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Cat 279C specifications

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Short answer

The Cat 279C is an 82-horsepower tracked compact loader, and Cat lists one version of it. Listed weight is 9,892 lb. Its rated operating capacity is 3,465 lb.

279C specification matrix — Dimensions and weight
Specification279C
Width Over Tracks6.5 ft
Height To Top Of Cab6.95 ft
Ground Clearance9.1 in
Clearance At Max Lift And Dump7.97 ft
Reach At Max Lift And Dump1.95 ft
Length - Track On Ground69.6 in
Length - With Bucket On Ground144.81 in
Length - Without Bucket116.5 in
Length With Out Bucket9.72 ft
Bucket Pin Height - Maximum Lift10.27 ft
Clearance At Maximum Lift And Dump95.6 in
Departure Angle44 degrees
Height - Top Of Cab6.95 ft
Turning Radius From Center - Inc Bucket91.11 in
Turning Radius From Center - Machine Rear64.57 in
Vehicle Width78 in
Length With Bucket12.08 ft
Bucket Pin Height - Carry Position7.7 in
Maximum Dump Angle40 degrees
Maximum Overall Height157.7 in
Maximum Reach - With Arms Parallel54.6 in
Overall Length - Track89.4 in
Rack Back Angle - Maximum Height85 degrees
Reach At Maximum Lift/Dump23.4 in
Turn Radius From Center - Bucket91.1 in
Turn Radius From Center - Coupler57.9 in
Turn Radius From Center - Rear64.6 in
Undercarriage
Specification279C
Length Of Track On Ground5.8 ft
Ground Contact Area2,504 in2
Ground Pressure4 psi
Engine
Specification279C
Number Of Cylinders4
Engine ModelC3.4 DIT
Gross Power84 hp
Net Power82 hp
Power Measured @2,500 rpm
Displacement201 cu in
Bore3.4 in
Stroke4.7 in
AspirationTurbocharged
Gross Power - SAE J199584 hp
Net Power - SAE 134982 hp
Operational
Specification279C
Operating Weight9,892 lb
Cooling System Fluid Capacity3.7 gal
Engine Oil Capacity2.7 gal
Fuel Capacity25.9 gal
Hydraulic System Fluid Capacity15.1 gal
Operating Voltage12 V
Alternator Supplied Amperage90 amps
Max Speed - Low Range5.1 mph
Max Speed - High Range8.5 mph
Power Train
Specification279C
Travel Speed Forward - 2-Speed8.5 mph
Travel Speed Reverse - 2-Speed8.5 mph
Travel Speed Forward5 mph
Travel Speed Reverse5 mph
Loader
Specification279C
Breakout Force7,308 lb
Operating Load3,200 lb
Tipping Angle6483 degrees
Bucket Capacity0.6 yd3

Cat 279C: Weights

Hydraulic
Specification279C
Pump Flow22.2 gpm
Relief Valve Pressure3,335 psi
Hydraulic System
Specification279C
Hydraulic Flow (1)Standard
Hydraulic Power42.8 hp
Maximum Loader Hydraulic Flow33 gpm
Maximum Loader Hydraulic Pressure4,061 psi
Loader Hydraulic Pressure3,335 psi
Loader Hydraulic Flow22 gpm
Hydraulic Flow (2)High Flow XPS
Operating Specifications
Specification279C
Rated Operating Capacities - 50% Tipping Load3,200 lb
Rated Operating Capacities - 35% Tipping Load2,240 lb
Rated Operating Capacity With Optional Counterweight3,465 lb
Tipping Load6,483 lb
Breakout Force - Tilt Cylinder7,308 lb
Service Refill Capacities
Specification279C
Cooling System3.7 gal
Fuel Tank26 gal
Hydraulic Tank11 gal
Engine Crankcase2.6 gal
Hydraulic System15 gal
Cab
Specification279C
ROPSSAE J1040 MAY94, ISO 3471:1994
FOPSSAE J1043 SEPT87, ISO 3449:1992 Level I
FOPS Level IiSAE J231 JAN81, ISO 3449:1992 Level II
Ratios
Figure279C
Engine horsepower per 1,000 lb of weight8.3
Rated operating capacity as a share of tipping load53%
Fuel tank per engine horsepower0.32 gal

Cat 279C: tracked compact loader

Cat's listing for the 279C matches a tracked compact loader; see the compact track loaders page.

