Business Segment Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Net sales:
Net sales	$ 1,677.9	$ 1,984.4	$ 3,208.1	$ 3,734.2
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating Income (Loss)	119.4	134.6	215.9	214.9
Interest expense net of interest income	(26.5)	(14.7)	(42.2)	(28.6)
Miscellaneous other income (expense)	0.5	0.1	(1.2)	0.4
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	93.4	120.0	172.5	186.7
Access Equipment
Net sales:
Net sales	866.0	817.4	1,534.6	1,398.6
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating Income (Loss)	116.6	95.0	206.9	143.9
Access Equipment | Aerial work platforms
Net sales:
Net sales	421.0	379.3	737.5	631.5
Access Equipment | Telehandlers
Net sales:
Net sales	299.7	307.4	517.4	514.3
Access Equipment | Other
Net sales:
Net sales	145.3	130.7	279.7	252.8
Defense
Net sales:
Net sales	484.3	826.7	965.6	1,654.5
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating Income (Loss)	34.5	67.0	59.3	127.9
Fire and Emergency
Net sales:
Net sales	146.9	161.8	335.9	333.2
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating Income (Loss)	1.0	2.7	7.9	8.1
Commercial
Net sales:
Net sales	180.7	178.5	372.0	347.9
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating Income (Loss)	5.4	7.6	15.6	15.6
Commercial | Concrete placement
Net sales:
Net sales	93.7	92.2	175.1	155.5
Commercial | Refuse collection
Net sales:
Net sales	60.6	61.3	141.4	142.1
Commercial | Other
Net sales:
Net sales	26.4	25.0	55.5	50.3
Corporate
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating Income (Loss)	(38.1)	(37.9)	(73.7)	(80.6)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss) from continuing operations:
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0.2	(0.1)	0
Operating Segments [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	1,677.9	1,984.4	3,208.1	3,734.2
Operating Segments [Member] | Access Equipment
Net sales:
Net sales	866.0	817.4	1,534.6	1,398.7
Operating Segments [Member] | Access Equipment | Aerial work platforms
Net sales:
Net sales	421.0	379.3	737.5	631.5
Operating Segments [Member] | Access Equipment | Telehandlers
Net sales:
Net sales	299.7	307.4	517.4	514.3
Operating Segments [Member] | Access Equipment | Other
Net sales:
Net sales	145.3	130.7	279.7	252.9
Operating Segments [Member] | Defense
Net sales:
Net sales	484.4	827.6	965.7	1,656.3
Operating Segments [Member] | Fire and Emergency
Net sales:
Net sales	156.1	174.0	354.1	356.1
Operating Segments [Member] | Commercial
Net sales:
Net sales	182.3	185.5	374.9	362.8
Operating Segments [Member] | Commercial | Concrete placement
Net sales:
Net sales	93.7	92.2	175.1	155.5
Operating Segments [Member] | Commercial | Refuse collection
Net sales:
Net sales	60.6	61.3	141.4	142.1
Operating Segments [Member] | Commercial | Other
Net sales:
Net sales	28.0	32.0	58.4	65.2
Operating Segments [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	(10.9)	(20.1)	(21.2)	(39.7)
Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Access Equipment
Net sales:
Net sales	0	0	0	0.1
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Access Equipment | Aerial work platforms
Net sales:
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Access Equipment | Telehandlers
Net sales:
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Access Equipment | Other
Net sales:
Net sales	0	0	0	0.1
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Defense
Net sales:
Net sales	0.1	0.9	0.1	1.8
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Fire and Emergency
Net sales:
Net sales	9.2	12.2	18.2	22.9
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Commercial
Net sales:
Net sales	1.6	7.0	2.9	14.9
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Commercial | Concrete placement
Net sales:
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Commercial | Refuse collection
Net sales:
Net sales	0	0	0	0
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Commercial | Other
Net sales:
Net sales	1.6	7.0	2.9	14.9
Intersegment Eliminations [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Net sales:
Net sales	$ (10.9)	$ (20.1)	$ (21.2)	$ (39.7)