | 18 GPM |
| Lift height | 116 in | 118.1 in |
| Operating weight | 5,849 lbs | 6,514 lbs |
| Lift path | Radial Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | No | No |
| High flow available | Yes | Yes |
| Enclosed cab available | Yes | Yes |
| Two-speed travel available | Yes | Yes |
| Self-levelling available | Yes | Yes |
| A/C and heat available | Yes | Yes |
| Warranty | 2 yr / 2,000 hr | 2 yr / 2,000 hr |
What owners say about each
Cat 226D3
- The 226D3 is one of the lightest skid steers on the market, so owners can tow it with a half-ton truck and small trailer, which is a big deal for homeowners and small operators.
- Radial lift geometry gives strong digging and pushing force down low, and operators doing excavation and dozing work say it out-digs vertical-lift machines its size.
- Cat's pressurized, sealed cab is genuinely quiet and clean, and operators consistently rate it the most comfortable and dust-free cab in the small-frame class.
- The advanced display and optional Smart Attachments system make it easy for less-experienced operators to run tools correctly, reducing training time.
- It sips fuel thanks to the small C2.2 engine, and owners report all-day operation on a modest tank, keeping running costs low.
- The compact size and tight turning radius make it ideal for interior demolition and tight residential lots where bigger machines can't fit.
- The 1,550 lb capacity is genuinely small, and contractors quickly complain it's underpowered for anything beyond light material handling and digging.
- No two-speed travel on this base model means slow ground-to-ground moves, which operators find frustrating on larger sites.
- Cat parts and dealer labor are among the priciest in the industry, so even routine maintenance stings the wallet.
- The standard hydraulic flow is low, limiting the range of attachments it can effectively run without stepping up a frame size.
- Radial lift means poor reach and dump height at the top of the lift path, so truck-loading over high sides is awkward.
- Some owners feel the D3 series updates were minor and the machine feels dated next to Bobcat's R-Series refinements.
- The light operating weight that helps towing also makes it tippy and bouncy when pushing heavy piles.
Cat 232D3
- Vertical lift at 1,900 lb rated capacity gives it 350 lb more than the radial 226D3 on the same frame and the same 67 hp engine - the cheapest capacity Cat sells.
- The 118-inch bucket pin height clears the sides of most single-axle dump trucks, which the 226D3's radial boom geometry makes awkward.
- The C2.2 CRDI sits under the 75 hp threshold, so there is no DEF tank, no SCR and no regen behaviour to manage.
- At 6,514 lb it still tows behind a half-ton-class truck on a 10k trailer, keeping the small frame's biggest practical advantage.
- Cat publishes a $49,910 starting MSRP for it, so the price conversation opens on a maker's number rather than a dealer's.
- 1,900 lb is still small-frame capacity, and contractors handling full pallets of block or wet material routinely report outgrowing this size.
- 18 GPM standard flow is the lowest in Cat's wheeled line, so hungry attachments need the 26 GPM high-flow option and the cost that comes with it.
- It is a D3-generation machine in a range whose upper half has already moved to the next-gen platform, so the newer torque, displays and telematics stop below it.
- Cat parts and dealer labour rates are among the highest in the industry, and a small machine does not get a small invoice.