Get in Touch with Liehuang Company
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Address: Street Name, NY 38954
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Phone: 578-393-4937
Used Caterpillar Excavators
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Used Caterpillar Excavators for Sale Inspected, Export-Ready CAT 304 to 395
We supply inspected, export-ready used Caterpillar excavators to importers and distributors worldwide, backed by verified hour-meter readings, a wear-grade report on the undercarriage and hydraulics, and photo and video of your machine before you put a deposit down.
Request Live Machine List & FOB/CIF Quote
MARKET REALITY OVERSEAS PROCUREMENT
Buying a Used CAT Excavator You Can't Stand Next To
01. THE CHALLENGE
All buyers Used Caterpillar excavators earn their reputation for a reason; if kept reasonably well, the return on a used 320 or 336 will simply outstrip a bargain machine for ten years. The catch when you're shopping from overseas isn’t the name on the back-it’s proximity. Five or six figure sums go wiring to vendors you may never actually lay hands on, and the greatest market failure isn’t rare, it's common: you're shopping against claims of “950 hours, 2021” that in fact comes with tampered hour meters, re-sleeved engines and six or seven thousand real wear-hours re-emerged through fresh paint.
02. VERIFICATION PROCESS
The answer isn’t some clever sales tactic; it's verifiable fact. Each unit listed gets subjected to the same checks an overseas buyer’s own representative would-checking undercarriage wear against published CAT specs, using a timer to confirm hydraulic cycles and run hours, extracting engine data and ECM error codes from the computer, even using EPA documentation so that the engine type clears customs. You see photos and videos of wear rates before you commit a cent. And that's all that makes our site different from the jobber marketplaces; a listing marketplace gives you a price; we give you the state of health of that price's commodity, and then the price.
03. SPECIFICATIONS
The excavator class itself is standardized: ISO 6165 formally defines the hydraulic crawler excavator as a slewing earth-moving machine on tracks, so the spec language here applies to any CAT model, year, or seller. What varies is condition, and that is where we focus.
04. OPERATIONS
Here's the part few overseas excavator-shopping buyers appreciate: where a marketplace lists hundreds or thousands of machines it never physically handles, we take possession of our equipment and run tests and refurbishment in our own yard before offering it, sourcing from CAT, Volvo, Hitachi, Komatsu and Kobelco so we've the volume to match you to the machine's parameters, not just move inventory. The difference show the moment a container is opened.
ACTION REQUIRED
Have a model and budget in mind already?
Send it over for a graded shortlist with verified hours →The Liehuang Used CAT Lineup, CAT 304 to 395, by Weight Class
Getting the size wrong is your costliest mistake, even before condition, an undersized excavator slows you down, and an oversized one wastes fuel and forces a pricier shipping mode. The model number is your fastest fit signal, since each CAT designation (e.g., 320) tracks operating weight.
We built this CAT Excavator Class-by-Weight Comparison Matrix because it's the caterpillar excavator models list our buyers ask for most: one cat excavator sizes comparison covering operating weight, net power, max dig depth, and bucket capacity for every model we ship, from the lightweight 304 to the 542 hp 395, with the cat 320 excavator weight and CAT 336 figures every importer double-checks. Every line item maps to stock we physically inspect before shipping, not a catalog listing for a model you'll never see.
| Model | Class | Operating Weight | Net Power | Max Dig Depth | Bucket | Best-fit work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAT 304 | Mini | 9,900 lb | 40–45 hp | 11 ft | ~0.1 yd³ | Residential, utility, landscaping |
| CAT 305 CR | Mini | 12,688 lb | 45 hp | 12 ft | 0.13 yd³ | Grading, contractor fleet |
| CAT 306 CR | Mini | 15,766 lb | 56 hp | 13.5 ft | 0.17 yd³ | Higher-production compact |
| CAT 308 CR | Small | 18,500–20,400 lb | 69 hp | 13.5 ft | 0.26 yd³ | Trenching, truck loading |
| CAT 310 | Small | 22,500 lb | 70 hp | 17 ft | 0.28 yd³ | Urban utility work |
| CAT 313 | Medium | 30,400 lb (15.2 t) | 108 hp | 19.8 ft | 0.69 yd³ | Site prep, small foundations |
| CAT 315 | Medium | 34,000 lb (17 t) | 108 hp | 19.7 ft | 0.69 yd³ | General excavation |
| CAT 320 | Medium | 49,800 lb (24.8 t) | 172 hp (GC 146) | 22 ft | 1.56 yd³ | Fleet workhorse — trenching, loading |
| CAT 323 | Medium | 55,100 lb (27.5 t) | 172 hp | 22.1 ft | 1.71 yd³ | Heavier sitework, higher production |
| CAT 325 | Medium | 62,600 lb (31.4 t) | 172 hp | 22 ft | 1.56 yd³ | Heavy bucket / attachment carrier |
| CAT 330 | Medium-Large | 69,200 lb (34.6 t) | 201–273 hp | 23.9 ft | 2.30 yd³ | Heavy production, big pipe |
| CAT 336 | Large | 81,100 lb (40.6 t) | 300 hp | 26.1 ft | 2.77 yd³ | Mass excavation, truck loading |
