The Caterpillar 797F is one of the most powerful and heavy-duty mining dump trucks in Cat’s line - built for massive open-pit operations. It’s driven by a Cat C175-20 engine, which delivers 4000 hp (about 2983 kW). This beast isn’t just about raw power - it’s engineered to haul colossal loads. Its nominal rated payload is 400 U.S. tons (about 363 metric tonnes), making it a workhorse in high-capacity haul cycles.
In terms of its own mass, the 797F’s operating weight (when empty) is roughly 1,375,000 pounds (623,690 kg). The body (the dump bed) itself weighs around 43,000 kg, meaning the chassis and heavy-duty structure are built to take not just the payload but the stresses of constant heavy hauling.
Engine Details
| Engine |
Cat C175-20 Tier 2 |
Cat C175-20 Tier 4F |
| Number of Cylinders |
20 |
20 |
| Displacement |
6469 cu in (106 L) |
6469 cu in (106 L) |
| Bore |
6.9 in (175 mm) |
6.9 in (175 mm) |
| Stroke |
8.7 in (220 mm) |
8.7 in (220 mm) |
| Gross Power |
4000 hp (2983 kw) |
4000 hp (2983 kw) |
| Net Power |
3795 hp (2828 kw) |
3887 hp (2899 kw) |
| Power Measured @ |
1750 rpm |
1750 rpm |
| Lubrication System |
Gear type lube oil pump with integral lube oil cooler |
Gear type lube oil pump with integral lube oil cooler |
| Fuel System |
Common Rail |
Common Rail |
| Air Cleaner |
4x Single element canister air filter with service indicator |
4x Single element canister air filter with service indicator |
| Aspiration |
Turbocharged Aftercooled (TA) |
Turbocharged Aftercooled (TA) |
| Emission Standards |
US EPA Tier 2 + EU Stage II |
US EPA Tier 4 Final + EU Stage V |
Dimensions
| 1. Height to Top of ROPS (Empty) |
256.9 in (6526 mm) |
| 2. Overall Body Length |
614.2 in (15 583 mm) |
| 3. Inside Body Length |
393 in (9976 mm) |
| 4. Overall Length |
614.2 in (15 583 mm) |
| 5. Wheelbase |
283.1 in (7195 mm) |
| 6. Rear Axle to Tail |
155 in (3944 mm) |
| 7. Loaded Ground Clearance |
31 in (786 mm) |
| 8. Dump Clearance |
70 in (1768 mm) |
| 9. Loading Height (Empty) |
267 in (6786 mm) |
| 10. Inside Body Depth (Maximum) |
132.4 in (3363 mm) |
| 11. Overall Height (Body Raised) |
610 in (15 485 mm) |
| 12. Centerline Front Tire Width |
257 in (6534 mm) |
| 13. Engine Guard Clearance (Loaded) |
39.8 in (1025 mm) |
| 14. Outside Body Width |
409 in (10 393 mm) |
| 15. Overall Canopy Width |
409 in (10 393 mm) |
| 16. Inside Body Width |
355.7 in (9036 mm) |
| 17. Front Canopy Height (Empty) |
300 in (7630 mm) |
| 18. Rear Axle Clearance (Loaded) |
37.3 in (947 mm) |
| 19. Centerline Rear Dual Tire Width |
245 in (6233 mm) |
| 20. Overall Tire Width |
374 in (9529 mm) |
When you look at capacity beyond weight, the 797F’s body volume (with a Cat “HP” or high-payload body) can be heaped to 330 yd3 (about 252 m3) under SAE 2:1 conditions. All that combines to make the 797F a benchmark in mining - it’s not just impressively large, it delivers serious hauling power for the cost per ton moved.
