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    Caterpillar 320 Excavator for Sale in South Africa

    The CAT 320 is the benchmark 20-ton excavator in South Africa — favoured by civil contractors, quarries and plant hire fleets for its balance of dig depth, fuel economy and resale value. IronYard lists live 320B, 320C, 320D, 320D2, 320GC and 320 Next Gen stock from verified SA dealers, with hours, service history, FRC status and finance available.

    All 9 SA provinces
    Verified dealers
    Transport arranged
    Finance in 24hrs

    Key specifications

    Operating weight
    20 400 – 22 900 kg
    Engine
    CAT C4.4 / C7.1 ACERT
    Net power
    121 kW (162 hp)
    Max dig depth
    6.72 m (standard stick)
    Max reach
    9.86 m
    Bucket capacity
    0.8 – 1.4 m³
    Fuel tank
    410 L
    Travel speed
    5.5 km/h
    Typical fuel burn
    12 – 16 L/hr

    Typical SA price bands

    320B / 320C (pre-2010)

    8 000 – 16 000 hours typical

    R 450 000 – R 900 000

    320D / 320D2 (2010 – 2017)

    5 000 – 12 000 hours typical

    R 900 000 – R 1 650 000

    320 GC / Next Gen (2018+)

    1 000 – 6 000 hours typical

    R 1 650 000 – R 2 800 000

    New (dealer)

    OEM warranty & CVA available

    R 2 900 000+

    Example finance

    R 1 450 000 machine · R 217 500 deposit · 60 months · 12.5% p.a.

    ≈ R 27 780 / month

    Calculate your own

    Available Caterpillar 320 stock

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    Also consider — excavator spec pages

    Other Caterpillar models

    Caterpillar 336

    Rival excavator models

    Komatsu PC200Hitachi ZX200

    Caterpillar 320 for sale by province

    Excavator in GautengExcavator in KwaZulu-NatalExcavator in Western CapeExcavator in Eastern CapeExcavator in Free StateExcavator in LimpopoExcavator in MpumalangaExcavator in North WestExcavator in Northern Cape

    Frequently asked — Caterpillar 320

    How many hours is too many on a CAT 320?

    A well-serviced CAT 320 comfortably runs to 15 000 – 20 000 hours before major overhaul. What matters more than the hour meter is service history, undercarriage wear, hydraulic health and how the machine was worked (civils vs quarry vs mining).

    What's the difference between a CAT 320D and a 320GC?

    The 320D uses the older mechanical hydraulics and CAT C6.4 engine. The 320GC (2018+) has electro-hydraulic pilot controls, the C4.4 Tier 4-equivalent engine, a smart mode that trims fuel by 15–25%, and a modern cab. The GC is cheaper to run; the D is cheaper to buy.

    Does the CAT 320 hold its value in SA?

    Yes — the 320 is one of the strongest resale performers in South Africa thanks to CAT's dealer network (Barloworld) and near-universal parts availability. Expect ~55–65% residual after 5 years on a well-cared-for machine.

    What attachments run on a CAT 320?

    Standard fitment includes GP and rock buckets (0.8–1.4 m³), hydraulic breakers (1 500–2 500 kg class), tilt-buckets, rippers, thumbs, mulchers and quick-couplers. Most SA dealers stock CAT Work Tools or matching Ferrari/Rammer aftermarket units.

    Is finance available on a used CAT 320?

    Yes. IronYard arranges finance on any listed 320 through WesBank, Nedbank CIB, Absa AVAF and Sasfin — typically 10–20% deposit, 36–60 months, indicative decision within 24 hours.

    Buying a CAT 320 in South Africa — what actually matters

    The Caterpillar 320 has been the default 20-ton excavator on South African sites for over two decades. If you spec a civil job in Gauteng, KZN or the Cape, chances are you will end up on a 320 for the bulk-earthworks phase. That popularity is both a blessing and a trap — plentiful stock means competitive prices, but it also means plenty of tired ex-mining or ex-quarry machines being flipped as "civil-spec".

    Which 320 generation should you buy?

    320B and 320C (mid-1990s to 2008) are cheap to acquire but expensive to keep alive. Hydraulic pumps and control valves for these generations are becoming harder to source new, and fuel economy is 20–30% worse than newer machines. Only worth it if you have a strong workshop or a specific low-hour example.

    320D and 320D2 (2010 – 2017) are the sweet spot for most SA buyers. Proven Tier 3 C6.4 engine, mechanical simplicity, well-understood parts pipeline through Barloworld and the aftermarket. A clean 6 000-hour 320D sits in the R 1.1m – R 1.4m band and will hold value.

    320 GC and 320 Next Gen (2018 onwards) bring pilot-over-electric hydraulics, the smaller C4.4 engine and CAT's Grade with Assist / 2D grade control. Meaningful productivity gains and a real fuel-burn drop, but you pay for it — R 1.8m to R 2.8m depending on hours.

    The undercarriage is where money is made or lost

    On a 20-ton excavator, a full undercarriage rebuild (rollers, idlers, sprockets, shoes and tension) is a R 250 000 – R 450 000 job. Always inspect track link pitch, sprocket tooth wear, roller flange condition and cracked/curled shoes before you buy. A 320 with 60% remaining undercarriage life is worth materially more than one at 30%.

    Finance and transport worked into the deal

    IronYard bundles finance and transport into every 320 quote. A typical Johannesburg-to-Cape Town low-bed run for a 320 lands between R 18 000 and R 25 000. Cross-border into Botswana or Namibia is arranged with clearing agents. Finance decisions come back within 24 hours on any listed machine — see the finance example above for what a mid-book 320D looks like.

    Get a price on a Caterpillar 320See all excavatorsFinance calculator

    Excavators by monthly instalment

    Illustrated at 10% deposit, 60 months, 12.5% p.a.

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