A JD 450 is pretty easy to learn to use ,but it can take a long time to develope a good eye for leveling a pad and learning how to build a road correctly . I agree that a JD450 is too small to really do a good and quick job on a project of that size . More than likely you are going to have mechanical issues with the tractor before you are done . Tracks and rollers and rails on a 450 are not cheap to replace! I can see a friendship on the line,before your done . At $95 a hour for a heavy equipment mechanic to repair it will run your job cost outta sight and ruin your friendship with the tractor's owner too . Also a JD450 is a old machne , so it is not like running a new one .I would seriously consider having the /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gifcontractor ,who gave you the bid put it all in . That is a cheap price . Go make money at what you do best and let the experts put your road in .It will be quicker and better . If it fails it will be the contractors responibilty to repair it ,not yours .
As far as fuel use ,it depends on how hard you are pushing the machine . I would figure 15 to 25 gallons a day , but that will not give you a real figure of your overhead cost as dozers need more than fuel to run and are serious money when they need up keep and repairs . I have owned a couple of JD dozers . The last one cost me $16000.00 in repairs when I decided to tune it up and rebuild the track system /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif . That $7800 bid will look cheap if that happens to you .
Good Luck ,
Big AL
