Dimensions

• The Caterpillar D4 crawler had an operational weight of more than 10,000 lbs. The weight is transferred to the ground by two metal tracks, each 13 inches wide with 62 inches on the ground. The D4 Cat stands 5 feet 8 inches tall to the top of its cab or rollover protection, with a width of 6 feet 5 inches and a length of 10 feet 3 inches. The addition of a blade or other front-mounted implement would increase the length of the crawler.
  
  

Engine

• Standard engine of the D4 Cat was a four-cylinder diesel engine with a displacement of 350 cubic inches. The engine developed 421 pound-feet of torque at 1,000 rpm. The engine was rated at between 48 and 50 horsepower at the drawbar.
  
  

Transmission

• A manually shifted gear transmission with five forward gears and one reverse gear was standard on the D4 Cat. Speed was not the D4's forte, however. Top forward speed was 5.4 mph ,while reverse topped out at 1.9 mph.
  
  

Capacity

• The low speed and gear ratio of the D4 Cat gave it excellent pulling power. According to the Nebraska Tractor tests conducted in 1955, the D4 could pull a drawbar weight of 9,976 lbs. The same tests ranked the crawler with a 48-horsepower drawbar rating. If the D4 could pull 5 tons of weight, it would also be able to push a similar weight with a dozer blade.
  
  

Operation

• Crawlers, including the D4 Cat, are steered by controlling the speed of the two tracks individually. Increasing the speed of the right track causes the crawler to turn to the left. The D4 was steered by two levers mounted at the control position. The throttle, gear shifter and hydraulic controls for any attachments are also mounted in the operator position.