Anyone here have bulldozer experience?

[JasperFrank]

If your real goal is to "Have a Blast" then by all means rent a Dozer. But if you want to get something done, you should hire an operator with their own machinery. For myself, there was no difference in cost, since it took so much extra rental time, learning how to use the machine and cleaning up the mistakes I made. It was a very fun experience. But further work, I left to the pro's.

 

[ovrszd]

But then don稚 you ALWAYS use the Braille method for grading, Richard??

I can稚 tell on my phone. In the first pic is that something on the gooseneck or something in the background?

It's a Dozer, maybe D6, on another trailer parked beside the front one. Couldn't get a better pic.

 

[fruitcakesa]

If your real goal is to "Have a Blast" then by all means rent a Dozer. But if you want to get something done, you should hire an operator with their own machinery. For myself, there was no difference in cost, since it took so much extra rental time, learning how to use the machine and cleaning up the mistakes I made. It was a very fun experience. But further work, I left to the pro's.

I am in this camp since I sold my last dozer.
My neighbor is a true master equipment operator and has all the necessary hardware. His base rate is $100/hr, man and machine and he can finish grade with with his D8

 

[ovrszd]

I am in this camp since I sold my last dozer.
My neighbor is a true master equipment operator and has all the necessary hardware. His base rate is $100/hr, man and machine and he can finish grade with with his D8

And he would definitely be a "bargain"!!!!

 

[Big Barn]

I am in this camp since I sold my last dozer.
My neighbor is a true master equipment operator and has all the necessary hardware. His base rate is $100/hr, man and machine and he can finish grade with with his D8

Wow cheap. Here are the rates for blade cat in my area

 

[ovrszd]

Ouch. We hired a dozer last year to repair some washed out roads. D7. $125 p/hr.

 

[ultrarunner]

After the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire storm where 3,000 homes burned the city implemented new urban/wildland requirements.

Since my family owned a large parcel of land they came under intense scrutiny... even though it was miles from the fire zone.

Every inspector had a different idea on how the requirements applied and none mentioned the fire trail option... they are use to dealing with city lots and not acreage.

Anyway... I was able to get the fire trail proposal signed off and Dad had a friend with a large paving and grading company who came out to look... he kind of scratched his head saying it is more involved than blazing a trail which is all the fire people wanted...

He offered for his son to come up and make a proposal... it never happened... they were so busy and the two times it would have worked it was raining like never before...

Under a mandate to get it done I bought the D3 in part so I could get it done on my schedule... and avoided $500 transport fees and $600 daily rental...

I marked out a path and with no experience began...

About a month later... Dad happened to run into his friend and he mentioned I was doing the work and had bought a dozer...

His friend scared Dad nearly to death... saying it was rugged terrain and recipe for disaster for a inexperienced operator... Dad called me at work and said no more... so I called his friend... and he was absolute... but I was able to convince him to at least look at what I had accomplished.

He came out and was impressed... saying it was first rate job and being an owner operator I had more leeway than a large firm with dozens of State and Local contracts... as to engineering and such.

He did repeatedly stress how dangerous hillside work was and all it takes is one wrong move for disaster...

He also said if he was bidding the job to city spec/engineer/etc. it would cost about as much as I had paid for the dozer...

Can't fault people for being safety conscious... and he was only looking out for his friend my Dad and family.

Over the next 17 years I would groom the trails taking less than a day each year and be done... after 17 years the property was sold and I reluctantly sold my Dozer for about what I had in it...

As a side note... when it came time to replace the brake/steering brakes I tore it down and went to Peterson CAT for parts... they could not have been any nicer... while there a fleet owner started a conversation and asked me what outfit I work for and I said just working on my own equipment... the short of it is he gave me his card and said he had openings for mechanic and operator.

My point is if I had to do it over again I would... it was enjoyable, educational, money saving, etc...

 

[fruitcakesa]

And he would definitely be a "bargain"!!!!

He is that and more ie: master welder, machinist and mechanic. The real deal.

 

[Big Barn]

As a side note... when it came time to replace the brake/steering brakes I tore it down and went to Peterson CAT for parts... they could not have been any nicer......

The Cat Ag exhibit at the very first (Tulare Ca) World Ag Expo I ever attended in the late 1970’s blew me away. It was HUGE. Strictly agricultural equipment no construction gear.

It was set up by Cat but I think Peterson was the host dealer. I could be wrong.

I have pics of the “CAT” gal I met who was handing out flowers. I will have to look for them. Ah memories.

 

[edgarrian]

This is what you said. I'll let you pick and choose what you want to defend.

Class act buddy.