Sélection de la droite CHAT excavator for your project is a big deal, especially when pitting models like the CAT 323 vs 320 against one another. It doesn’t matter if you’re working on a big construction site somewhere in the Middle East or managing a smaller job here in South America-selecting the right machine can make all the difference. Different sizes, different capabilities, different prices. With all of those variables, how do you decide? This guide is here to walk you through the major points you need to consider when selecting between the CAT 323 vs 320 to help you make the first informed decision.

When deciding between the CAT 323 vs 320, it’s important to understand that the CAT 320 is best for medium-sized projects, offering a compact design and lower fuel consumption. On the other hand, the CAT 323 excels in heavy-duty applications, offering better lifting capacity, digging depth, and a more robust build.

Let’s look at the differences betweenCAT 323 vs 320and help you make the best choice for your specific project.

1. CAT 323 vs 320–What Are the Main Differences?

When you first compare the CAT 323 vs 320, start with the basics. Look at the size of the machine, the weight of the machine, and the specifications. The first things are weight and size. This tells you a little bit about how the machine is going to operate, what it can pick up, and what it can do, and you just have to start with that.

It’s a great exercise to determine whether the CAT 323 or CAT 320 is the better machine for the job. As you can see from the chart, the CAT 320 is a smaller and lighter machine. That makes it ideal for work in an urban environment. The CAT 323 is larger, which means it can carry more weight. It’s a great machine for heavier work and work on a big construction site with more pick-and-carry crane type of work. Men on the ground that need to pick things up, swing them, and set them down. This is the machine you would use for that.

CAT 323 vs 320: the CAT 320 is a smaller machine in terms of weight and size. Best in smaller environments or when size is at a premium, and heavy lifting or digging power is not a factor. If you need to pick-and-carry with a crane a lot on your site, this is not the machine to use. The CAT 323 can carry more, dig deeper, lift higher, and handle larger stuff. For big pick-and-carry crane work, and more massive stuff, gravel and dirt moving, this is your machine.

2. CAT 323 vs 320–Which Performs Better in Heavy-Duty Applications?

Heavy- duty work means that your machine must do its work safely and efficiently at maximum capacity. This could be big construction, working in a mine, or carrying large quantities of concrete to a high place on a giant construction project.

The CAT 323 will excel in these heavier duty applications due to its higher hydraulic capacity for bigger attachments, more lift capacity, and the overall beefiness of the machine. The CAT 320 is more of a medium-duty machine, but it will get the job done for most construction sites.

CAT 323 vs 320: the CAT 323 will pick and carry a bigger load better than a CAT 320. The CAT 320 is capable, but due to the size, the loads have to be smaller. It is unlikely that someone is going to buy a 20-ton CAT 320 excavator to do heavy pick-and-carry with a giant rock. You are going to buy a CAT 323 for that work. What are you going to pick up and move around? This is where you have to compare the CAT 323 vs CAT 320.

3. CAT 323 vs 320 – Difference in Fuel Efficiency and Operating Costs?

Fuel economy and cost per hour of operation become a big deal if you’re going to run your excavator for a lot of hours. Choosing a machine that burns less fuel per hour or has a lower cost per hour to operate can save you a lot of money in the long run. Compare the two excavators by looking at the fuel efficiency performance numbers.

The CAT 320 will consume less fuel, and your operating costs will be less. The CAT 323 may consume more because it has so much more capacity. You might use more fuel, but get the bigger job done well and quickly. Check the numbers because the fuel cost and cost to operate also matter.

CAT 323 vs 320: in terms of fuel consumption, the CAT 320 offers better fuel efficiency, which translates into lower operational costs for projects that don’t require extreme performance. However, for larger, more demanding tasks, the CAT 323 may justify its higher fuel consumption due to the increased productivity it offers.

4. CAT 323 vs 320– Which Is Better for Urban and Tight-Space Projects?

Urban job sites are a very different animal due to the lack of space to work and move. When you are considering the CAT 323 vs CAT 320, the size of the machine becomes a big deal. The CAT 320 is the right size for a job in a city. It fits and works well due to its small size. If you’ve got a lot of room and need the extra capacity of the CAT 323, that’s the machine you want.

The CAT 320 was built to operate in tight spaces. The CAT 323 likes to have a lot of room to work. If you’re in a city, you might actually build a wall and put a gate on the street just to park it at night when you go home. It’s too big to take home with you.

CAT 323 vs 320: urban and confined space projects demand excavators that can handle the nuances of tight environments. The CAT 320 offers the flexibility and maneuverability required for these tasks, while the CAT 323 is better suited for open construction sites with more space.

5. CAT 323 vs 320 – Which Supports More Attachments and Tools?

A lot of the versatility of an excavator comes from how many different attachments you can put on it. If you can put a grapple on an excavator, it can do one kind of work. If you can attach a hammer, it can do another kind of work. You can’t use a hammer to pick up a rock, and you can’t use a bucket to break up a rock. How many different attachments can it use is the question when you’re looking at any piece of machinery. How many types of tools will the manufacturer make to fit it?

The CAT 323 has more attachments available to handle different jobs. You can put a hammer or a shear on the CAT 323, but you wouldnt do it. There are also different sizes of grapples and large buckets available for it. The CAT 320 will stick with the general-purpose tools like buckets, grapples, and augers.

Le CAT 323offers more versatility for operators who require high-capacity attachments for demanding tasks. This makes it a better option for large-scale projects that need robust tools and attachments for specialized jobs.

