Crawler Loaders: Types, Dimensions & Buying Guide

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Match excavation and carrying work

Describe how much time the loader will spend digging, pushing, carrying and loading. The bucket, track package and application guarding change the useful machine. Check the complete work-tool arrangement before comparing capacity or transport size.

Questions that shape the equipment choice
Job requirement	What to compare	Evidence to obtain
Material task	Bucket duty and linkage	Obtain the bucket and carrier application match
Ground and access	Track package and turning room	Measure the intended transport and operating configuration
Used condition	Tracks, loader frame and pivots	Compare measured wear and repair quotations

Choose the machine architecture

Crawler Loaders: subcategories

General-purpose crawler loaders

Track-loader family without a manufacturer-designated specialist build.

2 researched modelsCaterpillar 963 Crawler Loader →Caterpillar 953 Crawler Loader →

Specialist crawler loaders

Manufacturer-designated waste, steel-mill or ship-hold build; application package must be documented.

1 researched modelsCaterpillar 973 Waste Handler Crawler Loader →

Configurations to check: Bucket and coupler · Track shoes · Low-ground-pressure option · Waste or industrial package

Where this category begins and ends

Belongs here

Dedicated full-size track-loader families, including their waste, low-ground-pressure and industrial configurations.

Belongs elsewhere

Compact track loaders, dozers fitted with blades and tracked payload carriers. No invented weight cutoff separates these families.

Prepare a useful comparison

Dimensions and configuration to check

Length with bucket on ground
Width over shoes and bucket separately
Cab height
Hinge-pin height
Dump clearance and reach
Ground clearance

Compare the same configuration, including attachments, folded parts, counterweights and stabilizers. Transport dimensions can differ substantially from the working setup.

Before comparing used machines

Measure the complete undercarriage and loader linkage. Identify heat or waste guarding, bucket type and counterweights before applying operating-weight data.

Manufacturer references

Product-family references for this guide; individual model measurements require their own documentation.

Caterpillar — track loadersAccessed 2026-09-06
Caterpillar — specialist loader configurationsAccessed 2026-09-06

Crawler Loaders in Canada

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Caterpillar 953 Crawler Loader

Caterpillar 963 Crawler Loader

Caterpillar 973 Waste Handler Crawler Loader

Choosing crawler loaders for the job

Match excavation and carrying work