Cat^® Mini Excavator: Stick Steer and
Cruise Control

Cat^® mini excavators are designed for maximum efficiency and comfort. To keep the machines as versatile as possible, next gen mini excavators come equipped with stick steer and cruise control. These features change how to operate a mini excavator, making for an improved experience. 

With a touch of a button on the mini excavator joystick, an operator can activate stick steer. This feature makes it possible to move and steer the machine with joystick control, similar to the controls on a Cat skid steer. Joystick control is also possible for the mini excavator grader blade.

Using a joystick to control the lift arm, bucket and grader blade streamlines the machine operation and makes life a lot easier. After working with the boom or blade, operators can switch to stick steer seamlessly for minimal interruptions. Stick steer is easy to use and makes operators more comfortable in the cabin.

If you’re using a Cat mini excavator to dig a trench, stick steer can come in handy. Stick steer puts the controls of the boom and blade in the palm of your hands via the right and left mini excavator joysticks. Operators can trench with the bucket using right-hand controls and can reposition the machine with the blade using left-hand controls. Because the stick steer makes trenching easier, operators can do more with less fatigue.

Just like with a car or truck, Cat mini excavator cruise control can be activated with the touch of a button. The feature functions similarly to cruise control found in automobiles. The cruise control feature allows operators to safely cruise along in a forward or backward direction, leaving their hands free to operate controls with ease. The machine can even cruise in high idle speed for traveling long distances on a jobsite.

Cat mini excavators are engineered with safety in mind, with a number of fail safes that will cause the excavator to stop immediately. The cruise control feature can be stopped at any time if the operator pulls back on the machine’s joystick, pushes the joystick trigger or lifts up the machine's safety brace. If an operator has a medical emergency while operating a Cat mini excavator in cruise control, causing the person to slump forward onto the joystick, the feature will deactivate, and the machine will safely come to a stop. 

Every Cat next gen mini hydraulic excavator comes standard with stick steer and cruise control. So, no matter which one you choose, you’ll be able to take advantage of these features. There are many options when it comes to picking the right model excavator. The right one depends on what you plan to use it for.

When considering which Cat mini excavator is right for your business, consider:

• The jobsites where it will be used
• The type of work being done
• The digging force and mechanical force you will need
• How you’ll transport the mini excavator from work site to work site

Cat mini excavators are loaded with industry-first features, productivity-boosting technology, serviceability enhancements and more. The machines are engineered to make your business more productive and profitable.

Your local Cat dealer can guide you through the process and provide helpful information on such topics as how to operate a mini excavator and mini excavator grading blade, mini excavator trenching and much more. Let the experts get you the right fit for your operation.