Comparison mini dozer

[Charles M Poland]

Hello Charles here: Has anyone ever had a Struck Corp. Magnatrac Mini Dozer? Any information on this little tractor would be of help, I guess first thing one needs to know is how much leg room do they have or the seat area? Are they made more for the short to average size person. The reason is i'm 6ft 10in tall, and weigh 330lbs.

 

[20 20]

Not sure what you're planing on doing but you may want to check out the nortrac dozer? IMO it is a much stronger machine for a WAY better price. When I was looking for a small dozer I aslo checked out the strucks, but for the price {IMO}they really aren't worth it. You may also be able to find a good used small name brand dozer for a good price. If you do go used make sure you know what to look for.

What type of work are you planing on doing? If your looking for a small machine with BH blade etc, you may also want to check into a mini excavator? The mini ex's are becoming a very popular machine and the work load they'll handle is great.

 

[jda1961]

the nortrack dozer is a larger dozer than the magnatrac, not sure if its better though, the magnatrac is american made in wisconsin, and they do last a very long time. chinese tractor have an iffy reliabillity issue as well as subpar components. if i was rich i'd go with the magnatrac, if i was cheap or just tight i'd go find an old used small dozer and let the chinese crap alone.

 

[davygp38]

I have been looking for a small dozer ( small enough to haul around with my pick up,) and I can tell you that if you buy a name brand used one, you need to have someone who knows dozer's, with you. I have a friend like that, and the things he has pointed out to me has blown my mind. Like sharp teeth on drive sprockets. Even after looking for the past year, I am resigned to buying one in the best Sharp possible, and fully expecting to have to put a lot of money in it. Good luck, and let us know if you get one.

 

[20 20]

My chinese piece of crap works great, no issues, except bad track pins{easy fix} They're parts department has also been excellent. I would not hesitate to by Nortrac again, of course there are those that just like to pay.

 

[Diamondpilot]

the nortrack dozer is a larger dozer than the magnatrac, not sure if its better though, the magnatrac is american made in wisconsin, and they do last a very long time. chinese tractor have an iffy reliabillity issue as well as subpar components. if i was rich i'd go with the magnatrac, if i was cheap or just tight i'd go find an old used small dozer and let the chinese crap alone.

I would put my Chinese Jinma 28HP tractor up to any 35HP tractor from JD, NH, Case, ect. I have had it for 7 years and 750 hours and only replace a starter, thermostat, and one hydraulic hose. It now has leaking front axle seal but that will be a easy fix. It was from me having it buried multiple times over the wheels in a sand pit. While the fit and finish is better on my Ford tractor that I have my Jinma will flat out work it.

Chris

 

[20 20]

I would put my Chinese Jinma 28HP tractor up to any 35HP tractor from JD, NH, Case, ect. I have had it for 7 years and 750 hours and only replace a starter, thermostat, and one hydraulic hose. It now has leaking front axle seal but that will be a easy fix. It was from me having it buried multiple times over the wheels in a sand pit. While the fit and finish is better on my Ford tractor that I have my Jinma will flat out work it.

Chris

:thumbsup: I also blew out the front seal on my 254. Ranch Hand had the parts to me in no time and with his site/help{pictures etc} it was a VERY easy fix. Mine also blew because I was pushing the machine past its limits.

 

[Diamondpilot]

:thumbsup: I also blew out the front seal on my 254. Ranch Hand had the parts to me in no time and with his site/help{pictures etc} it was a VERY easy fix. Mine also blew because I was pushing the machine past its limits.

I got my parts from Ronald also. It started leaking a month ago but with all the snow I have held off on fixing it. I have only lost a 1qt in a month. I wanted to wait because knowing my luck I would get it all torn apart and would have a issue then we would get dumped on by a 18" storm.

Chris

 

[20 20]

Diamondpilot, my leak was also small, probably didn't really have to worry that much about it. I'm just the type of person that likes things right, figure it is better to fix then let go. I believe the worst part of the fix was the mess, gear oil.

 

[Builder]

Hello Charles here: Has anyone ever had a Struck Corp. Magnatrac Mini Dozer? Any information on this little tractor would be of help, I guess first thing one needs to know is how much leg room do they have or the seat area? Are they made more for the short to average size person. The reason is i'm 6ft 10in tall, and weigh 330lbs.

