Cat 259D vs 279D vs 289D: Specs, Weight & Used Prices

Cat 259D vs 279D vs 289D: The Answer Table

Specs below are from Caterpillar's D series spec sheets dated March 2017 (259D, 279D, 289D). Used prices are public auction results we found and link to, not a price guide.

Quick pick: tight access and light trailering, take the 259D. Grading, site prep and soft ground, take the 279D. Loading trucks, pallets and heavy material, take the 289D.

Full Spec Comparison

The surprise for most buyers: horsepower doesn't separate these machines. Cat lists the same 74.3 gross hp for all three. What changes is frame size, weight, lift geometry and hydraulics.

What the numbers mean

The 259D is a different class.It's 10 inches narrower than the other two (66 in on 320 mm tracks), about 1,000 lb lighter than the 279D, and faster in two-speed (8.5 mph vs 7.0). Its standard flow is lower (20 gpm vs 23), and its high-flow option tops out at 30 gpm rather than the 32 gpm XPS package on the bigger two.

The 279D and 289D share a frame.Same width, same track options, same flow, same travel speed, same fuel tank. The 289D is about 640 lb heavier, and that weight plus the vertical linkage buys it a 7,600 lb tipping load against the 279D's 5,870 lb.

The 279D barely out-lifts the 259D.At 35% of tipping load, the 279D is rated 2,055 lb against the 259D's 2,030 lb. If you are moving up from a 259D for lift, the 289D is the step that matters.

The 279D floats best.On 450 mm tracks it runs 4.4 psi, the lowest ground pressure of the three. That's the spec that matters on turf, wet ground and finished grades.

Radial vs Vertical Lift: Why the 279D Is the Odd One Out

The model numbers suggest a ladder, but the 279D isn't a midpoint between the 259D and 289D. It's the only radial-lift machine of the three.

A radial-lift arm pivots on a single point and swings in an arc. That geometry gives strong breakout and pushing force at ground level and a simple, durable linkage, which is why radial machines are the usual choice for digging, back-dragging, grading and dozing.

A vertical-lift arm uses extra links to keep the bucket moving more straight up, so it reaches farther forward at full height. That's what you want for loading high-sided dump trucks, stacking pallets and placing material over a wall. The 289D's 125.1 in bucket pin height and its tipping load make it the loader of the group.

For the wheeled versions of the same idea, our Cat D series skid steer comparison covers the 232D3 through 272D3. If you're still deciding between wheels and tracks, start with skid steer vs compact track loader.

Used Prices: Real Auction Results

We don't publish a made-up price range for these. Below are public results we found, each linked so you can see the machine. Hours and condition move the number more than the model letter does: the cheapest 259D result is a newer machine with high hours and a dead drive pump.

For broader market context across brands, see used compact track loader prices. To price a specific machine, use the heavy equipment value estimator.

Which to Buy For…

Landscaping, residential work and tight access: 259D

At 66 in wide on 320 mm tracks, the 259D fits where the other two can't, and its 8,846 lb weight is the easiest to trailer. It's also the fastest in two-speed. The trade-off is ground pressure: 6.0 psi on narrow tracks, or 4.8 psi if you find one on 400 mm tracks, which is the better pick for lawns.

Grading, site prep and soft ground: 279D

Radial lift plus the lowest ground pressure (4.4 psi on 450 mm tracks) make the 279D the finish-grade and site-prep machine. It pushes and back-drags well, and it's kind to wet ground. Don't buy it for lift; it's rated about the same as the 259D.

Loading trucks, pallets and heavy material: 289D

The 289D's 7,600 lb tipping load and 2,660 lb rated capacity (3,800 lb at 50%) are well above the other two. Vertical lift gives reach at full height for dump trucks and pallet work. It's the heaviest to haul at 10,533 lb.

