Would you rebuy a 289 or 299 over a 265? I’m at the crossroads now, have a 289 with 3000hr starting to give me troubles, trying to figure out what to change to.
@@felixrobitaille-yukonsreal3231 I’ve thought for quite some time that another 289 would be a solid buy considering the incentives -our- dealer has been offering them. My 289 was (continues to be) just a fabulous machine that’s done everything I’ve ever asked from it. My 265 has some cool tech stuff that I as an owner operator enjoy, and I can justify spending the extra cash because I am directly experiencing the additional conveniences of the extra cost. If I was buying another skid for an employee to operate, I would probably be shooting for a 289. As far as the 299 goes, we have stayed away from the DEF machines for the most part, so I can’t speak to them much. They’re monsters, but in my opinion, if you aren’t running some kind of heavy attachment and plan on it being in the dirt with a normal bucket on it, the 289 is a great pick for that. The dealers are trying to dump their 289s that have a couple hundred hours on them to make room for the 265s and they’re ready to deal. Especially for cash buyers. List your used machine somewhere and don’t even talk about trading unless you’re ready to take a total bath on your trade. That was the main reason why I ended up keeping my 289d3. I would suggest you try to find a 289d3 xps/high flow unit as moving forward it’s pretty much going to be mandatory for a skid to have any resale value whatsoever, that it is a high flow unit in my opinion. Hope that helps, good luck!
@@joshbowser7217 I do like the block tread but we don’t really order it any more. We have some snow we move and the bar tread (whether this is true or not) seems to me like it’s better in the snow. Seems like the bar tread has more noticeable wear and tear when it catches something particularly abrasive or damaging like concrete or iron. It’s rare either way that we are replacing tracks before about 1500-1800 hrs.
I am buying one next week. The paperwork is ready.. They took a month to get it to chico California. They were waiting for the 4 an 1. I drove the bob cat 595 and then the cat 265. Omg moment. Just 10 k more but what a amazing machine. Giuseppe
@@chasildasil I probably have 6 or so hours in a JCB. Enough for a cat guy like me to know I prefer the cat. The single loader arm isn’t as stable as a conventional skid. This is a factor for me when I am doing fine finish type work. The boom kind of bounces around back and forth and it just drives me crazy. The controls aren’t near as smooth as the cat. The JCB rides rougher. I don’t feel like they’re easier to get in and out of. The JCB has like three different speed settings that give more torque or more travel speed based on your selection. I find none of them to be a good all purpose setting. The fast settings put you through the windshield the slow ones put you to sleep trying to get anything done. I don’t really have any experience with high flow attachments with them so I can’t say much there but I would imagine a big mower or brush cutter really would make that arm wobble. I know some guys who have one on the farm or ranch and they love being able to lift something up and get out and work on whatever they’re lifting, so there’s the one defense of the JCB that I will say it has. I honestly don’t know what the price points are for any of the JCB models. I’ll just say if Cat comes at you with a forgivable price for a similar model, don’t hesitate to get the Cat, unless you’re going to live and die by that side entry door.
Great initial review and also your first follow-up video as well! Thanks for taking the time to make them. How many hours did you have on your 289? Anymore updates on this 265 that would be worth doing a second follow-up video or even a more direct comparison to your 289?
@jacobo565 my initial order went in October Sept 23 but came back as couldn't order because of the change over. Then it went in January. Delivery date has gone up and down like a dogs dick and now being told Feb 2025. Will be first ones in Europe though
@@thethoughtfulcarpenter dealer informed me the hoses hooked to the valve for the ride control were hooked up backwards and that’s why it wasn’t working
After running a case 340b and watching the smaller loader arms flex and twist I'd appreciate the heavy arms, like the kubota 97. Heavy duty always the wat to go, i demoed one, comparing to others it seems pretty good.
@@digginandbuildinwv7012 there’s a real trade off in the visibility department. Its probably one of the things I dislike the most about the 265. Visibility to the bucket corners when you’re comfortably sitting back in your seat, and visibility out the side windows when the bucket is raised to about eye level.
I have the same machine just got the high level guard package. Great video. I had no clue about the holes for future toolbox that was a big mystery. My window latches aren’t tight enough they rattle all the dang time. Does your machine give you the option for security lockout like the D3 did? The kind of work I do I have to start and stop often and I have to do the code every time. My salesman isnt the best on the smaller stuff I’m wondering if the Bluetooth fob would let it start faster.
@@timblack33 I didn’t mess with the lockout on the D3 at all. I had the 265 set up so it required a security code on startup. I had the dealer remove it as i just hated how long it would take for the user interface to load just to input the code. It’s not too bad if a guy is in it all day long but if you do some in and out it’s a pain to enter the code every time. Especially when it’s 100 degrees in the cab….
Security on the new one has to be installed by dealer et not activated in monitor like d3 not sure why they didn't make that ability in machine. There should be about 10 minute delay on code reintre
I assume you recording with a cell phone...if you turn it sideways, the screen will present wider...holding it straight up gives you the block-colored sides like you are looking through something to watch.
My 259d3 does the same thing. I was told that’s normal when the system activates at a certain speed it’ll drop the arms a bit to charge the accumulator. Once you get used to it it’s not a big deal. Just raise the arms about 12” before you take off.
@@midstatelandsolutionsllc1515 nah there was actually a problem. Aparrantly they put a couple hoses on opposite fittings from what they were supposed to be connected to
Not yet, but i don’t foresee that being an issue for us just based on our soil. Predominantly very sandy so we don’t have a lot of big rock action wreaking havoc on the undercarriage
Nice review! Very nice machine! I’m hoping to have 1 in a year or so. Let the bugs work out of them if there are any, and hopefully price come off a bit.
I've only had one issue so far. Seems the ride control system either never got charged or the system has a leak. That and the air conditioner is too cold.
This was a very good review. I hope you do more. A dedicated comparison with the 289 and later show us your 265 in action. They should caterpillars should pay you. This is the best review of a caterpillar machine we have seen in years…
First time you go to shut off the machine I’m sure it asks if you want security lock or unlimited starts, just hit unlimited and no need to punch in the code every time.
@@jacobo565 I also like the code system but if I’m going to be in and out of the machine all day I hit the unlimited for the day and then at the end of the day I lock it with the code.
@@genecoppedge5972you know more about it than i do aparrantly! What do you mean by hit the unlimited? Im in and out constantly and I would really like a daily shortcut!
@jacobo565 well I tried that but the arm rest move with the seat, just felt like I had to let my arms down further than a comfortable operating position. Maybe because I'm tall
@sssanders7297 Well that's a 16000lb machine, not what I'm looking for I have a next gen d3 for big jobs, however this time next year cat will have a 275 and a 285 that will be like a d3 with a bucket. That will eat the 620 all day long.
@@Batmansland you’re comparing apples to oranges. That case 620 has 35 more hp and another ton of weight on it. In other news, a D8 will push more dirt than a D6.
Thank you for the detailed video. I’m having a hard time deciding between Cat and John Deere for my first skid steer. I’m primarily going to be brushing hogging, mulching and grapple work. What makes you stay with Cat if you don’t mind me asking?
Dealer support is big. We’ve been working with our dealer for 50 years. We’ve dabbled in some of the other mfgs and even on the worst days for cat, they’re still way better than all of our other options. I’m just speaking for my particular area, I’m sure there are some great dealers out there for the other mfgs. I don’t see a lot of brush shredder guys roll with Cat. Seems like Takeuchi or ASV have been pretty popular. I think they’re a little more function over fashion but I think they excel in their hydraulic cooling system. I don’t have a lot of tree shredding experience, we mainly stay in the dirt.
