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Cat 973 Crawler loaders tech specs

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Exterior [4]
Attachments [2]
1986-2025
21,763.84 kg Breakout force
3306 Engine model
3.35 m Loader dump height
156.6 kw Net power
24,902 kg Operating weight
16,788 kg Tipping load

The Cat 973 is a heavy crawler loader built for large-scale loading and rough-terrain earthmoving, pairing 156.6 kW net power with massive breakout and a 24,902 kg operating weight. It’s a production-focused machine for quarries, landfill work, and major site prep where tracked stability and pushing force matter more than speed.

Net power: 156.6 kW

Breakout force: 21,763.84 kg

Operating weight: 24,902 kg

Tipping load: 16,788 kg

Loader dump height: 3.35 m

Price range: AED 78,000–397,000

Show features

Makana rating

Owner rating

 | 3

Market average

AED 397,000

Starting from

AED 78,000

Cat 973 technical specifications

Highlight differences

Cat 973C

Cat 973 LGP

Cat 973C

Cat 973C WH

Loader
Breakout force 21,763.84 kg
Breakout force 21,763.84 kg
Breakout force 21,768.83 kg
Breakout force -
Loader dump height 3.35 m
Loader dump height 3.35 m
Loader dump height 3.35 m
Loader dump height -
Loader dump reach 1.34 m
Loader dump reach 1.34 m
Loader dump reach 1.31 m
Loader dump reach -
Years 1986-2025
Years 1986-2025
Years 1986-2025
Years 1986-2025
Market Average AED 397,000
Market Average AED 397,000
Market Average AED 397,000
Market Average AED 397,000
Price AED 78,000
Price AED 78,000
Price AED 78,000
Price AED 78,000
Engine
Displacement 10,500.85 cu cm
Displacement 10,500.85 cu cm
Displacement 8,799.87 cu cm
Displacement -
Net power 156.6 kw
Net power 156.6 kw
Net power 180.46 kw
Net power 178.23 kw
Alternator supplied amperage -
Alternator supplied amperage -
Alternator supplied amperage 65 Amh
Alternator supplied amperage -
Aspiration -
Aspiration -
Aspiration Turbocharged
Aspiration -
Number of cylinders -
Number of cylinders -
Number of cylinders 6
Number of cylinders -
Power measured @ -
Power measured @ -
Power measured @ 1,800 rpm
Power measured @ -
Operating specifications
Raise time 7 s
Raise time 7 s
Raise time 7 s
Raise time -
Lower time 3 s
Lower time 3 s
Lower time 3 s
Lower time -
General
Engine model 3306
Engine model 3306
Engine model Cat C9 ACERT
Engine model C9
Max speed forward 10.46 kph
Max speed forward 10.46 kph
Max speed forward 9.01 kph
Max speed forward 9.01 kph
Operating weight 24,902 kg
Operating weight 25,534 kg
Operating weight 26,377 kg
Operating weight 27,480 kg
Tipping load 16,788 kg
Tipping load 16,788 kg
Tipping load 20,252 kg
Tipping load -
Bucket capacity -
Bucket capacity 2.83 cu m
Bucket capacity 2.83 cu m
Bucket capacity 4.74 cu m
Operating voltage -
Operating voltage -
Operating voltage 24 V
Operating voltage -
Service refill capacities
Fuel cap 356.17 liter
Fuel cap 356.17 liter
Fuel cap 427.71 liter
Fuel cap 427.71 liter
Hydraulic fluid cap 60.18 liter
Hydraulic fluid cap 60.18 liter
Hydraulic fluid cap 168.81 liter
Hydraulic fluid cap -
Cooling fluid cap -
Cooling fluid cap -
Cooling fluid cap 41.64 liter
Cooling fluid cap 41.64 liter
Dimensions
Ground clearance 0.46 m
Ground clearance 0.46 m
Ground clearance 0.46 m
Ground clearance -
Length with bucket 7.13 m
Length with bucket 7.13 m
Length with bucket 7.1 m
Length with bucket -
Width over tracks 2.59 m
Width over tracks 2.77 m
Width over tracks 2.59 m
Width over tracks -
Height - top of cab -
Height - top of cab 3.44 m
Height - top of cab 3.51 m
Height - top of cab -
Undercarriage
Ground contact area 74,169.65 cu cm
Ground contact area 100,077.66 cu cm
Ground contact area 74,430.21 cu cm
Ground contact area 74,430.21 cu cm
Ground pressure 0.83 bar
Ground pressure 0.63 bar
Ground pressure 0.88 bar
Ground pressure 0.92 bar
Number of track rollers per side 7
Number of track rollers per side 7
Number of track rollers per side 7
Number of track rollers per side -
Track gauge 2.08 m
Track gauge 2.08 m
Track gauge 2.08 m
Track gauge 2.08 m
Track length 2.93 m
Track length 2.93 m
Track length 2.93 m
Track length 2.96 m
Track width 50.04 cm
Track width 67.56 cm
Track width 50.04 cm
Track width 50.04 cm
Number of shoes per side -
Number of shoes per side -
Number of shoes per side 40
Number of shoes per side -
Refill capacities
Engine oil cap -
Engine oil cap -
Engine oil cap 29.14 liter
Engine oil cap 29.14 liter
Final drives fluid cap -
Final drives fluid cap -
Final drives fluid cap 28.39 liter
Final drives fluid cap 28.39 liter
Hydraulic system
Pump flow cap -
Pump flow cap -
Pump flow cap 334.97 lpm
Pump flow cap -
Pump type -
Pump type -
Pump type Hydrostatic drive/piston
Pump type -
Relief valve pressure -
Relief valve pressure -
Relief valve pressure 189.95 bar
Relief valve pressure -
Download datasheets
OEM product brochure

Cat 973 expert review

Reviewed by Hussain E. on February 5, 2026

Overview

The Cat 973 pairs 156.6 kW net power with 21,763.84 kg breakout and 24,902 kg operating weight for heavy crawler loader production.

