24,889 kg299 hpMarket avg. €105k · 51 listed · 31 below market
Asking prices land at €73k – €162k, around 110% above the market average.
Across independent European dealers, used Caterpillar 972 listings currently run from €72,500 to €162,000, with a market average around €104,597. Year, operating hours and configuration move the price within that band. Based on 51 active listings, refreshed daily.
31 below-market asks right now. We write back within 15 minutes with the strongest matches for your spec.
Each row is a step the desk runs through when you ask for a model. Counts come from the live European market: what we read this week, what we'd flag, and what we'd send if you'd asked.
Nearest competitors auto-selected by category and weight class. Specs from manufacturer datasheets; prices from recent dealer listings.
The Caterpillar 972 is a large-frame wheel loader in the 25-tonne operating class, produced continuously since 1995. It is rated at 299 hp and carries a standard bucket capacity of 4.58 cubic metres, positioning it firmly in the heavy-production segment of the articulated wheel-loader market. Its operating weight of 24,889 kg places it among the higher-capacity machines in its class, suited to demanding cycle-intensive environments.
Wheel loaders in this class are deployed across quarrying, large-scale earthmoving, port bulk-material handling, and aggregates processing. They serve as primary load-and-carry units feeding crushers, stockpile operations, and high-tonnage truck-loading cycles. Their bucket capacity and power output also make them viable for heavy industrial yard work and large-scale infrastructure projects.
Inspection of any large wheel loader in this class should prioritise the articulation joint and steering cylinders for wear and seal integrity, as these components carry significant loads in continuous cycling. The torque converter and transmission should be evaluated through operational testing across all ranges, noting any slippage or shift harshness. Engine hour records should be verified against visible wear indicators on the undercarriage components and linkage pins. Bucket, lip, and cutting-edge wear directly affect productive capacity and should be assessed before purchase. Hydraulic system function, including lift, tilt, and any auxiliary circuits, should be cycled fully under load. Full-frame inspection for cracks around the hitch and loader arms is standard practice for machines of this weight and age range.
Within the large wheel-loader segment, the Caterpillar 972 is most commonly cross-shopped against the Komatsu WA475 and the Volvo L150. The 972 and the WA475 sit close on operating weight, but the 972 carries a larger bucket capacity at 4.58 cubic metres compared to the WA475 class specification, which can be a deciding factor in high-volume material-handling applications. The Volvo L150 competes on power and weight in the same band and is favoured in some markets for its drivetrain characteristics, giving buyers a genuine alternative to evaluate side by side. Within the 972's own price band, the attributes that move a unit are accumulated hours, service history, bucket and cutting-edge condition, tyre remaining life, quick-coupler fitment, and overall machine configuration including any auxiliary hydraulics or specialist attachments.
Market average ask shown as delta against the class average (€105k).
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