School Me MTL / CTL diff?

I can see the difference in how the undercarriage is built.

The roller frames on a CTL are similar to a full size track loader (I own a 953), bottom rollers fixed to roller frame, drive sprocket and idler.

Less clear on how the MTL works but it looks like the rollers "boggie" individual like. Looks like more stuff to wear out.

My questions are:

Why would you choose one over the other?

How do the operating costs compare?

The way Cat explained to me years ago was that an MTL was more for landscaping and a CTL was more heavy duty and made for construction. Not to say you can't use a CTL for construction, but it probably won't hold up as well.

This video should shed some light

I think most go CTL for lower long term costs.

[video=youtube;RzmwepHQUKM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzmwepHQUKM[/video]

MTL is a landscaping chassis and the CTL is more of a construction and rough terrain chassis. The MTL is easy on a yard as it will not tear it up as much but it requires more maintenance if used in rough terrain or mud and rocks, the CTL excels in muddy , rough, rocky terrain. If fitted with steel tracks the CTL is a formidable machine in rough terrain. CTL chassis requires less maintenance and the newer CAT CTL has a very nice ride quality....hope that helps. The video above gives you a general idea on the difference...

Thanks for the help this goes along with other things i have been told. I have a reasonable understanding of how to look at an undrcarrage on a dozer or excavator and tell if its junk, fair or good. If you look at a used CTL what things do you look at as far as undercarrage other than the obvious cuts and gouges you see in the rubber?

jimson said:

Thanks for the help this goes along with other things i have been told. I have a reasonable understanding of how to look at an undrcarrage on a dozer or excavator and tell if its junk, fair or good. If you look at a used CTL what things do you look at as far as undercarrage other than the obvious cuts and gouges you see in the rubber?

Click to expand...

I look at how much tread wear is left and if there is any big tears near the drive "belt" in the track. the smaller nicks and cuts in the track aren't any big deal usually.

The easiest wear items to check are the tracks. Also check the sprocket for worn or scalloped teeth. The harder items to check without loosening the tracks are the idlers. If you can loosen the tracks, check the idlers for wear in the shaft bearings. Also check the bottom rollers for wear. If you can't loosen the tracks have someone run the machine in tight turns and see if there is any play in the idler shafts. If there is heavy wear you should be able to see it.

CTL is the way to go for my operation. I don't like the MTL undercarriage for the work we do which is heavy construction and demo. There are too many wear parts in a MTL undercarriage.

Keep in mind a CTL is very expensive UC wise to operate compared to a skid. The T250 we have is the most expensive per hour machine UC wise to operate in our small fleet which includes a 953 and D5G.

Hey Cm, I just inked a deal on a new 277D, and when talking to the salesman, he mentioned that a
ctl is more prone to track derailment. Care to shed light on your experiences. He also mentioned they tear the ground up more and ride rougher thus I went with the mlt.

grandpa said:

Hey Cm, I just inked a deal on a new 277D, and when talking to the salesman, he mentioned that a
ctl is more prone to track derailment. Care to shed light on your experiences. He also mentioned they tear the ground up more and ride rougher thus I went with the mlt.

Click to expand...

I've had a CTL roll a track off tracking sideways across a fairly steep hill, the main problem was the grease seal was bad causing the track to loose tension. I've not lost a track off a MTL in just under 7k hours of running them.

grandpa said:

Hey Cm, I just inked a deal on a new 277D, and when talking to the salesman, he mentioned that a
ctl is more prone to track derailment. Care to shed light on your experiences. He also mentioned they tear the ground up more and ride rougher thus I went with the mlt.

Click to expand...

Gramps I've personally never lost a track off a CTL, mini-ex yes but CTL no. I did have one dumb-ass (no longer employed here ) that tried to travel up a CL II rip-rap ditch with a T250 and threw one but throwing tracks off our CTL is not a problem we experience.

Now breaking cords and pulling T-bones out of rubber tracks is a problem we do have and is the reason why our CTL is the most expensive UC wise to operate per hour.

The ride is rougher than an MTL and a CTL does tear up the ground more than a MTL. Depends on what your doing and the soil conditions. The clay and rock we deal with would pulverize a MTL undercarriage.

We run triple flange rollers front and rear and our 299's and operate in some of the worse conditions imaginable and have never lost a track on any on our rubber tracked machines. Without triples on front and rear you can and will toss a track from time to time in tough terrain or on steep side hills if cross sloping..we have been slowly switching over to steel tracks as we replace machines but that a fairly large investment that will pay you back depending on the amount of hours you put on your equipment on a year basis. I was replacing rubber tracks in 1000 hours or less in out current operating conditions .There is nothing cheap about running a CTL !