Imagine owning a machine that can perform like a dozen pieces of construction equipment. From digging, trenching and plowing to leveling, cutting and grinding, it can do it all. And no, it’s not a Transformer.

Caterpillar® designs and engineers high-productivity attachments to accommodate your entire fleet no matter if you have a combination of machines or a solitary engine-type. Cat® work tools allow you to tailor your heavy equipment to the specific requirements of each project.

Any accessory you choose will yield enhanced productivity, saving you time and money. Our solutions at Mustang Cat equip your machines for a range of tasks that may not have been in the original purpose of the engine. Our total system solutions parallel hundreds of applications as well as every season to keep your operations running.

Check out our construction equipment guide to learn how add-ons help you adjust to changing markets and applications.

What Attachments Go With What Machines?

With what seems like a hundred different possibilities to choose from, it can be challenging to determine which compact equipment attachment will provide the most advantages for your jobs. Because a variety of applications relate to the different add-ons available, it’s crucial to understand which ones will maximize the efficiency and the power of your loader.

Our inventory ranges from augers, bale spears, blades, buckets and couplers to forks, grapplers, hammers, mulchers and rotors. Our complete systems support a series of industries including:

• Landscaping
• Mining
• Waste
• Forestry
• Power plant
• Agriculture
• Construction

In the forestry industry alone, the equipment market is expected to reach about $10.5 billion by 2024. Experts at Mustang Cat developed a shorthand guide to illustrate which equipment attachments work best with various machines.

Backhoe Loaders

The construction of a backhoe entails a boom, stick and bucket to pull materials toward the machine. Cat backhoe attachments include:

• Brooms
• Buckets
• Augers
• Compactors
• Couplers
• Hammers
• Rippers
• Snowplows and pushes
• Thumbs

Adding any of these tools to a backhoe can give you a competitive edge in your industry.

Compact Track and Multi-Terrain Loaders

Compact track loaders are like skid loaders, but operate with high-flotation tracks, helping them move in poor underfoot. Multi-terrain loaders do well in mud, clay, sludge and other tricky surfaces because of their tracks and low ground pressures. Add-ons that accommodate the two are as follows:

• Bale grabs
• Brushcutters
• Cold Planers
• Hammers
• Mulchers
• Rakes
• Saws
• Snow blowers, plows and pushes
• Stump grinder
• Tillers
• Trenchers

With more than 10 solutions to choose from, you won’t be at a loss when you need specialized equipment for a new job.

Dozers

A bulldozer is a tractor with a massive blade that can move heaps of material like sand, soil and debris in one swipe. The two work tools that work best with the dozer machines include:

• Blades
• Winches

Blades are large earthmoving attachments, and winches wind cables and ropes, allowing your dozer to pull heavy objects. Either one installed onto your dozer will reap incredible benefits to help you get the job done on time and on budget.

Excavators

Excavator machines also have a boom, stick and bucket to dig holes and foundations, complete demolitions or lift heavy materials. While an excavator already has a wide range of uses, you can apply attachments like the following to expedite the productivity of your engine by tenfold.

• Augers
• Buckets
• Compactors
• Couplers
• Grapples
• Hammers
• Multi-processors
• Rakes
• Rippers
• Thumbs

With these attachments, you can complete a vast range of tasks — without even changing the machine you’re using.

Motor Graders

If you have a motor grader in your fleet, you know its adjustable blade has incredible uses. But what if you added other types of blades or even a snowplow? Never think a Cat machine is a one-purpose build.

Skid Steers

Skid steer loaders are versatile machines, but adding attachments to them makes them useful in even more ways. Several skid steer attachments include:

• Backhoes
• Blades
• Brushcutters
• Cold planers
• Mulchers
• Saws
• Snow attachments
• Stump grinders
• Tillers
• Trenchers

Telehandlers

A telehandler engine has a telescopic boom that acts like a crane, extending forward and upward. Bucket attachments are single work tools that parallel telehandlers. Types of buckets to choose from include:

• General and multi-purpose
• Light material
• Grapple
• Material handling arms

Caterpillar telehandler attachments are ideal for heavy-duty work and lifting lighter materials.