| CAT 340 | Large | 83,100 lb (41.4 t) | 346 hp | 26.9 ft | 3.08 yd³ | High-production digging |
| CAT 349 | Large | 105,200 lb (52.6 t) | 424 hp | 25.1 ft | 4.03 yd³ | Quarry, mining support |
| CAT 395 | Large | 207,400 lb (103.7 t) | 542 hp | 31.9 ft | 6.80 yd³ | Mining-scale mass earthmoving |
SYSTEM INSPECTION PROTOCOL
Two systems decide whether a used CAT is a bargain or a money pit: the hydraulic circuit and the undercarriage. Energy-recovery boom/swing circuits (US Patent 9,290,912) and hybrid swing-drive systems (US Patent 11,421,713) are exactly the assemblies that leak, drift, and wear on a hard-used machine. That's why our grade report measure hydraulic cycle times and swing-bearing play directly, rather than trusting a clean-looking cylinder.
Match the machine to the work, not just the model number. One CAT 320 can be set up for digging trenches, forestry, demolition, or mass earthmoving — but each application needs the right configuration: auxiliary hydraulics for a hammer or thumb, the correct boom-and-stick setup, and a Cat ACERT-generation engine that meets your local emission tier. These pre-owned machines are built for industrial duty, and their versatility is part of why a verified CAT in great condition holds its value better than an off-brand unit. Model selection is only step one — tell us the operation and we match the configuration, not just the model number.
APPLICATION MATCHING
Residential / landscaping / tight access
Recommended Class
Mini
Typical Models
304, 305, 306
Trailerable, low ground pressure, 11–13.5 ft dig
Utility trenching / truck loading
Recommended Class
Small
Typical Models
308, 310
More reach (to 17 ft) while still container-friendly
General construction / foundations
Recommended Class
Medium
Typical Models
313, 315, 320, 323
The fleet backbone — 22 ft dig, 1.5+ yd³ bucket
Mass excavation / mining / quarry
Recommended Class
Large
Typical Models
330, 336, 349, 395
300–542 hp, 24–32 ft dig, oversize freight
Not sure which CAT class fits your project and budget? Whether it is a cat 320 excavator for sale for general earthmoving, a cat 336 excavator for sale for mass excavation, or a cat mini excavator for sale for tight-access utility work —
WhatsApp us your job and budget for a same-day shortlist →How Every Machine Is Verified Before It Ships
Here’s a key counterintuitive insight for which most buyers pay dearly: that the low hour meter on a used machine is absolutely NOT the guarantee of a good working excavator - and the ”low hour is better than high hour” mentality is how some very good buyers become badly burned. The seasoned excavators operator understands: if they had their choice between a well maintained, verifiable-highert hour unit versus and untested “low-hour unit”, their default would always be higher hours - when verified. The hour number means something only once it has been independently verified - and this process is almost always the skipped step for those looking to do this very cheaply. Thus, we’ve rebuilt the entire transaction process around proven results and independent validation.
Since the Caterpillar Excavator is fundamentally a hydraulic machine first, the hidden potential for a 12,000 to 15,000 USD hydraulic pump leak is one that’s not seen on any typical ad. Even a complete Undercarriage Refurbishment will cost about 12,000 USD to replace; and while cracks and structural damage don't always mean a total loss, we consider each major structural crack alone sufficient to reduce resale value by 20% or more. We systematically check each of these and more using our 12-Point Pre-Shipment Inspection Checklist.
12-Point Pre-Shipment Inspection Checklist
- Undercarriage wear - grousers, rails, links, rollers, sprockets and bushings measured with a track group against CAT "new / limited-use" limits, reported as % life remaining
- Hydraulic cycle times - boom, arm and bucket timed against spec; weak pump or valve bypass flagged
- Cylinder drift test - boom loaded, engine off, drift measured over 5 minutes for internal bypass
- Swing bearing play - dial-indicator reading at four quarter-turns
- Structural scan - boom, stick and frame welds checked for cracks and prior plating
- Leak walk-around - pump compartment, cylinders, swivel joint, final drives
- ECM / error codes - fault history pulled, not just current codes
- Engine condition - oil/blow-by check, coolant, fuel-filter sediment
- Hour-meter integrity - pedal and joystick wear cross-checked against displayed hours
- EPA engine-family label - verified against the EPA nonroad engine database so the unit clears customs
- Attachments & couplers - bucket teeth scalloping, quick-coupler function, thumb fit
- Grade assignment - A / B / C condition grade with photo and video evidence pack
PROCESS / REFURBISHMENT
Where a machine is refurbished, we say what was done and what was left original - a repainted boom isn't a rebuilt boom, and we won't claim one as the other. The honest version is always on the grade report. Buyers who insist on it can appoint a third-party inspector or escrow agent against our report; we encourage it, because our grade is built to survive that check.
