Caterpillar
Cat 289D3
The Cat 289D3 is a large-frame vertical-lift compact track loader that shares the proven C3.3B engine with the popular 259D3 but adds a longer, wider undercarriage and nearly 900 lb more rated capacity. It's the step-up machine for contractors who love the 259D3's cab but need more lift and stability.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Operators who demo the 289D3 back-to-back with the 259D3 consistently describe it as crazy smooth to drive and operate, and say the longer undercarriage makes it noticeably more planted when lifting heavy pallets at full height.
- ✓The 2,890 lb rated capacity at 35% is a genuine large-frame number, and owners say it lifts everything a 74 hp machine reasonably should without any trouble.
- ✓Cat's sealed, pressurized cab carries over from the rest of the D3 line, and operators rate it among the quietest and most dust-free offices in the class for long production days.
- ✓Vertical lift with a 125-inch hinge-pin height makes loading tandem-axle dump trucks and stacking pallets easy, which is exactly why buyers step up from the medium frame.
- ✓The C3.3B engine has a strong reliability reputation across the D3 series, and owners report it pulls well and sips fuel for a 74 hp unit.
- ✓The high-flow XPS option (32 GPM at 4,060 psi) opens up mulchers and cold planers, and land-clearing crews specifically choose it as a cheaper alternative to the 299D3.
- ✓Cat's global dealer network keeps parts, tracks, and service close at hand, and rental fleets value the strong financing and resale support.
- ✓The wider stance and suspended undercarriage give a smoother, more stable ride than the 259D3 on rough ground, which operators notice immediately on slopes.
Cons
- ✗At 74 hp pushing a 10,000-plus pound machine, some owners find it slower in first gear than smaller rivals and wish for more engine to match the big frame.
- ✗Cat parts and undercarriage components are among the priciest in the industry, and track replacement on the wider undercarriage runs higher than the 259D3.
- ✗The 1-year base warranty trails Bobcat's and Kubota's 2-year coverage, which value-focused buyers weigh against the premium price.
- ✗The DPF emissions system draws the same regen complaints as the rest of the D3 line during heavy idling and light-duty work.
- ✗New pricing carries a steep Cat premium, and buyers note a comparably-capable Kubota SVL97-2 undercuts it by a wide margin.
- ✗Caterpillar has begun replacing the D3 line with the next-generation Cat 265, so buyers of new-old-stock 289D3s should confirm long-term support plans.
- ✗Its size makes it overkill for tight residential lots, and several owners admit they should have stuck with the smaller 259D3 for backyard work.
- ✗The feature-rich cab and XPS package push the price up quickly, so a well-equipped 289D3 approaches flagship 299D3 money.
Compare the Cat 289D3
Related skid steers
More from Caterpillar →
Caterpillar
Cat 259D3
The Cat 259D3 is a medium-frame vertical-lift compact track loader with a suspended undercarriage and the proven C3.3B engine. It's one of the most popular CTLs in North America, favored for its cab comfort and Cat support.
Caterpillar
Cat 299D3
The Cat 299D3 is Caterpillar's largest, most powerful compact track loader, with a 106 hp C3.8 engine and vertical lift. The XE version adds high-flow, high-pressure hydraulics for the most demanding attachment work.
Caterpillar
Cat 239D3
The Cat 239D3 is a small-frame radial-lift compact track loader with a fully-suspended undercarriage. It's a compact, low-ground-pressure machine popular with landscapers and rental yards wanting a Cat CTL that fits tight sites.