Track and Wheel Loaders

The difference between a track and wheel loader is how the machines move. A track loader uses tracks to maneuver through tough terrain, and a wheel loader uses wheels to move along smoother surfaces. Several add-ons you can invest in include:

• Augers
• Blades
• Brooms
• Buckets
• Compactors
• Couplers
• Rakes
• Saws
• Snow blowers, plows and pushes
• Stump grinders

To help you understand what different attachments can do, we created a simplified list to help give you an idea of their versatility.

• Augers: Drill holes in a variety of materials like gravel, wood and dirt
• Backhoe: Simpler and smaller version of a digging arm
• Blades: Ideal for leveling and pushing material
• Booms: Pick up plywood, tools and trusses
• Brooms: Clean up job sites
• Brush mowers: Plow down brush and tall grasses
• Cold planers: Level pavement
• Forks: Lift pallets and containers
• Grapple buckets: Assist in clearing debris, picking up logs and removing brush with its clamp
• Hammers: Break up materials like rock and concrete for projects such as demolition, quarry and construction
• Mulchers: Clear and cut away thick vegetation
• Multi-purpose buckets: Help you level, clamp, grade and handle different materials
• Rippers: Rip through the ground, especially when working with frozen earth
• Snow blowers, pushers and plows: Remove snow from roads, driveways, parking lots and tight spaces
• Stump grinders: Demolish tree stumps
• Tillers: Turn over soil for planting
• Trenchers: A device to dig foundation at various widths and depths for drainage systems and other pipe foundations

You can see how our work tool attachments can transform a single purpose machine into one that supports dozens of applications. From construction equipment buckets and grabber couplers to forks and booms, equipment attachments are a perfect solution.

Can You Apply Cat Accessories to Different Makes and Models?

Although Cat designs supplements for Cat machines, pairing them with other brands of equipment is possible. The work tools are equipped for any task, no matter what make or model of machine is behind them. However, the way your machine attaches equipment will determine whether Cat add-ons will work or not.

You will want to consider the size of the machine vs. the measurements of the tool you want to use. Compact construction equipment will need smaller attachments as opposed to full engines. If your engines are compatible with Cat attachments, they will produce exceptional productivity — making Cat solutions go beyond the name.

Mustang Cat works with your machines and our stock of add-ons to produce minimal stress and prime performance for your engines. You can shop by equipment type, industry and application or attachment type to make the process easy.

The goal of any heavy equipment fleet is to get the most out of your investments. No matter if you have a mixed fleet or single type of engine, you can implement different tools to expand your resources. When you can transform any machine from a single-purpose to a multi-purpose solution, you create an adaptable piece of equipment. Our solutions even eradicate the need for buying additional tools for new or odd projects, making your fleet more versatile than ever.

Attaching and Detaching Equipment Attachments Safely

Safety is at the forefront of our machines and attachments, and it’s a primary concern for any company that uses heavy equipment. It’s important to follow the maintenance and operation regulations in the owner’s manuals for your equipment. If you adhere to the correct safety measures, you can keep yourself and everyone on the team safe.

The attaching and detaching process is simple when you have machines with a powered quick coupler. A quick coupler is a piece of technology that allows for a fast and straightforward process of attaching add-ons, often without the operator having to leave the cab. The hydraulic device connects the accessory to the machine.

With the benefit of quick switch-out times, operators won’t have to worry about hammering in pins to attach the accessories. Quick couplers are a part of the system but don’t perform any other jobs.

