New Cat 395 Offers Premium Performance With Longer Reach

Mon March 10, 2025
Caterpillar

Caterpillar introduced its 395 Long Reach Excavator (LRE) for long-distance applications such as dredging, ditch cleaning and canal and waterway maintenance.

With a maximum digging depth of nearly 22 m, and up to 28 m of reach at ground level, Caterpillar said the 395 LRE is firmly in the ‘super long reach' category, matching its outstanding stick and boom configuration with substantial digging force.

"Available as a kit, which can be retrofitted to any 395 model, the 395 LRE option provides operators with a boost to the capabilities and reach of a ‘standard' 395, bringing its power, speed and fuel efficiency to bear on a whole new range of excavation applications," said Vincent Migeotte, senior product and sales consultant of Caterpillar. "Fully integrated with the standard machine, the 395 LRE kit creates a highly specialised machine that takes in its stride all the challenges of working at distance."

The aftermarket kit consists of an 11.8 m stick, a 15.5 m boom, and a CV linkage adapted for the new stick and boom. Boom cylinders form part of the kit, and the specially designed bucket offers capacity for up to 2 m cubed of material, depending on density.

Recognizing that the super long reach excavator will frequently be used for underwater tasks, the kit also includes fully waterproofed sensor boxes to allow continued operation of the full range of next generation technologies, such as Cat Payload Management System, Cat 2D Grade control system and Cat 2D E-fence. The latter keeps the front linkage within a predefined work area, providing greater operator confidence when working at distance and protecting the machine from damage while improving site safety, according to Caterpillar.

"The kit's been designed to cover every operating requirement," said Migeotte. "So another important feature is the ability to equip the machine with high pressure or medium pressure auxiliary lines, with a quick coupler. This allows full use of retrofit hydromechanical work tools, such as a grapple."

The undercarriage also receives an upgrade. A car body extension of 1.33 m provides a big boost to stability, while overall ground clearance gains another 85 mm. The configuration also adds extra height to the cab position, adding 24 cm over the standard and endowing the operator with significantly more all-round visibility.

Another nod to stability is in the design of the counterweight. Caterpillar has upped its mass by nearly 40 percent, but despite the increase to 21.5 t, it sits within the same dimensions, preserving the machine's tail ratio.

"The kit also underlines Caterpillar's commitment to productive, safe worksites, with additional handrails making for safer access and egress, while as-standard rear and side view cameras can be supplemented by a 360-degree option for maximum visibility," said Migeotte.

As well as safety, Migeotte said that the addition of the kit preserves all the characteristics of the standard 395, but with added versatility and performance.

"With the Cat 395 LRE, operators benefit from the same low costs of ownership, low fuel consumption and low maintenance, offering the same attractive return on investment that has become synonymous with any Cat machine," he said.

This story also appears on Construction Equipment Guide.