When contractors evaluate the CAT vs. John Deere pipelayer question, the conversation usually starts with brand familiarity and dealer relationships. Those things matter. But for contractors who want to look past brand preference and into actual performance specs, Midwestern’s sideboom attachments for John Deere crawler platforms tell a compelling story. In several key categories, the Midwestern/John Deere configuration matches or exceeds what CAT’s purpose-built pipelayer line offers.

At Midwestern Manufacturing, we have been designing and building sideboom attachments for John Deere crawlers since 1958. Our relationship with John Deere is not incidental. It has been formalized, developed, and expanded over more than 65 years. Here is how our John Deere sideboom attachments compare to CAT pipelayers class for class, and where the specs diverge in ways that matter on a real pipeline spread.

Midwestern Manufacturing and John Deere: 65 Years of Development

Understanding where Midwestern’s John Deere attachments come from matters before getting into the specs. This is not a generic sideboom bolted to a dozer. It is the product of a multi-decade engineering partnership.

• 1953: Midwestern Manufacturing founded
• 1958: Designed and built the first sideboom attachment for a John Deere tractor
• 1969: Established formal relationship with John Deere Corporate
• 1984: Established direct sales relationships with John Deere dealers
• 2006: Designed and built sideboom for the 850J tractor
• 2013: Approached John Deere for co-development of the 1050K LGP platform
• 2015 to 2017: Development and production of M170C and M220C for the 1050K PL platform
• 2018 to 2020: Development and production of M100C for the 850L PL and M40C for the 700L PL

The result is a lineup of sideboom attachments, the M40C on the 700L PL, the M100C on the 850L PL, and the M220C on the 1050K PL, that are engineered from the ground up for their specific John Deere host platforms. Each integrates directly with the John Deere electro-hydraulic control system and is purpose-built for pipeline lowering operations. You can explore the full range of John Deere crawler sideboom attachments on our site.

Spec-by-Spec Comparison: CAT vs. John Deere Pipelayers

The tables below compare the three Midwestern/John Deere pipelayer configurations against their equivalent CAT pipelayer class. Green highlighted cells indicate where the Midwestern/John Deere configuration exceeds CAT’s specification in that category.

*Optional equipment on M220C on 1050K PL

 

Small Class: 561 Size

Spec	M40C on 700L PL	PL61 (CAT)
Max Load @ 4 ft Overhang	40,000 lb	40,000 lb
Track Type	Oval	Oval
Max Shoe Width	30 in	30 in
Weight	41,960 lb	40,920 lb
Ground Pressure	6.8 psi	5.9 psi
Track Gauge	78 in	79 in
Track on Ground	103 in	104 in
Width (CWT Retracted)	10 ft 1 in	10 ft 8 in
Width (CWT Extended)	15 ft 3 in	15 ft 7 in

 

Medium and Large Class: 572 Size and 594 Size

Spec	M100C 850L PL	PL72 (CAT)	M220C 1050K PL	PL87 (CAT)
Max Load @ 4 ft Overhang	100,000 lb	90,000 lb	220,000 lb	216,000 lb
Track Type	Oval	High Drive	Oval	High Drive
Max Shoe Width	36 in	30 in	*38 in	34 in
Weight	72,000 lb	68,945 lb	134,900 lb	121,795 lb
Ground Pressure	7.7 psi	8.2 psi	12.1 psi	12.7 psi
Track Gauge	90 in	90 in	104 in	100 in
Track on Ground	130 in	128 in	147 in	146 in
Width (CWT Retracted)	11 ft 10 in	12 ft 1 in	14 ft 8 in	14 ft 2 in
Width (CWT Extended)	18 ft 6 in	17 ft 8 in	20 ft 6 in	20 ft 9 in

 

Where Midwestern’s John Deere Attachments Exceed CAT Specs

Three categories stand out in the comparison above, and all three have direct operational implications on a pipeline spread.

Rated Lifting Capacity

In the medium and large lifting classes, the Midwestern/John Deere configurations outperform their CAT equivalents on rated capacity.

• M100C on 850L PL: 100,000 lb rated vs. 90,000 lb on the CAT PL72. That is 11% more lifting capacity in the same class.
• M220C on 1050K PL: 220,000 lb rated vs. 216,000 lb on the CAT PL87. A meaningful advantage at the top of the lifting class range.