OK, maybe if we can get the typical brand bash overwith and help you out: I would think your size would be an issue on the smaller machines. You're at the point where you need to buy the machine you can actually fit on. My foreman is 6-7 and I thought he was big, 6-10....whew

I would think you could ride one of those little strucks like a Harley. :laughing:

You might do better on a little Mitsu BD like this one :thumbsup: :
1994 MITSUBISHI BD2G-2 LGP Dozer - Crawler For Sale At MachineryTrader.com

Not much more expensive and a pretty serious name in construction machinery.

 

[20 20]

Builder, that seems like a nice machine, big leap from a struck though I wonder how easy parts are to find? noticed it is in need of a $750.00 front idler{??}

 

[Builder]

20 20,

I wasn't inferring he buy that actual dozer for sale in the ad, but to consider buying a model (the Mitsu BD, Cat D-3, etc. ) like that rather than a small chinese dozer since he's such a big guy and also because it's a more serious commercial grade dozer. Yes, it is bigger than the struck, but once a dozer gest really small, they become less useable. Dozers need to have some weight to them to be effective, just like a tractor. If I compared one of my larger CUTs to a little chinese tractor, my tractor would push more dirt, lift more at the 3 point, etc.

Right now, commercial grade equipment is cheaper than ever. Businesses are selling off because of the horrible construction economy. There aren't a lot of used "nortrac" dozers around and you'd probably find a commercial grade used dozer around for a similar price to a newer nortrac homeowners dozer.

I don't know why parts would be any problem with the Mitsu, Cat, etc.

 

[J_J]

Hello Charles here: Has anyone ever had a Struck Corp. Magnatrac Mini Dozer? Any information on this little tractor would be of help, I guess first thing one needs to know is how much leg room do they have or the seat area? Are they made more for the short to average size person. The reason is i'm 6ft 10in tall, and weigh 330lbs.

I have a Magnatrac mini-dozier, a M-1800 with 16 HP Wisconson engine. It depends on what you call fit. The seat will adjust. The newer ones are hydrostatic, and they cost upward of $8000. Mine could be had for $2200.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have to a agree here with Builder. I know, it goes against all that is right...

My brother just bought a Case 580B. Nice little hoe and has less than 2000 hours. A farmer owned it a passed away a few years ago. His wife just decided it was time to start selling things. He picked it up for $4500. One owner and barn keep. It had had all filters and oil changed less than 20 hours ago but that was nearly 8 years back. He put fresh fuel in it, changed the filters and fluids, aired up the tires, and installed a new battery and drove it home. Needs a new seat or cover and he noticed some slop in the front end so he replaces all the front bushings.

I know a 580B is on the small side of things but he got it for the price of used 3 point hoe. It came with 2 buckets but he was told there is a 3rd, just need to rummage around the barn to find it.

I know its not a dozer but it just shows you there are good deals out there on used equipment right now. Builder is right. If you are patient you can find some good deals on construction grade equipment.

Chris

 

[20 20]

Builder, I was just asking, I think that is a decent dozer{hard knowing without actually seeing}. You MAY be correct about buying used, but sometimes buying used is buying anothers headache. The nortac dozer is somewhat cramped, but IMO it is a decent machine and better then a struck. I like the small deeres etc but if going used then a person BETTER know what to look for. A person may think they're getting a great deal until they get home and see the bill to fix??????

Can I ask, have you ever seen a nortrac operating or run one yourself. I find the biggest critics to be the ones that have never been near one? I'm not being sarcastic just wondering?

A couple of years ago I had the town deliver over 50 load of dirt/fill. They asked how I planned on moving it. Once they saw my little yellow machine they laughed and started right in with... "that's junk"... "we'll bury you"... "it'll be a quick funeral" etc.... Well I got the last laugh, even when they tried to hit me with 2 and 3 loads all at once. They could not believe what the nortrac did, when they left they were singing to a different beat . They even brought rocks that where over half the size of the machine seeing if they could break its spirit. I'm not saying this is a perfect machine with monster powers. What I'm saying is it is odd how some knock things that aren't name brand. I wonder how those name brand machines started off???????????