Mulching, cold planing and other high-flow attachments: 279D or 289D with XPS

Both bigger machines offer High Flow XPS at 32 gpm against the 259D's 30 gpm high flow. The engine is the same on all three, so check each attachment's flow and pressure requirements against the spec sheet. Confirm high flow is actually installed on a used machine; don't take it from the listing title.

Pulling with a pickup: 259D

The lighter the machine, the more trucks and trailers work. Add the trailer's own weight to the machine's operating weight and compare against your truck's ratings. Our skid steer and track loader weight chart lists operating weights for other models and the trailer payload ranges that match them.

Hauling Them: Weight on the Trailer

Operating weight is what your trailer carries, before the bucket swap, forks or grapple you throw on the deck. Here's how the three line up against the gooseneck trailers in our own trailer data, which are rated for 8,500–18,100 lb of payload and weigh 5,200–9,200 lb empty.

All three are too heavy for the lightest-rated goosenecks in our data (8,500lb payload), so check the trailer's payload sticker rather than assuming a gooseneck is enough. The 289D is about 1,700 lb heavier than the 259D, so a truck that tows one comfortably may not tow the other. The gooseneck trailer guide lists payloads by model.

Track Width and Ground Pressure

Ground pressure is the machine's weight spread over the track contact area. Wider tracks spread the same weight over more rubber, which is why each model's pressure drops on the wider option. The 259D goes from 6.0 psi on 320 mm tracks to 4.8 psi on 400 mm; the 279D from 4.9 to 4.4 psi going from 400 mm to 450 mm; the 289D from 5.2 to 4.6 psi.

Lower pressure means less rutting on lawns, less sinking in wet clay, and better traction on loose ground. The cost is width: the 259D grows from 66 in to 69 in on 400 mm tracks, and the 279D and 289D grow from 76 in to 78 in on 450 mm tracks. If you work in backyards behind gates, measure the gate before you buy the wide-track machine. On a used machine, the track width on the listing is worth confirming; replacement tracks are not always the size the machine left the factory with.

Hydraulics: What 20, 23, 30 and 32 GPM Mean

Auxiliary flow decides how fast hydraulic attachments run. The 259D's standard 20 gpm and the bigger machines' 23 gpm are both enough for buckets, forks, grapples, augers and most sweepers. The difference shows in attachments that like flow: a trencher or auger turns faster on 23 gpm.

High flow is a different class of work. Forestry mulchers, cold planers, stump grinders and large snow blowers are built for high-flow machines, and on a standard-flow loader they either won't run or run slowly. The 259D's high-flow option is 30 gpm; the 279D and 289D offer High Flow XPS at 32 gpm. Match the attachment's published flow and pressure range to the machine, and remember that all three share the same 74.3 hp engine, so a high-flow 259D and a high-flow 289D have the same power to give.

D vs D3: What Changed

The D3 versions kept the same basic layout. Dealer spec pages show these changes:

The 279D3 and 289D3 picked up the bigger gains: more lift, faster travel and a larger fuel tank. If you're comparing a late D against an early D3 at similar hours, those are the specs worth paying for. For a cross-brand look at the 259D3, see Bobcat T76 vs Cat 259D3 vs John Deere 333G.

Buying a Used 259D, 279D or 289D

Check these before you pay:

• Model and version. Read the serial plate. D and D3 units look alike, and listings mix them up.
• Undercarriage. Rubber track condition, idlers, rollers and sprockets. Track replacement is one of the biggest bills on a CTL.
• High flow. Confirm it's installed and working if you need it. It changes value.
• Hours vs use. Rental machines see many operators. Ask for service records and fluid analysis if available.
• Lift arms and pins. Look for play in the pins and bushings and cracks around the linkage, especially on vertical-lift machines.
• Cab and controls. Enclosed cab with heat and air adds value; check that the door seals and HVAC work.

Our used equipment inspection guide covers the full walkaround, and used equipment scams covers the listings to avoid.

Frequently Asked Questions