For large-diameter pipeline work where the margin between rated capacity and actual load matters, that additional capacity translates directly into operational safety and flexibility. The Pipeline & Gas Journal has documented how lifting capacity requirements have grown alongside increasing pipe diameters across North America’s transmission pipeline network. Understanding how to use that capacity correctly starts with the load chart for each configuration.

Our post on how to plan a pipeline spread covers how rated capacity factors into fleet sizing decisions.

Oval Track vs. High Drive Undercarriage

This is the spec difference that gets the least attention but has significant implications for right-of-way operations. In the medium and large lifting classes, Midwestern’s John Deere attachments run on an oval track undercarriage. The equivalent CAT pipelayers in those classes use a high drive undercarriage.

The oval track configuration is well suited to the conditions pipeline spreads actually encounter. Oval track systems provide a larger footprint of track contact with the ground, which benefits stability on soft, uneven, or variable terrain. The track system runs lower to the ground, which lowers the machine’s center of gravity and improves lateral stability during side-load lifting operations.

High drive undercarriages have advantages in certain applications, particularly ground clearance in rocky terrain. But for the soft-ground, flat-to-moderate-slope terrain that characterizes most pipeline right-of-ways, the oval track configuration on Midwestern’s John Deere attachments is the better fit. CAT’s smaller pipelayer class, the PL61, also runs oval track. It is only in the medium and large classes where CAT transitions to high drive, and it is precisely those classes where the Midwestern/John Deere oval track configuration becomes a differentiator.

Maximum Shoe Width

Shoe width directly affects ground pressure distribution and soft-ground performance. The Midwestern/John Deere configurations offer wider maximum shoe widths than their CAT counterparts in the medium and large classes.

• M100C on 850L PL: 36-inch max shoe width vs. 30-inch on the CAT PL72. Six inches wider.
• M220C on 1050K PL: 38-inch max shoe width (optional equipment) vs. 34 inches on the CAT PL87.

Wider shoes distribute the machine’s weight over a larger contact area, reducing ground pressure. For right-of-way conditions involving soft or saturated soils, that reduction in ground pressure can mean the difference between a machine that travels and positions efficiently and one that works against itself.  This is also where the oval track and wider shoe configuration work together: both contribute to lower effective ground pressure in the conditions pipeline spreads most commonly face. 

Features Specific to Midwestern’s John Deere Attachments

Beyond the spec comparison, Midwestern’s John Deere sideboom attachments include several engineering features that reflect the depth of the platform integration.

Bolt-On Design with Precision Machined Mounting

The attachment uses a bolt-on design with shear stops and precision machined mounting pads. The John Deere PL platform tractors come from the factory ready to receive the Midwestern sideboom attachment, enabling dealer installation without specialized fabrication. That factory readiness is the product of the direct co-development relationship between Midwestern and John Deere Corporate.

Electro-Hydraulic Control Integration

The M100C and other Midwestern John Deere attachments integrate directly with John Deere’s electro-hydraulic control system and valve, rather than using a separate control package. Functions including load, boom, and counterweight control are managed through integrated controls with 2-speed function, boom stop, and load quick drop. The result is a control interface that feels native to the John Deere platform, not like an aftermarket addition.

Sideboom-Optimized Winch Package

The winch package uses sideboom-optimized winches with piston motors and bulkhead hydraulic connections. Winch design for a sideboom application is different from a general-purpose winch, and the Midwestern winch package reflects those specific demands: controlled line speed, adequate torque at low line speeds for precise pipe positioning, and durable construction for sustained use across long lowering-in operations.

Operational Aids

Midwestern’s John Deere pipelayer attachments support a comprehensive operational aid package: a load monitoring system with load cell pins, boom angle sensor, level sensor, and optional powerline proximity sensor with anti-two-block capability. These systems directly support compliance with OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1440, the federal regulation governing sideboom crane operations, which requires defined load ratings and operator protection measures. 

An optional multi-camera system provides front, counterweight, winch, and rear views, with the rear camera active in reverse and load winch view as the default. These are the kinds of operational features that matter on a real spread. Our post on sideboom vs. crane vs. excavator on real jobsites covers why sideboom operational control is so critical in lowering-in operations.

