- It Carries Everything
The undercarriage supports the entire weight of the machine—including the frame, engine, attachments, and payload. On a large dozer like the Cat D11, that's well over 100 tons riding on the undercarriage!
- It Accounts for Up to 50% of Maintenance Costs
In tracked machines, the undercarriage can represent 50% or more of lifetime owning and operating costs. That’s why proper maintenance and smart component choices (like Cat’s heavy-duty rollers or sealed & lubricated track chains) are such a big deal.
- It’s Engineered to Adapt to Terrain
Caterpillar designs different undercarriage types for different environments—SystemOne™ for longer life in abrasive conditions, Heavy Duty for extreme terrain, and Abrasion Undercarriage for highly abrasive soils like sand.
- It’s a Precision System, Not Just Metal and Bolts
Modern Cat undercarriages are engineered systems. The pitch (link spacing), shoe width, roller spacing, and tension must be precisely matched to each application to maximize efficiency and wear life. Even the curvature of track shoes is designed for optimal ground contact.
- It Includes Smart Wear Management Tech
Some machines now come with Undercarriage Wear Sensors that feed real-time data into Cat Product Link™. This helps users track wear patterns, avoid costly failures, and make decisions about repairs or replacements before problems occur.
- Cat Track Systems Are Designed for Rebuild
Caterpillar undercarriage components—like track rollers, idlers, and links—can often be reconditioned or rebuilt, reducing costs and environmental impact. Cat even offers Undercarriage Assurance Programs to protect that investment.