Caterpillar
Cat 260
The Cat 260 is the direct next-generation replacement for the popular 262D3 wheeled skid steer. It lifts 3,160 lbs to a 132-inch pin height - both meaningful gains over the D3 - and pairs the 74 hp C2.8T with High Flow XPS hydraulics up to 34 GPM in Cat's new sealed, pressurized cab.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Rated operating capacity jumps to 3,160 lbs from the 262D3's 2,700, a 17% gain that owners handling brick, seed, and fertilizer pallets notice immediately.
- ✓The 132-inch bucket pin height is a genuine truck-loading height for a mid-frame wheeled machine, clearing dump truck sides the 262D3 strained to reach.
- ✓Torque from the new C2.8T is dramatically improved over the old C3.3B, and operators report the 260 holds ground speed while backdragging and pushing where the D3 bogged.
- ✓The High Flow XPS option brings 34 GPM to a wheeled mid-frame, enough for planers and wheel saws that used to demand a larger, more expensive carrier.
- ✓The sealed one-piece pressurized cab with available heated/ventilated air-ride seat is the same operator station as the big next-gen CTLs - a huge upgrade at this size.
- ✓Staying at 74 hp means no DEF tank or SCR system, keeping maintenance simple for owners who run high annual hours.
- ✓The 8-inch touchscreen with switchable ISO/H controls, rearview camera, and standard telematics matches features Bobcat and Deere charge option money for.
- ✓Cat's vertical lift with dual-direction self-leveling keeps forks level through the whole lift path, which material-handling operators single out as a daily time-saver.
Cons
- ✗Standard flow dropped to 20 GPM from the 262D3's 23 GPM, forcing buyers with existing attachments to double-check requirements or budget for the High Flow enablement.
- ✗The next-gen premium prices it against strong competition - a comparably equipped Bobcat S76 or Deere 330G often quotes lower, and owners say Cat dealers hold firm on price.
- ✗At 8,523 lbs it's a couple hundred pounds heavier than the 262D3, nudging total trailer loads closer to 10k limits once attachments come along.
- ✗Early production machines shared the next-gen line's software teething problems, with touchscreen freezes and sensor faults resolved only by dealer updates.
- ✗Buyers wanting more than 74 hp in a wheeled Cat have a big price gap to the 111 hp 270 - there's no intermediate 90 hp option like some competitors offer.
- ✗The added electronics and sealed cab design make some repairs dealer-only, which independent-shop loyalists count against it versus the simpler D3s.
- ✗Resale values for the new series are still unsettled, and some fleet buyers are waiting a cycle before committing, which can soften near-term trade-in offers.
- ✗Wheeled machines remain weather-dependent - several owners note they still end up renting tracks for wet-season work, making the 260 a fair-weather primary.
Compare the Cat 260
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