PEORIA, Ill.—In an move it hopes will change the way contractors think about what compact equipment is capable of, Caterpillar is introducing the 304.5E2 XTC mini excavator, a 4-ton machine which has a manual skid-steer coupler on the front instead of a standard blade. The operator can switch their joystick controls between the boom and front hydraulic attachment with a single button press, allowing the mini excavator to perform many of the same tasks as a skid-steer loader.
With a maximum dump height of only 6 in., the 304.5E2 XTC is not intended as a total replacement for a skid-steer, says Greg Worley, senior product engineer with Caterpillar. “It’s not a full skid-steer, but we found there’s a lot you can do with it,” he says. “We tested it with a T9B trencher tool and were able to do an 18-in. trench.” The excavator’s bucket could then be used to finish the trench or perform other cleanup work, allowing one machine to do the work of two, he says.