Where the 279C ranks in Cat's list — Scope of the captured comparison
BrandEquipment groupCompared entrySort order
Cattracked compact loader279CDescending quantity; 1 is largest
Figure279CRankLowest in lineHighest in line
Engine power82.0 hp3 of 954.0 hp109.0 hp
Listed weight9,892 lb3 of 96,629 lb12,401 lb
Fuel capacity25.9 gal3 of 915.1 gal36.9 gal
Horsepower per 1,000 lb8.3 hp5 of 97.6 hp8.9 hp
Ground pressure4.0 psi3 of 53.8 psi4.5 psi
279C: forum references — Forum-title search
Forum indexEquipment class queriedNames in the searchMatching titles
Heavy Equipment Forumstracked compact loaderCat and the 279C49
Topics named by those titles
Title topicTitles
electrical and sensors7
hydraulics5
tracks and undercarriage3
Topic in the titleThreadsShare of matching threads
electrical and sensors714%
hydraulics510%
tracks and undercarriage36%
parts and manuals36%
transmission and drive24%
Used market for the 279C — Dated first-page listing snapshot
Observation dateListing sourceEquipment searchListings
2026-09-24MachineryTraderCat tracked compact loader11
ModelListedModel yearsLowest askingHighest askingMedian askingMedian hours
279C112008 to 2013$16,500$50,000$30,4503,359
279C: recall reference — Dated CPSC search
Search dateDatabaseNames queriedSearch result
2026-09-24U.S. Consumer Product Safety CommissionCat together with the tracked compact loader 279CNo matching recall in this search

Sources for this page

Evidence classDocument, classification and recorded date
Reference site
  • Reference site: Cat 279C — RitchieSpecs. Observed 2026-09-24.
Forum threads
Used-market listings
Federal agency data

Cat 279C: Configuration records

279C
SpecificationSource figure
Engine
Number Of Cylinders4
Engine ModelC3.4 DIT
Gross Power84 hp
Net Power82 hp
Power Measured @2,500 rpm
Displacement201 cu in
Bore3.4 in
Stroke4.7 in
AspirationTurbocharged
Gross Power - SAE J199584 hp
Net Power - SAE 134982 hp
Operating Specifications
Rated Operating Capacities - 50% Tipping Load3,200 lb
Rated Operating Capacities - 35% Tipping Load2,240 lb
Rated Operating Capacity With Optional Counterweight3,465 lb
Tipping Load6,483 lb
Breakout Force - Tilt Cylinder7,308 lb
Dimensions and weight
Width Over Tracks6.5 ft
Height To Top Of Cab6.95 ft
Ground Clearance9.1 in
Clearance At Max Lift And Dump7.97 ft
Reach At Max Lift And Dump1.95 ft
Length - Track On Ground69.6 in
Length - With Bucket On Ground144.81 in
Length - Without Bucket116.5 in
Length With Out Bucket9.72 ft
Bucket Pin Height - Maximum Lift10.27 ft
Clearance At Maximum Lift And Dump95.6 in
Departure Angle44 degrees
Height - Top Of Cab6.95 ft
Turning Radius From Center - Inc Bucket91.11 in
Turning Radius From Center - Machine Rear64.57 in
Vehicle Width78 in
Length With Bucket12.08 ft
Bucket Pin Height - Carry Position7.7 in
Maximum Dump Angle40 degrees
Maximum Overall Height157.7 in
Maximum Reach - With Arms Parallel54.6 in
Overall Length - Track89.4 in
Rack Back Angle - Maximum Height85 degrees
Reach At Maximum Lift/Dump23.4 in
Turn Radius From Center - Bucket91.1 in
Turn Radius From Center - Coupler57.9 in
Turn Radius From Center - Rear64.6 in
Cab
ROPSSAE J1040 MAY94, ISO 3471:1994
FOPSSAE J1043 SEPT87, ISO 3449:1992 Level I
FOPS Level IiSAE J231 JAN81, ISO 3449:1992 Level II
Service Refill Capacities
Cooling System3.7 gal
Fuel Tank26 gal
Hydraulic Tank11 gal
Engine Crankcase2.6 gal
Power Train
Travel Speed Forward - 2-Speed8.5 mph
Travel Speed Reverse - 2-Speed8.5 mph
Travel Speed Forward5 mph
Travel Speed Reverse5 mph
Hydraulic System
Hydraulic Flow (1)Standard
Hydraulic Power42.8 hp
Maximum Loader Hydraulic Flow33 gpm
Maximum Loader Hydraulic Pressure4,061 psi
Loader Hydraulic Pressure3,335 psi
Loader Hydraulic Flow22 gpm
Hydraulic Flow (2)High Flow XPS
Undercarriage
Length Of Track On Ground5.8 ft
Operational
Cooling System Fluid Capacity3.7 gal
Engine Oil Capacity2.7 gal
Fuel Capacity25.9 gal
Hydraulic System Fluid Capacity15.1 gal
Operating Voltage12 V
Alternator Supplied Amperage90 amps
Max Speed - Low Range5.1 mph
Max Speed - High Range8.5 mph
Loader
Breakout Force7,308 lb
Operating Load3,200 lb
Hydraulic
Pump Flow22.2 gpm
Relief Valve Pressure3,335 psi
Additional specifications
Ground Contact Area2,504 in2
Ground Pressure4 psi
Operating Weight9,892 lb
Bucket Capacity0.6 yd3
Hydraulic System15 gal

Source

More in Cat: 299D3/2 related models, 257/267/277: tracks/controls/service access, 275–285 XE.