Looking to add a D5K2 for personal use and I have a question about slope assist feature. Do all units with grade control have the slope assist or is that an option that has to be purchased or unlocked? I've seen a couple of units that have grade control and ARO monitor but don't have the icon on the dash to enter the slope assist basic or advanced menu. Monitor seems to only be slope indicating on the home screen. Looking at models in the 2017 to 2019 year range. Any information or insight would be appreciated.
The only thing I can suggest is to ask your dealer. My recollection is that Accugrade is a dealer-installed option. It appears as though there are three different Accugrade options for track-type tractors, Laser, GPS, & ATS. https://www.cat.com/en_ID/support/technology/earth-moving-solutions/accugrade-grade-control-system.html The specalog for the D5K2 only shows "Accugrade Ready" as an option. This means that the wiring required for an Accugrade system will be installed at the factory when the machine is built but not the system itself.
Thank you for the follow up. I did reach out to my local CAT dealer yesterday as well but haven't heard back. Just seems like a nice option for simple 2D operations. Just trying to figure out if it's included in thr Accu grade ready option or not.
No it isn't, at least that's how I understand it. "Accugrade ready" only indicates that the necessary machine wiring for the installation of any type of Accugrade system is installed when the machine is built at the factory - nothing else.
Not sure about the K series but the Next Gen machines come standard with slope assist which is an indicate only system. As Nige said Accugrade ready just means the machine is prewired for 2D and 3D systems. We have a NG D3 with full auto GPS and it has revolutionized how we grade - when you have an accurate surface model and the software is working.. Oh yeah - Welcome to the Forums!
My comments were specifically for the D5K2 considering that was the model the OP asked about. Things have moved on since then and on current year models it may well be something that was optional on earlier models is now standard. See the extract from the current D3 specifications below as proof.
The D3 we have came from the dealer with slope assist already on it. Have to look back and see if it was an option the dealer chose, I just thought it was standard on the Next Gen. https://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/technology/assist/assist/1000030269.html The slope assist is a handy tool for doing basic flat pads and such. Had the machine less than a year before we added GPS.