Here's what experienced operators know that newcomers learn the hard way: the saving from a cheap exporter evaporates the first time a "950-hour" machine needs the $12,000 undercarriage a 1,500-hour unit was already due for. Our refurbishment and inspection bay exists to take that gamble off the table - the same team measure, documents, and repairs each machine in-house, so the grade you read is the grade you receive. That's the line between a refurbisher and a flipper, and it's the reason we lead with the report instead of the price.
"We grade every machine against the same undercarriage-wear and hydraulic-cycle checks a buyer's own inspector would run on our yard, then we send the meter photo, the wear percentages, and the walk-around video before anyone pays a deposit. If a number doesn't hold up, the machine doesn't get listed."
Is a Used CAT Worth It? Reliability and Value vs the Alternatives
The math behind buying used isn't subtle. A new excavator sheds the steepest part of its value in the first year, and that's value a used buyer simply never pays for.
CAT excavators have an operating lifespan of about 7,000 to 10,000 operating hours, and a well-kept, high-spec CAT comfortably exceeds 10,000. A working life that long is exactly why a verified mid-hour CAT is a smart purchase, and why the brand matters more than the meter. What overseas buyers really fear is the "cheap Chinese machine, no parts" trap, and it's a real danger, for no-name equipment. It doesn't apply to a Caterpillar: with CAT's global dealer and support network, the 320 or 336 you import is serviceable in nearly any corner of the world, not stranded with "no parts at all." Buying used name-brand equipment is how most experienced operators stay out of that trap. Emissions tier matters to value, too: a Tier-4-compliant engine (per the US EPA nonroad standards) keeps a used CAT legal to import and resell in regulated markets, while a non-compliant unit can be turned back at customs and lose its value overnight.
The common assumption is that the cat excavator price is the whole story. In the table below, though, it's the Used-CAT Value Stack — acquisition price, parts availability, hydraulic reliability, and resale retention — that protects your margin. Where a cheap exporter sells you a price, we stand behind the value: the name-brand machine that holds its worth, sourced and graded by a team that handle these machines every day.
| Factor | Used CAT (inspected) | New off-brand machine | New CAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acquisition cost | Lowest — first-year depreciation already absorbed | Low list price | Highest |
| Global parts availability | Wide — CAT dealer network | Limited / slow | Wide |
| Hydraulic predictability | Proven CAT circuits | Reported as unpredictable | Proven |
| Resale value retention | Strong (CAT demand) | Weak | Strong but off a higher base |
| Condition risk | Managed by grade report | New, but unproven brand | Lowest |
Comparisons reflect general market conditions and general operator trends, not precise benchmarks for any given machine.
Weighing used CAT against a new purchase for your fleet?
Get a value & landed-cost breakdown for your shortlist →
System / Logistics
Export Logistics and Landed Cost, FOB/CIF by Model Weight
The sticker price is never your real cost, the landed cost is, and the gap between them is exactly where first-time importers lose money and where a seller who actually ships machines for a living earns their keep. One number decides how a CAT travels: operating weight. Machines up to roughly the 7-tonne class fit a 40-ft container (often with tracks or rollers removed); above that, you're into flat-rack, breakbulk, or roll-on/roll-off. Our Weight-Class Shipping Mode Selector maps your model straight to its export path:
Want the all-in number, not just the machine price?
Request an FOB/CIF landed-cost quote
→
Class (models)
Operating weight
Export mode
Indicative sea freight*
Mini (304–306)
≤ ~16,000 lb (≤7 t)
FCL or LCL container (partial track removal)
LCL ~USD 1,200–3,500/unit;
FCL 40-ft ~USD 2,500–5,000 (2–4 units)
FCL 40-ft ~USD 2,500–5,000 (2–4 units)
Small (308–310)
18,000–23,000 lb
Container w/ partial teardown, or flat-rack
Per-unit container or flat-rack quote
Medium (313–330)
30,000–69,000 lb
Flat-rack / breakbulk / RoRo
Quoted by weight + destination port
Large (336–395)
80,000–207,000 lb
Breakbulk / RoRo, oversize handling
Project freight quote
*(Approximate industry average - not a Liehuang offer)
Worked example, landed cost, mini class to a US port
A working importers breakdown on a machine: operating weight, equipment FOB costs, ocean freight at ~USD$3200 (for a 40 ft container), $750 for shipping, marine insurance (at about 1-2%), and inland transit. Our breakdown of an example industry case using an estimated 15,500 FOB purchase cost showed a landed total value of around 21,400 “all in” (more than 31% below comparable US dealer cost) including all shipping, charges, and freight within your own currency, delivered to your yard.
