Factory Cat GTX vs GTR: Which Rider Scrubber Fits?

Both machines are Factory Cat riders. Both seat the operator, both run on a 36-volt battery system, and both come with your choice of scrub deck. So when a facility manager asks us “GTX or GTR?”, the honest answer is that it comes down to three things: how much water you need per tank, how long your shifts run, and how tight your floor plan is.

Here’s how the Factory Cat GTX vs GTR decision actually breaks down on an industrial floor.

The Short Version

• GTX is Factory Cat’s mid-size rider. Lighter, more compact, longer run time per charge, and the only one of the two that offers an orbital deck.
• GTR is the full-size rider. Bigger tanks, a heavier-duty disk deck, and more battery capacity for facilities where refilling and dumping is what’s slowing the crew down.

Neither one is the “better” machine. They’re built for different floors.

Tank Capacity: The Biggest Real-World Difference

On paper, people compare scrub paths. On the floor, tank size is usually what decides the job.

• GTX: 33 gal solution / 36 gal recovery
• GTR: 46 gal solution / 49 gal recovery

Every time a scrubber stops to dump and refill, the operator is walking it to a drain, rinsing the recovery tank, and filling back up. In a big warehouse or distribution center, the GTR’s extra capacity means fewer trips and more of the shift spent actually scrubbing.

In a mid-size plant where the drain is close and the floor is broken up by racking and work cells, that extra water matters a lot less — and the GTX’s smaller footprint matters more.

Scrub Deck Options

Both riders come with multiple deck styles, and choosing the right deck is just as important as choosing the right machine.

GTX deck options:

• Disk: 26”, 28”, 30”, or 34”
• Cylindrical: 25”, 29”, or 33”
• Orbital: 24”, 28”, or 32”

GTR deck options:

• Disk: 30”, 34”, or 36”
• Cylindrical: 29”, 33”, or 37”

A few things stand out:

• The GTR’s disk deck is the heavy hitter. It runs up to 250 lbs of down pressure at 350 rpm, versus up to 200 lbs at 270 rpm on the GTX disk deck. On sealed concrete with ground-in tire marks and production soil, that extra pressure and speed shows up in fewer passes.
• Cylindrical decks on both machines scrub and pick up light debris in one pass — zip ties, chips, screws, packaging scraps. If your floor sees grit and small debris, cylindrical usually beats disk, and you skip the pre-sweep. Both machines’ cylindrical decks are rated up to 500 lbs of down pressure.
• Only the GTX offers an orbital deck. Orbital is the go-to for chemical-free finish removal and for floors where swirl marks are a problem.

Not sure which deck fits your surface? Smooth sealed concrete and epoxy usually point to disk. Textured, grouted, or debris-heavy floors usually point to cylindrical.

Run Time and Batteries

• GTX: 36V / 210 Ah wet battery system, up to 6 hours per charge
• GTR: 36V / 310 Ah wet battery system, up to 5 hours per charge

Yes, the bigger machine has the shorter rated run time. The GTR carries more battery, but it’s also moving more weight and spinning harder decks. Both come standard with a 36V battery system and charger, so you can plug in wherever there’s an outlet at the end of the shift.

If you’re running a single-shift operation, either machine handles a full cleaning window. If you’re cleaning between shifts and need the machine back fast, talk to us about battery and charging options before you buy.

Size, Weight, and Maneuverability

The GTX weighs roughly 825–875 lbs. A GTR with a disk deck runs about 1,260–1,436 lbs.

That difference matters in a few places:

• Tight aisles and congested floors. The GTX’s compact rider frame is easier to thread between racking, around work cells, and through doorways.
• Mezzanines, elevators, and older floors. If the machine ever has to go upstairs or across a floor with load limits, check the weight before you buy.
• Trailering between buildings. A lighter machine is simply easier to move around a campus.

The GTR earns its weight on long, open runs — main aisles, dock areas, and big production floors where you can set a line and go.

Which One Fits Your Facility?

Choose the GTX if:

• Your floor is broken up by racking, equipment, or tight turns
• You want the longest run time per charge
• You need an orbital deck for finish removal or swirl-free cleaning
• Your drain and fill point is close to where you’re cleaning

Choose the GTR if:

• You’re cleaning large, open floors where dump-and-fill trips eat your shift
• You’re fighting heavy production soil and want the stronger disk deck
• You want wider scrub paths — up to 36” disk or 37” cylindrical
• Your aisles are wide enough to take advantage of the bigger machine

Still on the fence? A lot of our customers rent before they buy. Running a machine on your own floor for a week answers more questions than any spec sheet. Our floor scrubber rental program is a low-risk way to test the size class before you commit.

Don’t Overlook Used

Both the GTX and GTR are built to be serviced and rebuilt, not thrown away. That makes them strong candidates on the used market. Our used equipment inventory is inspected and guaranteed functional on arrival — a smart option if you need rider productivity on a tighter budget.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GTR just a bigger GTX? Not exactly. The GTR has larger tanks, more battery capacity, and a heavier-duty disk deck. The GTX is lighter, runs longer per charge, and is the only one of the two with an orbital deck option.

Which is better for warehouses? For large, open distribution centers, the GTR’s bigger tanks usually win. For warehouses with narrow aisles and dense racking, the GTX is often the better fit.

Can either machine pick up debris without sweeping first? Yes — with a cylindrical deck. Cylindrical brushes on both the GTX and GTR scrub and collect light debris in the same pass.

Are Factory Cat riders made in the USA? Yes. Factory Cat machines are built in Racine, Wisconsin — right here in our home state.

Talk to a Local Dealer Who Knows Both

At Wisconsin Scrub & Sweep, we make buying floor care equipment simple. Whether you’re weighing a GTX against a GTR, sorting out disk vs cylindrical, or trying to figure out if a rider is even the right call for your floor, our team is here to help you find the right solution — no pressure, no runaround. Browse our rider floor scrubbers to compare the full lineup. Give us a call at (262) 333-0799 or reach out online — we’d love to earn your business.