Business Segment Information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		$ 4,792.7		$ 4,792.7		$ 4,613.0
Net sales		1,747.5	$ 1,612.3	4,523.8	$ 4,519.8
U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales				3,492.5	3,584.7
Other North America
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales				177.8	226.3
Europe, Africa and Middle East
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales				558.2	371.2
Rest of World
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales				295.3	337.6
Access Equipment
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		2,841.5		2,841.5		2,911.6
Net sales		952.5	932.6	2,236.6	2,631.1
Access Equipment | U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		2,111.5		2,111.5		2,178.7
Access Equipment | Europe
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	[1]	534.7		534.7		531.4
Access Equipment | Rest of World
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		195.3		195.3		201.5
Defense
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		654.6		654.6		429.6
Net sales		264.0	191.1	877.7	617.9
Defense | U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		652.1		652.1		424.5
Defense | Rest of World
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		2.5		2.5		5.1
Fire and Emergency
Revenue and assets by geography
Net sales		244.2	195.0	686.8	549.1
Fire and Emergency | U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		541.4		541.4		530.7
Commercial
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		471.9		471.9		436.2
Net sales		286.8	$ 293.6	722.7	$ 721.7
Commercial | U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		435.4		435.4		395.1
Commercial | Rest of World
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	[1]	36.5		36.5		41.1
Corporate
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets		283.3		283.3		304.9
Corporate | U.S.
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	[2]	213.9		213.9		218.6
Corporate | Rest of World
Revenue and assets by geography
Identifiable assets	[3]	$ 69.4		$ 69.4		$ 86.3

[1] Includes investments in unconsolidated affiliates.

[2] Primarily includes cash, short-term investments and capitalized costs related to a shared enterprise resource planning system.

[3] Primarily includes cash, short-term investments and capitalized costs related to a shared enterprise