Caterpillar has expanded its backhoe loader range with the new 426F2, which offers a design that allows customers to tailor it to their operating needs and budgets.
A statement from the American giant, which is the world’s biggest construction equipment maker, said the 426F2 features a Side Shift frame and provides customers with additional choices, allowing the selection of a more base-specification model or a highly-configured machine suitable for their specific purposes.
On offer is a choice between two or four-wheel drive, backhoe loader or excavator control pattern, cab climate control packages, and specified Product Link technology levels, among other options, to get the machine matched to customer requirements, Cat added.
Adding to the Cat F2 Series Backhoe Loader family, the new 426F2 is designed with the operator in mind, featuring an all-new cab design that provides a comfortable and operator-friendly environment with excellent visibility.
High pump oil flow delivers excellent hydraulic performance at the operator’s fingertips, and load-sensing hydraulics enable the machine to tackle a variety of applications, ranging from loading and carrying to deep trenching.
The new 426F2 can be equipped with up to a 1.05m3 loader bucket offering a 7,012kg tipping load at breakout point. Its standard 4.3m-long standard excavator-style stick delivers a 4.7m maximum digging depth and 4.03m loading height.
The machine is powered by a 68.5kW Cat 3054C four-cylinder diesel engine with an advanced cooling system designed for operation in ambient temperature reaching 50 degrees Celsius. An externally mounted engine pre-cleaner offers quick filter servicing for customers working in dusty operating conditions, said Cat’s statement.
The transmission is a Cat four-speed Power-Shuttle one, delivering road speeds of up to 40kmh and matched gear ratios for optimum performance in all applications. Whether equipped with standard two-wheel or optional four-wheel drive, the 426F2 features standard 100% differential lock in the rear axle for improved traction.
The statement added that the new machine’s cab is designed to offer operators extra room to freely switch positions when transitioning from one operating mode to another. The cab has been purpose-built for the African and Middle Eastern markets, offering increased storage space and generous space at its rear.