Follow these seven steps to learn how to install equipment attachments with a quick coupler system:

1. Tip the quick coupler forward and accelerate the machine into the work tool slowly
2. Lift and slant the coupler, working it back to place it into the proper position
3. Click and press down on the quick coupler button to employ the pins
4. With manual quick couplers, you must exit the machine and insert the bolts manually
5. Make sure the attachment is secure by tilting it down and placing weight on it until the machine lifts off the ground
6. Drag the attached tool across the ground to ensure there is no movement between the tool and coupler
7. Visually check the installation to guarantee the pins are sturdy
   

But what about a hydro-mechanical work tool? Start by connecting the hydraulic lines from the tool to the auxiliary connectors on the machine. The correct installation process consists of the following:

1. Clean the connectors, so no contaminants like dirt and debris are in the way
2. Pull the standard flow lines up into the hose guide
3. Check the machine’s maintenance and operation manual to see the correct routing for every engine add-on
4. Link and release the hydraulic system’s pressure from the hydraulic lines
5. If the engine connects via pressure-style couplings, push the connections and the attachment together
   

Following the installation steps for each component will help guarantee safety before, during and after each task. Here’s how to disconnect a hydro-mechanical tool:

1. Release the built-up pressure in the hydraulic lines
2. Push the coupling in to release the tension when operating connections that have pressure-style couplings
3. Remove the hydraulic lines from the hose guise and connect the attachment lines — this helps reduce contamination risk and pressure build-up
4. Unfasten the coupler pins using the control in the cab or by hand
5. Back the machine away from the add-on by angling the coupler forward, not stopping until it clears the slanted plate
   

Always adhere to the recommended steps for attaching and detaching compact equipment attachments. It can mean the difference between safety and injuries.

Storing and Maintaining Equipment and Add-Ons

If you own a fleet of heavy equipment, you already know the dos and don’ts of proper storage — and the same applies to work tools. Place your construction attachments in a dry and secure location to protect them from elements. Stowed away from rain, snow and UV light, the add-ons have a reduced risk of degradation, rust and corrosion. If you don’t have a storage area, make sure to cover the parts and keep them away from UV light and moisture.

Maintaining your work tool attachments requires a regular maintenance schedule to help you avoid repairs in the future. A program protects your investments and aids in keeping the tools in good condition for an extended time. Set maintenance will even assist you in receiving a higher ROI and increased production.

It’s also vital to have your operators check the machines and attachments before and after each use. Knowing how the equipment is operating will help lessen downtime, delayed projects and lost money. Have them check everything from the fluid levels and leaks in the fluid lines to tire inflation. For attachments, look for loose teeth, cracks, blades and pins, bad hoses and other damage.

Any irregularities will necessitate inspection and repairs. Completing a repair in advance means you can avoid lost time and productivity. However, if your team operates in harsh conditions, check every component more often for malfunctions. Operators should clean the attachments and machines each day to extend equipment life and prevent corrosion.

Advantages of Cat Equipment Attachment Solutions

Caterpillar upholds a superior reputation backed by 100 years of manufacturing expertise. As a trailblazer in heavy equipment performance, Caterpillar is the favored brand among sectors across the nation.

With Mustang Cat equipment attachments, you know you’re getting quality. Cat work tools can help your business:

• Boost ROI
• Harness your engine’s max performance levels
• Increase productivity
• Operate with the highest safety standards
• Produce more efficient work
• Reduce downtime

Using Cat attachments supplies you with a competitive advantage because one machine can perform dozens of different tasks. You don’t have to invest in a new machine every time you have a new job at hand.

View Our Complete Attachment Solutions

When you’re ready to invest in compact equipment attachments, the team at Mustang Cat is ready to support you through the entire process. We’ve been a family-owned Cat dealer serving Houston and the surrounding areas since 1952, and we know how to help you find the right equipment for your needs.

With top-tier work tool attachments, best-in-class warranties and access to $10 million in Cat parts, it’s no wonder we uphold industry-leading response times. Our Mustang promise to you means we deliver rental reliability, and we can have a machine or engine service technician at your location within 48 hours. We also offer complimentary protection on new machines for the first year.

Reach out to us online to learn more about our total attachment solutions or for additional support.