Mini dozer usefulness?

[Mathias NY]

I'm not sure if this is the best category to ask, but I'm pondering a mini dozer build and wondering how useful the finished product will be. I've never used one, so I don't know much about how well they work.

So here's what I'm considering: start with something like a Kubota B6000 (13hp, 2cylinder diesel engine, ~900 lbs), and convert it to run on a set of rubber tracks from a mini-excavator. The finished product would be 3-4' wide, about 6' long, and just under 2000 lbs.

If I were to install a 4' wide dirt blade on the front, would it have the power/traction to do more than level out loose piles of dirt? I understand that it would have limitations, but I would hate to invest that much time and money into something that I couldn't put to work.

Thanks in advance for the opinions.

 

[davedj1]

The only info I can offer is that the tracks are heavy. I suppose it's like anything, if it's a purpose built and you respect it's capabilities then it should serve you well.

 

[Thomas]

I suggest you go to dealer that has excavator w/4' plow or close to it and give it try...loose also pack dirt.

 

[arsenix2001]

I had a kubota kx121 mini excavator with 42hp and it weighed 10500 lbs. Its 4 way dozer blade would struggle cutting virgin soil without spinning the tracks. So my opinion its no. You would have yourself a grading machine.

 

[workinprogress]

I am running about 800-1000 lbs on my mini dozer. It has it's benefits and it has it limitations. I am running a 42" blade. In my driveway I can cut in max of 1/2 inch. You do have good control but this is about it. The machine will drive itself just about anywhere and seems to pull my small trailer with firewood. I was able to widen the driveway back to orginal width by digging up the grass edge.

I guess my suggestion is this is a small machine but with some time it will get work done. If you expect this to scrap off 4 inches of dirt in a single pass I am pretty sure this will not happen.

Good luck with the build.

 

[SandburRanch]

Design it with scarifiers on the rear for ripping and go for it. We're needing a new project to watch develop with lots of pictures.

 

[Mathias NY]

Thanks for the perspectives. I've run a few mini excavators, but wasn't sure how well a dozer would do, given that it is a lot lighter.

I think for now it's going to remain just an idea. If I do get a chance to move forward with it, I'll definitely keep some pictures posted.

 

[ultrarunner]

My neighbor had a 1950's agri-cat mini dozer with a hydraulic up and down blade and rear ripper...

He used it to maintain a mile of road to his hunting cabin...

He said the secret to getting an honest days work was to have the ideal soil conditions...

Even a small dozer like a D3 would have done in an hour or so what he would do over a weekend... he did have a lot of fun with it and it towed on a single axle trailer.

 

[Mathias NY]

ultrarunner - I know what you mean about the size disparity. My Ford 3000 with a back blade will run circles around my little Kubota BX2350, and the dozer I'm thinking of is even smaller.

One advantage it would have is super low ground pressure. It would allow me to drive out on the lawn and field at times when the other tractors would leave trenches (it could also do a nice job filling in those trenches). If I left the 3pt hitch on the back, it would be an easy mounting spot for a ripper or any other implement.

Maybe a little bigger machine would be better. I already have an Allis Chalmers B that I was trying to sell. If I can't find a buyer, maybe this should become the starting point...

 

[2458n]

The rubber tracks are very costly. Even if you found a set of used the advantages of the small tracked dozer seem limited. If the ground is so soft,or wet what are you going to be able to do with it? Fertilizing might be accomplished. Good mental exercise,but I am not very capable of that either.