Pros Massive breakout, excellent tracked stability, strong bulk loading performance.
Cons High fuel consumption, limited agility in tight spaces.

Efficiency

Nearly 25 tons operating weight and huge breakout support fast cycles in quarry and landfill applications.

In Cabin

Later models improve visibility and hydraulic smoothness with production-focused ergonomics.

In Comparison

Far stronger than Cat 955 and more powerful than Cat 963 for heavy daily loading.

Final Verdict

Rated 4 stars, the Cat 973 suits demanding earthmoving in the AED 78,000–397,000 range.

Show less

Cat 973 owner rating

Cat 973 Crawler loaders [1986-2025]

1986-2025

Overall rating

Based on 3 ratings

4.7
performance

4.3

comfort

4.7

fuel efficiency

4.0

safety

4.3

features

4.3

5 stars

67 %

4 stars

33 %

3 stars

0 %

2 stars

0 %

1 stars

0 %

Pros
Pushes and loads heavy material all day without losing traction.
Cons
Fuel costs climb quickly on continuous high-load shifts.
performance

4.0

comfort

5.0

fuel efficiency

4.0

safety

4.0

features

4.0

Read more

Cat 973 similar models

Highlight differences
Cat 973C
973
Cat 955K
955K
Cat 963D
963
Loader
Breakout force 21,763.84 kg
Breakout force -
Breakout force 17,339.5 kg
Loader dump height 3.35 m
Loader dump height 2.93 m
Loader dump height 3.14 m
Loader dump reach 1.34 m
Loader dump reach 1.65 m
Loader dump reach 1.19 m
Years 1986-2025
Years 1970-1983
Years 2007-2025
Market Average AED 397,000
Market Average AED 112,000
Market Average AED 920,000
Price AED 78,000
Price AED 81,000
Price AED 512,000
Engine
Displacement 10,500.85 cu cm
Displacement 7,000.57 cu cm
Displacement 7,000.57 cu cm
Net power 156.6 kw
Net power 85.76 kw
Net power 111.86 kw
Aspiration -
Aspiration Turbocharged
Aspiration -
Number of cylinders -
Number of cylinders 4
Number of cylinders 4
Power measured @ -
Power measured @ 2,185 rpm
Power measured @ 2,200 rpm
Alternator supplied amperage -
Alternator supplied amperage -
Alternator supplied amperage 50 Amh
Operating specifications
Raise time 7 s
Raise time -
Raise time 6 s
Lower time 3 s
Lower time -
Lower time 2 s
General
Engine model 3306
Engine model D330
Engine model 3304
Max speed forward 10.46 kph
Max speed forward 11.27 kph
Max speed forward 10.14 kph
Operating weight 24,902 kg
Operating weight 12,700 kg
Operating weight 18,366 kg
Tipping load 16,788 kg
Tipping load -
Tipping load 12,322 kg
Bucket capacity -
Bucket capacity 1.38 cu m
Bucket capacity 2.06 cu m
Operating voltage -
Operating voltage -
Operating voltage 24 V
Service refill capacities
Fuel cap 356.17 liter
Fuel cap 216.12 liter
Fuel cap 261.17 liter
Hydraulic fluid cap 60.18 liter
Hydraulic fluid cap 98.03 liter
Hydraulic fluid cap 60.18 liter
Cooling fluid cap -
Cooling fluid cap 42.01 liter
Cooling fluid cap 45.04 liter
Dimensions
Ground clearance 0.46 m
Ground clearance 0.43 m
Ground clearance 0.46 m
Length with bucket 7.13 m
Length with bucket 5.03 m
Length with bucket -
Width over tracks 2.59 m
Width over tracks 2.07 m
Width over tracks 2.32 m
Height - top of cab -
Height - top of cab 2.29 m
Height - top of cab 3.32 m
Undercarriage
Ground contact area 74,169.65 cu cm
Ground contact area 45,228.4 cu cm
Ground contact area 56,135.65 cu cm
Ground pressure 0.83 bar
Ground pressure -
Ground pressure 0.81 bar
Number of track rollers per side 7
Number of track rollers per side 6
Number of track rollers per side 6
Track gauge 2.08 m
Track gauge 1.68 m
Track gauge 1.85 m
Track length 2.93 m
Track length 2.35 m
Track length 2.47 m
Track width 50.04 cm
Track width 38.1 cm
Track width 45.21 cm
Number of shoes per side -
Number of shoes per side 41
Number of shoes per side 37
Refill capacities
Engine oil cap -
Engine oil cap 18.93 liter
Engine oil cap 19.3 liter
Final drives fluid cap -
Final drives fluid cap 9.84 liter
Final drives fluid cap 14 liter
Hydraulic system
Pump flow cap -
Pump flow cap -
Pump flow cap 204.01 lpm
Pump type -
Pump type -
Pump type Vane-type pump
Relief valve pressure -
Relief valve pressure -
Relief valve pressure 189.6 bar

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build datetime: 3/9/2026, 7:55:59 AM