Our data base confirms US import duty for track type excavators is 0% under HTS Code 8429.52.10.00, however country specific duties can apply including country of origin fees and country-based taxes (currently 7.5-25% if equipment originates from China) and destination based VAT/GST may also be charged.
We head off customs surprises by preparing every document a clearance needs, commercial invoice with the correct HS code, packing list, bill of lading, and EPA engine-family evidence for U.S.-bound diesel units, and we confirm the engine label against the EPA import requirements and your destination's rules before the box is sealed.
For U.S. shipments, US Customs (CBP) entry and ISF filing are handled with your broker. Choose FOB if you run your own forwarder, or CIF if you want us to carry it to your port. The catch most first-time importers miss: a seller who has never loaded a flat-rack can't quote a real landed cost, we ship these weight classes every month, which is why our FOB/CIF figure is one you can budget against, not a guess that balloons at the port.
How to Buy from Liehuang, Order Flow, Payment, Warranty & After-Sales
You should never have to wonder what a quote represents or how an order run. Unlike a marketplace that hands you a price and a shrug, we show the structure behind both: the price move with the factors below, and we quote per unit against your destination. Tell us where it's going and we build the number from there.
What drives the quote
- Model and class
- confirmed operating hours and condition grade (A/B/C)
- model and configuration
- attached tools (quick-coupler, bucket, thumb)
- refurbished items, if any
- FOB or CIF delivery destination port
- present customs tariff of the origin country
Verified Hours
meter cross-checked, evidence supplied
EPA Label Check
engine family verified for customs
A/B/C Grade
photo + video evidence pack
FOB / CIF
landed-cost transparency
Purchase desired attachments as one shipment; they cost virtually nothing in freight to share container space.
Digital Resources
Procurement & Shipping Tools
Empower your decision-making with our interactive calculators and selection matrices designed for verified B2B partners.
T-01
CAT Excavator Class & Model Selector
View Details
T-02
CIF Landed-Cost Estimator
View Details
T-03
Weight-Class Shipping Mode Selector
View Details
Used Caterpillar Excavators, Buyer FAQ
Is buying a used Caterpillar excavator from China actually reliable?
The horror stories you've read are almost always about cheap, no-name machines bought sight-unseen with rolled-back meters and fake engine labels. Two things change the outcome: buy a name-brand CAT (globally serviceable, predictable hydraulics), and refuse to buy without verified hours, a measured condition grade, and photo/video evidence. We supply both, and we welcome a third-party inspection against our report. If you can't inspect it yourself or get a trusted third-party inspection, walk away from any seller, us included.
How are the machines shipped, and how long does it take?
Mini and small CAT excavators ship in 40-ft containers (sometimes with tracks removed to fit); medium and large units go by flat-rack, breakbulk, or RoRo. Sea transit typically runs about 12–16 days to the US West Coast and 25–32 days to the East Coast, plus customs clearance and inland delivery.
What documents do I receive, and is there import duty?
You get the commercial invoice (correct HS code 8429.52.10.00), packing list, bill of lading, and EPA engine-family evidence for US diesel units. Tracked excavators carry 0% standard US import duty, though country-of-origin tariffs and destination VAT/GST may apply. We confirm requirements for your destination before shipment.
How do I know the hour meter wasn't rolled back?
We cross-check displayed hours against physical wear, pedal and joystick wear, undercarriage condition, and ECM history, and supply the meter photo. Be very skeptical of any seller quoting "under 1,000 hours" without that evidence; a verified higher-hour machine is a safer buy than an unverified low-hour one.
What about parts and warranty in my country?
Because these are Caterpillar machines, routine wear parts move through the worldwide CAT parts network rather than a single supplier, the main reason used CAT beats off-brand on serviceability. Warranty and after-sales support are agreed per order and machine grade.
Can I get a machine matched to my budget and job?
Yes. Send your target work (dig depth, job type), destination port, and budget, and we return a shortlist across years, hours, and models, for example a verified 2018 CAT 320 for general earthmoving or a 305 for tight-access utility work, with FOB/CIF landed cost on each. Every machine in our used excavators for sale list is graded before it's offered.
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