Weight Distributions
| Caterpillar 797F |
Empty |
Loaded |
| Front Axle |
47.2% |
33.3% |
| Rear Axle |
52.8% |
66.7% |
| Total Weight |
573 000 lb (259 909 kg) |
1 375 000 lb (623 690 kg) |
Dump System
| Payload Capacity |
802000 lb (363781 kg) |
| Capacity, Heaped SAE 2:1 |
314-350 yd3 (240-267 m3) |
| Capacity, Struck |
246-290 yd3 (188-213 m3) |
| Body Plate |
High-strength steel |
| Dump Angle |
50° |
| Body Raise Time (High Idle) |
25 sec |
| Body Lower Time (Float) |
19 sec |
| Body Power Down (High Idle) |
18 sec |
Excavator Pass Matching
| HMS |
Passes |
| Cat 6050 |
7-8 |
| Cat 6060 |
6 |
| Cat 6090 FS |
4 |
| ERS |
Passes |
| Cat 7495 HF |
4 |
Operational Specs
| Gross Machine Weight (GMW) |
1 375 000 lb (623 690 kg) |
| Nominal Payload Capacity (NRP) |
802 000 lb (363 781 kg) |
| Body Weight (BW) |
94 799 lb (43 000 kg) |
| Chassis Weight (CW) |
474 472 lb (215 217 kg) |
| Steering Angle |
40° |
| Front Turning Diameter |
123 ft (37.4 m) |
| Maximum Gradeability |
12% |
| Number fo Tires |
6 |
| Rims |
44 x 63 (Quick Change Rims optional) |
| Tire Size |
59/80 R63 (Radial, tubeless) |
| Operating Voltage |
24 V |
| Alternator |
225 amps |
| Battery |
2x 12 V, 210 Ah, CCA 1500, RC: 465 min, 8D |
| Starter |
24 V, Teeth: 11/12, IP67 |
| Cab Option |
Standard Cab / Deluxe Cab / Deluxe Cold Weather Cab |
| Operator Seat |
Air Suspension Seat with Three-Point Operator Restraint |
| Trainer Seat |
Air Suspension Trainer Seat |
| Noise Level (Interior) |
74 dB(A) |
| HVAC |
Heating/Air Conditioning |
| Display Option |
Work Area Vision System / Cat MineStar Monitor |
| ROPS |
ISO 3471:1994 ROPS Criteria |
| FOPS |
ISO 3449:1992 Level II FOPS Criteria |
Transmission
| Transmission Type |
Caterpillar 7-speed planetary powershift transmission |
| Number of Gears |
7F / 1 R |
| Max Forward Speed |
42 mph (67.6 km/h) |
| Max Reverse Speed |
7.4 mph (11.9 km/h) |
| Torque Converter |
Lock-up torque converter |
| Service Brakes |
Four-Corner, Wet Disc, Oil Cooled, Hydraulically Actuated |
| Parking Brake |
Four-corner, Multi-disc, Spring applied, Hydraulically Released |
| Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) |
Optional with CMD package |
| Brake System Standards |
ISO 3450:2011 |
| Front Wet Disc Brake Surface Area (10 discs per side) |
20500 in2 (132258 cm2) |
| Rear Wet Disc Brake Surface Area (15 discs per side) |
30750 in2 (198387 cm2) |
| Brake Surface |
51250 in2 (330645 cm2) |
| Retarder |
Oil-cooled, multiple disc design |
Axles and Final Drives
| Type of Final Drives |
Double reduction, planetary with full floating axles |
| Differential Ratio |
1.276:1 |
| Planetary Ratio |
16.67:1 |
| Total Reduction Ratio |
21.26:1 |
| Rear Axle Oscillation |
±4° |
| Suspension Cylinders |
Self-contained nitrogen/oil cylinders, rear strut pin-to-pin mounting, top and bottom double shear clevis attachments |
| Front Effective Cylinder Stroke |
3.9 in (99.1 mm) |
| Rear Effective Cylinder Stroke |
3.7 in (93.2 mm) |
Hydraulic System
| Pump Flow (High Idle) |
317 gal/min (1200 L/min) |
| Relief Valve Setting (Raise) |
3510 psi (24200 kPa) |
| Hydraulic Cylinders |
Twin, two-stage hydraulic cylinders with snubbing valve |
Service Refill Capacities
| Fuel Tank Capacity (Tier 2 engine) |
1000 gal (3785 L) |
| Fuel Tank Capacity (Tier 4 engine) |
1200 gal (4540 L) |
| Fuel Tank Capacity, Optional |
2000 gal (7570 L) |
| DEF Tank Capacity (for Tier 4) |
99 gal (375 L) |
| Engine Oil Capacity (w/ filter) |
84 gal (319 L) |
| Cooling System Capacity |
306 gal (1160 L) |
| Steering System Capacity (w/ tank) |
94 gal (355 L) |
| Steering Tank Capacity |
67 gal (254 L) |
| Brake/Hoist Hydraulic System Capacity (w/ tank) |
441 gal (1600 L) |
| Hoist / Brake Tank Capacity |
203 gal (770 L) |
| Hoist / Brake Hydraulic Lines |
219 gal (830 L) |
| Transmission Oil Capacity (w/ torque converter) |
166 gal (629 L) |
| Torque Converter Sump Capacity |
80 gal (303 L) |
| Differentials Fluid Capacity |
311 gal (1176 L) |
| Front Wheels Capacity (each) |
16 gal (61 L) |
| Final Drives Fluid Capacity (each) |
49 gal (185 L) |
The Caterpillar 797F is sold globally, with particularly large fleets in North and South America, Australia, and a presence in the Middle East and Central Asia - reflecting its role in major mining markets.
- North America: These trucks are used in large-scale mining operations in Canada (especially oil sands) and the U.S.
- South America: The 797F is active in copper and iron ore mines in this region.
- Europe: The 797F is active in copper and iron ore mines in this region.
- Russia: Typical open-pit mining applications like copper, iron ore, and overburden transport.
- Australia: Very prominent — many 797Fs operate in Australian coal mines.
- Middle East / Gulf: There is a listing for 797F trucks available through a Cat dealer in UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
- Central Asia: For example, in Kyrgyzstan via Borusan CAT.
The 797F is factory-ready for MineStar Command for hauling, an autonomous hauling solution. Hundreds of autonomous Caterpillar mining trucks, including 797s, are currently in service, with over 2.4 billion tonnes hauled. Command enables near-continuous utilization and has proven to increase productivity by more than 30%. Operators are completely removed from the environment for significant improvements in site safety.
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