plant hire brand
Caterpillar
The global heavyweight. In UK hire it shows up most at the larger end and on long-term contract hire, where dealer support and machine availability across a whole project matter more than day-rate.
Last reviewed 6 October 2026
Built in
United States
UK availability
Widely available in the UK
Global dealer network with long-established UK coverage.
What Caterpillar builds
Caterpillar model ranges
| Range | What it is |
|---|---|
| Cat mini excavator range | The hire-relevant end of a very large catalogue |
Every Caterpillar model on GetBrent
9 models with figures from the maker or an official dealer. Open one for the full specification, photos and how it compares.
Caterpillar 301.7 CR
a sub-2 tonne conventional-tail-swing mini excavator
Operating weight: 1,915 kg (4,222 lb)
Dig depth (long stick): 2,540 mm (100 in)
Caterpillar D3
Small crawler dozer
Operating weight: 9362kg (20,640lb)
Net engine power: 77.6kW (104hp)
Caterpillar D6N
Medium crawler dozer
Operating weight: 16757kg (36,943lb)
Net engine power: 124kW (166hp) at 1800rpm
Caterpillar D3G LGP
Small low ground pressure crawler dozer
Operating weight: 17,160lb (7,784kg)
Engine power: 77hp gross / 70hp net at 2200rpm
Caterpillar D6T LGP
Medium low ground pressure crawler dozer
Operating weight: 50,968lb (23,119kg)
Engine: Cat C9.3 ACERT, 215hp net / 228hp gross
Caterpillar D4K2
Small crawler dozer
Operating weight: 8,168kg (XL) / 8,476kg (LGP)
Engine power: 92hp (68.8kW), Cat C4.4 ACERT
Caterpillar D6K LGP
Low ground pressure track-type bulldozer
Operating weight: 13.5 tonnes
Engine: Cat C6.6 ACERT, 97kW
Caterpillar 352F
Large hydraulic excavator
Operating weight: 115,700lb (~52.5 tonnes)
Engine: Cat C13 ACERT, 417hp net
Caterpillar D6K2
Medium crawler dozer
Operating weight: 29,258lb (XL) / 30,664lb (LGP)
Net power: Cat C4.4, 130hp
Caterpillar models compared
The closest matches from other makes, side by side.
- Caterpillar 301.7 CR vs Develon DX17Z-7
- Caterpillar D3 vs Caterpillar D4K2
- Caterpillar D6N vs Caterpillar D3G LGP
- Caterpillar D6T LGP vs Caterpillar D6K2
- Caterpillar D6K LGP vs Komatsu D51PX
- Caterpillar 352F vs Komatsu PC360LC-11
- Caterpillar D6K2 vs Komatsu D65PX
- Caterpillar 301.7 CR vs JCB 19C-1
- Caterpillar D3 vs Caterpillar D6K LGP
- Caterpillar D6N vs Komatsu D51PX
- Caterpillar D3G LGP vs Komatsu D51PX
- Caterpillar D6T LGP vs Komatsu D65PX
How Caterpillar compares
These are the makes buyers actually cross-shop against Caterpillar.
Caterpillar vs JCB
The default British plant make and the one hire customers ask for by name. Fleets buy JCB because operators already know the controls, parts turn up quickly and residual values hold, which matters more to a hire business than any single spec on the sheet.
Caterpillar vs Komatsu
A full-line manufacturer strongest in the mid and heavy excavator classes. Turns up in UK hire mainly through larger fleets and civils contractors rather than local tool-and-plant shops.
Caterpillar vs Hitachi
An excavator specialist with a long reputation for hydraulic smoothness. Operators who spend all day in the seat tend to have strong opinions about Zaxis machines, and fleets that serve civils work stock them for that reason.
Caterpillar vs Kubota
The mini excavator most hire fleets standardise on. Reliability and the zero-tail-swing U series are the reasons - on a domestic driveway or a garden job, the ability to slew without catching a wall is worth more than extra breakout force.
UK companies hiring and selling Caterpillar
7 listed companies mention Caterpillar.Contact them directly - GetBrent charges no booking fee.
B & T Plant Hire
Gravesend · DA12 2**
B & T Plant Hire Ltd
Morden · SM4 4**
Kerry Plant Services Ltd.
London · SE15 1**
Yorkshire Plant Sales
Wakefield, Leeds · WF3 1**
Other makes
GetBrent is an independent directory of UK hire and sales companies. We are not a Caterpillar dealer and have no affiliation with, or endorsement from, Caterpillar. The Caterpillar name and model names are trademarks of their owner, used here only to identify the products they refer to. Specifications vary by model year and market - always confirm weights, dimensions and towing limits with the supplier before hiring or buying.