Head to head
Cat 250 against Cat 249D3
The Cat 249D3 saves $1,101; only the Cat 249D3 runs tracks, so their advertised capacities are not measured the same way; the Cat 250 moves 2.0 GPM more through the auxiliary circuit; only the Cat 249D3 runs rubber tracks.
These two are rated differently on purpose. A wheeled skid steer is rated at half its tipping load and a track loader at 35 per cent, because the track machine holds back more reserve. So the capacity rows below are not a like-for-like contest, and the tipping load row is the closer thing to one.
| Spec | Cat 250 | Cat 249D3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $60,493 | $59,392 |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 2,689 lbs | 1,740 lbs |
| Rated at | 50% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 5,378 lbs | 4,970 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 2,689 lbs | 1,740 lbs |
| Engine power | 74 hp | 67 hp |
| Engine | Cat C2.8T | Cat C2.2 CRDI |
| Auxiliary flow | 20 GPM | 18 GPM |
| Lift height | 124 in | 118.2 in |
| Operating weight | 7,829 lbs | 7,831 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | No | Yes |
| 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 250
- The 2,689 lb rated operating capacity essentially matches the bigger 262D3 it helps replace, so buyers get medium-frame lifting numbers in a lighter, cheaper package.
- At 7,829 lbs it tows comfortably on a standard 10k equipment trailer with attachments, a practical advantage owners highlight over the heavier 260 and every CTL.
- The new C2.8T holds its 74 hp across a wide RPM band with a big torque gain over the old D3 engines, and operators say it lugs through pushing and grading work without the constant downshifting feel.
- The 124-inch bucket pin height is 3 inches taller than the outgoing machines, enough to clear the sideboards on most tandem dump trucks.
- No DEF system thanks to the sub-75 hp rating means one less consumable and no SCR sensors to fail, a real reliability plus for high-hour fleet duty.
- The 8-inch touchscreen, rearview camera, and standard Product Link telematics bring fleet-management features to a price class where competitors still charge extra.
- Standard auxiliary flow is 20 GPM versus 23 GPM on the old 262D3, so some attachments that ran fine on the D3 need the High Flow enablement on the 250.
- The next-gen price premium is real - it lists thousands above the equivalent outgoing D3, and budget buyers note Bobcat's S66 and Case's SR-series undercut it.
- Wheeled machines still can't follow CTLs onto soft or muddy ground, and buyers in wet climates increasingly skip straight to the 255 despite the higher price.
- As the smallest of the new wheeled line it shares its frame with the 260, so it gives up capacity to its sibling while costing only moderately less - several reviewers call the 260 the better value.
- Early-production software glitches with the touchscreen and displays showed up across the next-gen line, and fixes require a dealer visit rather than an owner reset.
- The electronics-rich platform makes DIY troubleshooting harder than the D3s, effectively increasing dependence on Cat dealer service at whatever rates they charge.
Cat 249D3
- Vertical lift on the smallest Cat CTL frame means it loads trucks cleanly, which the radial 239D3 beside it does not.
- At 7,831 lb it is the lightest track loader Cat sells, so it moves on a 10k trailer and crosses turf that a heavier machine would rut.
- The sub-75 hp C2.2 CRDI skips DEF and SCR entirely, cutting a consumable and a set of sensors out of the ownership story.
- Cat publishes a $59,392 starting MSRP, so the smallest CTL in the line is also the one with the clearest published price.
- Its 1,740 lb headline is the conservative 35%-of-tipping rating, so it compares like-for-like against Bobcat, Deere and Kubota without adjustment.
- 1,740 lb is the smallest rated capacity in Cat's CTL line, and buyers moving pallets rather than mulch generally end up wanting the 255.
- 18 GPM standard flow puts mulchers and large planers out of reach unless the 26 GPM high-flow option is specified.
- It stays on the D3 platform while everything from the 255 up is next-gen, so the newer displays, telematics and torque are not available at this size.
- Undercarriage consumables cost more than tyres on any CTL, and Cat's parts pricing sits at the top of the market.