Your Guide to the Cat 301.8 Mini Excavator

As part of the Caterpillar Next Generation mini excavator series, the Cat 301.8 mini excavator is a powerful machine to add to your fleet. Showcased at the National Construction Equipment Convention (NCEC) in November 2018, this model is designed with customers in mind.

Perfect for those tight-access areas, the Cat 301.8 is a 1.8-tonne class with standard tail swing and is available with canopy or cab.

Industry-First Standard Features For The Cat 301.8

• Tilt-up canopy/cab for easy maintenance
• Automatic two-speed travel
• Stick Steer control

Plus Caterpillar have introduced some new options for your Cat mini excavator:

• Air conditioning
• Bluetooth-enabled push-to-start function
• Expandable undercarriage (from 990mm to 1300mm)

A quick overview:

• Dig Depth (Standard): 2370mm
• Dig Depth (Long): 2570mm
• Min. Weight: 1835kg
• Max. Weight: 2025kg

For full dimensions and specs, see below. Next, let’s take a look at improvements in the cab/canopy.

In the Cab

First up, what’s new in the cab? You’ll be happy to know that safety and comfort has been a top priority for Caterpillar for the Cat 301.8. Let’s start with safety.

Safety

ROPS, TOPS and Top Guard certified, this machine is built tough and safe. Going beyond the call of duty, Caterpillar have added work lights, a fluro seat belt and even tie-down points for securing the Cat 301.8 for transport.

Comfort

The cab, which is optional in the Cat 301.8, is fully pressurised to keep out dust and balance operator sound levels. Inside, you have adjustable wrist rests and an in-cab cooling feature, so you’ll be comfortable all day long. The large windows and skylight provide all-round visibility of the worksite. Cat have added air-conditioning to their Next-Gen mini excavator cabs without compromising on power or performance.

Operation

Get around the worksite easily, be in-the-know of critical machine info, and lower operating costs with the Cat 301.8 mini excavator:

• Stick Steer control lets you switch from levers to joystick
• Next Generation LCD monitor comes standard to give you more control
• Auto idle, auto engine shutdown & efficient hydraulics keep your Cat 301.8 working harder for longer

Performance

Next, how does the Cat 301.8 hold up on the job?

Like the other models in the series, the 301.8 uses the Cat C1.1 3-cylinder diesel engine, giving this machinery plenty of power. It also uses an efficient, fuel saving, load-sensing hydraulic system to give the mini excavator high digging and lifting forces. Better yet, the 301.8 features a dozer blade to handle backfilling and grading tasks.

Maintenance

One of the main points of focus for Caterpillar was better serviceability. So, they designed the Next Generation mini excavators to ensure simple servicing for less downtime. Now, maintenance is quick and easy in the 301.8 mini excavator with:

• Routine check points accessible at ground level
• Gas strut ensures accessibility is fast (under 5 minutes) & requires just 1 service tech
• Unique tilt-up cab gives access to hydraulics

Cat 301.8 Mini Excavator Specs

Download the full list of specs for the Cat 301.8 mini excavator.

Have you had a chance to check out the Caterpillar 301.8? Tell us about it below or take a look at mini excavators for sale.

Read more about the Next Generation Caterpillar mini excavators, or check out their other models:

• 301.5 mini excavator
• 301.6 mini excavator
• 301.7 mini excavator
• 302 CR mini excavator