Bob,
I worked for our local Cat CE dealer in the early 90's and call tell you from experience that Cat's biggest asset is also their biggest problem. They have so much of the market share that it is impossible to support it effectivley. I meassured undercarriage and quoted PB turns, engine repairs, etc. I can tell you that the Deere dealership, Komatsu, etc. Was always targetting Cat repair opportunities. At the same time, I was NEVER contacted about competative machine repairs.
Steve

Wow what you said about Cat forklift not being the same business as the rest of Cat is the same story I got from Cat access,Cashman,and the rental yard, they all fly the Caterpillar emblem but none of them have anything to do with the other What a lesson learned I wonder who makes their parts or if the manufacture has anything to do with Cat! I think its all a way to pass the buck and not deal with the problem! I relly appreciate your advice on the certified letter,I will write in everything I can to deal with this problem and will not stop until someone out there feels Ive hurt their business someway then I guess I will have gotten ahold of someone who has something to do with Caterpillar! thankyou so kindly for your advise

So, Bob, I don't know if you know this about Cat, but the forklift divisions are somewhat different that the small rental equipment divisions, and we in the forklift/industrial equipment divisions support not so much Caterpillar Corp, as we support a joint venture named MCFA, who has nothing to do with the skid steer side of Cat.
All that said, how far up the line at Cashman or Cat Rental Store have you taken the calls to? Have you considered writing a letter to the president of Cashman if he won't return your calls? Send it registered return receipt req, to be able to prove you tried to notify them of your dissatisfaction? And maybe include a copy to Caterpillar corporate customer service in Ill.?
How was the unit stolen? (that information may help far more people to avoid the problem you find yourself in. than a rant against a corporation.)
Why would you rent something for 2.5 month (10weeks?) when you only needed to use it for an average of an hour a week?
Which insurance company was it that would not tell you what you were covered for? (that may also help people avoid your problem, more than Cat could).
From my standpoint, your experience would seem to me to be the greater exception, and not the rule, of how Caterpillar Corp expects the customer to be treated.
I wish you better luck with using Case, NewHolland, JohnDeere, Mustang, Bobcat, or what ever other brand of skidsteer or Excavator you get next. Thank goodness we have so many choices.
May I suggest you make friends with that dealers personal BEFORE you have another problem / miscommunication?