The Compact Construction Range from Caterpillar of Australia is set to debut on television’s main stage with the season launch of popular reality show ‘KingGee Jack Of All Trades’ in early January.
Pitting four contestants head to head in a series of building and landscaping challenges and tasks over eight fast paced episodes at a purpose built house at Silkwood Mt Cotton in Queensland, KingGee Jack Of All Trades will see the winner crowned Australia’s best tradie and the four bedroom house auctioned with proceeds going to charity.
As major sponsor, Caterpillar equipment is cast in a starring role with a range of compact machines to be used by the contestants, as well as providing the major home viewers prize - a showstopping 226B2 Skid Steer Loader or 301.8C Mini Excavator from the Compact Construction Equipment range.
Launching on Channel 9 nationally with a half hour show in January during the one day international cricket, KingGee Jack Of All Trades will see the four finalists test their skills with a range of home handyman challenges including a series of tasks using the latest Cat compact machines.
A weekly prize of a Cat Safety pack (gloves, glasses, hard hat and vest) will also be awarded to a viewer from each state, who access their website and register for the competition.
The programme will showcase of the Caterpillar compact range and will include a 247B2 Multi Terrain Loader (MTL), 246C Skid Steer Loader (SSL) and 303C CR Mini Excavator.
The four competing tradies will put each machine through its paces in a series of on-site challenges acknowledging the ease of use of the Cat machines and identifying the fastest and safest operator.
The challenges will see a selection of Cat Work Tools engaged to build fences, dig trenches, carry loads and manoeuvre through obstacle courses.
Although being piloted by novices, the Cat compact machines with a roll call of features ensures that a first time operator can look like a star.
Both the 247B2 MTL and 246C SSL feature pilot operated joysticks and cabs as well as both a hand and foot throttle, which allows tradies to tailor the machine’s performance to the task at hand.
The suspended undercarriage on the 247B2 delivers stability and low ground pressure in addition to high levels of traction.
The Caterpillar anti-stall system, which is fitted to both the 246C and 247B2, ensures the performance of the machine to be maintained across a variety of ground conditions, while allowing the operator to focus on the task at hand.
The 303C CR is a compact radius mini excavator that will be ideal for the tradies’ trenching and excavating tasks on the building site.
After simple direction from the Cat Specialist, the tradies star will shine as they become familiar with the pilot operated joystick controls delivering precise movement on all machines.
Shooting is also underway for an exciting new Caterpillar commercial to feature during KingGee Jack of All Trades, and the Caterpillar brand will be on full display in show promotions and in magazine, radio and press ads.
2007 series more than 600,000 viewers a week watched the show, while heats attracted more than 2000 participants Australia wide.