5. CAT 323 vs 320 – What About Shipping, Transport, and Port Logistics?

It’s expensive to ship a machine that weighs 20 tons. Let’s compare the CAT 323 vs. the CAT 320 on shipping. The CAT 320 is much easier to ship because it fits in a regular 40-foot container. The downside is you can’t put a lot of extra stuff in the container because the CAT 320 is so small.

The CAT 323 is a hard box to move. It requires a little bit of arranging, and it’s certainly not going in a container. It’s going to ship “Roll-On, Roll-Off”, “Break-Bulk” or however you want to get it there. It’s big, it’s heavy, it takes a lot of room.

CAT 323 vs 320, for more convenient shipping and lower transportation costs, the CAT 320 is the clear winner in the CAT 323 vs 320 comparison.

7. CAT 323 vs 320 – Which One Offers Better Resale Value and Local Demand?

When buying a machine, think about what it will be worth when you want to sell it. You’re trying to do two things. You’re trying not to lose a bunch of money when you sell it. But, the real reason you look at resale value is because it’s an indicator of how quickly you can sell it and how wide the audience of buyers will be.

The CAT 320 has a very popular resale market in many areas, especially in countries where small, inexpensive machinery is very popular, like Peru. The CAT 323 will sell quickly, not necessarily for a lot of money, but there’s always somebody who wants a big heavy machine. It has economic resale value in big construction projects, or a guy who just wants a big machine because he wants a big machine.

8. Common Mistakes When Choosing Between CAT 323 vs 320

Choosing between the CAT 323 vs 320is not easy and there are many common mistakes that many buyers make. A common mistake is choosing the CAT 320for a heavy-duty project due to its cost-efficiency, when the CAT 323would have been more suitable for the job. Another mistake is underestimating shipping costs and transport logistics for the CAT 323. followings are the key mistakes people often make:

Ignoring Long-Term Operational Costs – CAT 323 vs 320

Many buyers assume that the CAT 320 will be cheaper to operate because it’s a smaller machine, it will use less fuel, and it will cost less to maintain. You will likely be more productive with the bigger machine because you can move more rocks and more asphalt. If you can work the CAT 323 more hours in a year than the CAT 320, you may use more fuel, but the higher productivity can justify the higher fuel costs. If you’re moving more material at the end of the year, that means your cost per yard is lower.

Choosing Based Only on Price – CAT 323 vs 320

While the CAT 320 might seem like the more cost-efficient choice, it’s important to evaluate lifting capacity, size, and project needs instead of focusing solely on the initial purchase price. The CAT 323 offers a significantly larger lifting capacity and is better suited for demanding tasks such as heavy excavation, demolition, or lifting operations. Choosing the CAT 320 because of its lower price might lead to inefficiencies, forcing the machine to operate beyond its intended capabilities, ultimately costing more in the long run.

Underestimating Shipping and Transportation Costs – CAT 323 vs 320

Le CAT 323 is a larger machine and typically requires more complex transportation logistics. The costs associated with shipping a CAT 323 are higher due to its larger size and weight, which means you’ll need to factor in additional costs for transport. If you’ve opted for the CAT 320 to save on initial costs, the shipping difference between the two models might offset any price savings. Understanding these hidden costs is essential for making an informed decision.

Misjudging Site-Specific Needs –CAT 323 vs 320

I see buyers pick the wrong machine all the time because they haven’t taken a long, hard look at their project and their productivity. What type of machine do you need to work this project the fastest and the cheapest? I don’t mean just the machine you’re going to sit on; I mean all the machines you’re going to attach to this excavator for the type of work you do.

Assuming All Models are the Same – CAT 323 vs 320

Even though they are both the same same series, each machine in the series performs a little bit differently. Buyers often think all the machines in a series are interchangeable, but they’re not. A CAT 320 is smaller than a CAT 323, and it has different horsepower, different reach, different stick-extension power, different lifting power, and different hydraulic capacity than a CAT 323. For what we’re doing, those are all critical factors that will determine the success or failure of the project.

Not Considering Future Upgrades and Resale Value – CAT 323 vs 320

The CAT 323 with a hydraulic hammer will run circles around a CAT 320 with a hammer, if the hammer will even work on a CAT 320. That’s another buyer mistake. Just because it’s a CAT 320 doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to use it for heavy duty. Heavy duty stuff, like mining and large infrastructure, is the CAT 323s strong suit. It has more hydraulic capacity, it lifts more, and it will dig deeper. If you’ve got that kind of work, a CAT 323 is the machine you want. For medium duty and general construction, the CAT 320 will fill the bill.

Overlooking Operator Experience – CAT 323 vs 320

Operator experience is the key to using the 320 and the 323. The larger CAT 323 is going to require a more skillful operator because now you’re dealing with increased complexity and you’re dealing with a lot more reach and weight you can put on the machine’s hook. Buying a 320 when you actually need a 323 and can’t make the 320 do the job is another big mistake that’s going to waste a bunch of money and resources over the long term.

If you check all of these points and then weigh that with your project’s specific needs, you’ll probably pick the right one. Look at your available space and separation of trucks into job sites. If you’re looking at a CAT 323 vs 320, the one that wins is the one you can get the tool there the cheapest and get it to work more efficiently.

Summary

The decision to choose a CAT 323 vs 320 is going to be mainly determined by your project size and how hard you work the thing. A CAT 320 is for smaller to medium stuff with a price per hour. If you’re working it hard, buy the CAT 323. If the 323 isn’t too big, buy the 323. By carefully considering your project’s scale and your business’s financial capabilities, you can make an informed decision that will pay off in productivity and cost savings.