What Drives the Platform Decision in Practice

For contractors weighing Midwestern’s John Deere attachments against CAT pipelayers, the spec differences above are one part of the picture. The practical decision also comes down to these factors.

Fleet and Dealer Ecosystem

John Deere’s dealer network is particularly dense across the U.S. agricultural heartland and pipeline construction corridors. For domestic spreads running through the Great Plains, Midwest, and Southeast, John Deere parts and service access is frequently excellent. Contractors already running John Deere crawler equipment in their fleet also benefit from parts commonality and operator familiarity with the platform.

Used Equipment Economics

John Deere crawler tractors are plentiful in the used equipment market, including the 700L, 850L, and 1050K platforms Midwestern builds for. Construction Equipment Magazine consistently tracks John Deere crawlers as among the most actively traded machines in the used heavy equipment market. 

A used John Deere PL platform with a new Midwestern sideboom attachment can represent significant capital efficiency compared to a new purpose-built pipelayer, while delivering engineered, ASME-compliant lifting capacity and the same operational feature set as a new machine.

New Platform Integration

For contractors purchasing new John Deere PL platform tractors, the factory readiness for Midwestern’s bolt-on attachment is a significant operational advantage. The tractor arrives configured to accept the sideboom without modification, and dealer installation is straightforward. That integration simplicity is the direct result of the co-development relationship Midwestern Manufacturing has maintained with John Deere since 1969.

The Right Tool for the Right Spread

Midwestern builds sideboom attachments for both John Deere and CAT platforms. We do not have a brand preference. What we do have is 65 years of specific engineering depth on the John Deere side that is reflected in the spec advantages the comparison table shows: higher rated lifting capacity in the medium and large classes, oval track undercarriage where CAT goes to high drive, and wider maximum shoe widths for better soft-ground performance. 

For contractors whose spread conditions and fleet composition make those advantages relevant, the Midwestern/John Deere configuration is worth serious consideration. For fleet planning or to discuss specific platform and lifting class requirements, contact the Midwestern Manufacturing team.

Frequently Asked Questions

What John Deere crawler platforms does Midwestern build sideboom attachments for?

Midwestern builds sideboom attachments for the John Deere 700L PL (M40C, 40,000 lb), 850L PL (M100C, 100,000 lb), and 1050K PL (M220C, 220,000 lb) platforms. Each attachment is engineered specifically for its host platform, integrates with John Deere’s electro-hydraulic control system, and is designed for factory-ready installation through the John Deere dealer network. View the full John Deere crawler sideboom attachment range for complete specifications.

How does the M100C on the 850L PL compare to the CAT PL72?

The M100C on the John Deere 850L PL offers 100,000 lb rated lifting capacity versus 90,000 lb on the CAT PL72. It also runs an oval track undercarriage where the PL72 uses a high drive configuration, and offers a 36-inch maximum shoe width compared to the PL72’s 30 inches. The oval track and wider shoe combination benefits pipeline right-of-way performance in soft or variable terrain conditions.

What does oval track vs. high drive undercarriage mean for pipeline operations?

An oval track undercarriage provides a larger ground contact footprint and a lower center of gravity than a high drive design. In pipeline right-of-way conditions, where soft ground, uneven terrain, and side-load lifting are common, oval track contributes to lateral stability and improved ground pressure distribution. High drive systems offer ground clearance advantages in rocky terrain but are less optimal for the soft-ground, moderate-slope conditions most pipeline spreads encounter.

How long has Midwestern been building for John Deere platforms?

Midwestern built its first sideboom attachment for a John Deere tractor in 1958, five years after the company was founded. A formal relationship with John Deere Corporate was established in 1969, with direct dealer sales relationships following in 1984. Co-development of new platforms, including the 1050K LGP, 850L PL, and 700L PL, has continued through the 2010s and 2020s, making the Midwestern/John Deere relationship one of the longest-running in the pipeline equipment industry.

Can Midwestern install a new sideboom attachment on a used John Deere crawler?

Yes. Midwestern builds new sideboom attachments for both new and used John Deere crawler machines. A used 700L, 850L, or 1050K in good mechanical condition paired with a new Midwestern attachment delivers engineered lifting capacity and full operational aid compatibility at significantly lower capital cost than a new purpose-built pipelayer. Contact us to discuss your specific machine and lifting class requirements.

Author: Doug G.