 

[20 20]

I know its not a dozer but it just shows you there are good deals out there on used equipment right now. Builder is right. If you are patient you can find some good deals on construction grade equipment.

Chris

I completely agree with this statement also :thumbsup: Mini excavators are becomming a dime a dozen{wish I had about 15k to blow }. Like I said even though there are good deals, a person still needs to know what to look for, because along with the good there is terrible :drool:

I'm not knocking anyones opinions here, I just feel the rant against nortrac is nonfactual.

 

[Builder]

I have to a agree here with Builder. I know, it goes against all that is right...


Chris

I'm insulted by that comment. I thought insults were against the rules?

 

[Builder]

Builder, I was just asking, I think that is a decent dozer{hard knowing without actually seeing}. You MAY be correct about buying used, but sometimes buying used is buying anothers headache. The nortac dozer is somewhat cramped, but IMO it is a decent machine and better then a struck. I like the small deeres etc but if going used then a person BETTER know what to look for. A person may think they're getting a great deal until they get home and see the bill to fix??????

Can I ask, have you ever seen a nortrac operating or run one yourself. I find the biggest critics to be the ones that have never been near one? I'm not being sarcastic just wondering?

A couple of years ago I had the town deliver over 50 load of dirt/fill. They asked how I planned on moving it. Once they saw my little yellow machine they laughed and started right in with... "that's junk"... "we'll bury you"... "it'll be a quick funeral" etc.... Well I got the last laugh, even when they tried to hit me with 2 and 3 loads all at once. They could not believe what the nortrac did, when they left they were singing to a different beat . They even brought rocks that where over half the size of the machine seeing if they could break its spirit. I'm not saying this is a perfect machine with monster powers. What I'm saying is it is odd how some knock things that aren't name brand. I wonder how those name brand machines started off???????????

I think if you go back & re-read my comments, you'll find no real derogatory remarks against Nortrac. What I did say is that a small used Mitsu, CAT or Deere will be a true commercial grade machine for about the same $$ as a newer Nortrac. My neighbor where I used to live had a 3 acre nursery and used one to keep his trails open maybe a few times a month. It seemed to work fine and I actually thought it was a handy little machine.

I'm sure your Nortrac is a beast and works fine for your application, but I have never seena Nortrac dozer used by a professional construction company. I have however, seen 100's of CAT, Deere, Mitsu dozers used by construction companies like mine for ~30 years.

 

[teg]

My friend bought a Nortac from Northern that a construction company turned back in... he loves it, tows it behind a 1/2 ton PU... and beats the heck out of it. He did break one of the rear drive axle... $1k later, no problem. I would assume, if a company is going to sell off equipment... it's usually the worn out equipment with "issues" and they keep the best and newest.

BTW, if someone does "" they usually don't mean what was written before hand.

 

[20 20]

I think if you go back & re-read my comments, you'll find no real derogatory remarks against Nortrac.

No problem, and I didn't mean that you did, Jda1961 post is what came to mind about the chinese machines.

What I did say is that a small used Mitsu, CAT or Deere will be a true commercial grade machine for about the same $$ as a newer Nortrac. My neighbor where I used to live had a 3 acre nursery and used one to keep his trails open maybe a few times a month. It seemed to work fine and I actually thought it was a handy little machine.

Thanks for answering, and you are correct every now and then there is a great deal on a name brand machine :thumbsup:. The reason I didn't go used when I bought is because {at the time} the used machines where abused machines. I use my machine for everything from logging to snow removal to digging ponds, etc., at one time I even had the BH. Like I said the machine is not perfect but it will do the job. For the price I believe it is a decent deal, especially when you factor in the 3pt hitch. Of course IMO running a dozer is kind of an art. You can take 2 machines both the same with 2 different operators and easily get 2 different results.

I'm sure your Nortrac is a beast and works fine for your application, but I have never seena Nortrac dozer used by a professional construction company. I have however, seen 100's of CAT, Deere, Mitsu dozers used by construction companies like mine for ~30 years.

You are correct again, but usually when a construction company is looking for a dozer they need something bigger then a nortrac. I have also never seen a struck on a construction site . I see no problem with folks buying used, AS LONG as they know what to look for. I think you'll agree a dozer is one of those machines that can be easily abused, then sold off just to create a headache for the new owner.