Head to head
Cat 275 XE against Cat 285 XE
The Cat 285 XE carries 315 lb more once both are rated the same way.
| Spec | Cat 275 XE | Cat 285 XE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $142,446 | Dealer quote only |
| Rated capacity, as advertised | 4,205 lbs | 4,520 lbs |
| Rated at | 35% of tipping load | 35% of tipping load |
| Tipping load | 12,015 lbs | 12,915 lbs |
| Capacity at its class convention | 4,205 lbs | 4,520 lbs |
| Engine power | 122 hp | 122 hp |
| Engine | Cat C3.6 TA | Cat C3.6 TA |
| Auxiliary flow | 23 GPM | 23 GPM |
| Lift height | 134.4 in | 146.6 in |
| Operating weight | 12,705 lbs | 13,669 lbs |
| Lift path | Vertical Lift | Vertical Lift |
| Rubber tracks | Yes | 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 275 XE
- The 40 GPM XE circuit at 4,496 psi outruns the standard 275's High Flow XPS by a wide margin, holding large mulching heads at rotor speed instead of bogging them.
- 4,205 lb of rated capacity at the conservative 35% convention, on a 12,015 lb tipping load, means it lifts as well as it runs attachments.
- XE is the highest of Cat's three flow tiers, above standard and High Flow XPS, which is what lets it hold a large mulching head at rotor speed rather than bogging it.
- Cat publishes a $142,446 starting MSRP, unusual at this end of the market where flagship machines are normally quoted only on request.
- The 134.4-inch pin height matches the standard 275, so nothing about truck loading is traded away for the hydraulic upgrade.
- At $142,446 before options it is the most expensive machine in this catalog, and it only makes sense as a dedicated attachment carrier.
- 122 hp brings the full Tier 4 Final aftertreatment package with DEF and regens, unlike the sub-75 hp Cats.
- Cat's own spec page for this model is unreliable - its 50% capacity cell repeats the 265's 4,033 lb and its counterweight figure reads lower than the base capacity - so cross-check anything quoted from it.
- At 12,705 lb plus a mulching head, moving it legally needs a 20k-class trailer and the truck to match.
- Undercarriage wear on a machine this heavy working brush is the dominant running cost, and Cat parts pricing sits at the top of the market.
Cat 285 XE
- 4,520 lb rated at the conservative 35 per cent convention means it genuinely out-lifts everything else in this catalog once the ratings are levelled.
- The XE circuit at 40 GPM and 4,496 psi holds a large mulching head at rotor speed instead of bogging it.
- 146.6 inches to the hinge pin is the tallest reach here, which matters when you are loading a walking-floor trailer.
- 12,915 lb of tipping load gives it more reserve than any other machine on the site.
- Cat publishes no MSRP for this one, unusually for the range, so budgeting means a dealer conversation first.
- At 13,669 lb plus a mulching head it needs a 20,000 lb class trailer and the truck to pull it.
- The XE hydraulics only pay for themselves if a flow-hungry attachment runs most of the day; for bucket work it is money spent on nothing.
- Undercarriage wear on a machine this heavy working brush is the dominant running cost, and Cat parts sit at the top of the market.
- 122 hp brings the full aftertreatment package with diesel exhaust fluid and regeneration cycles.