Need help on dozer pick.

[Highbeam]

You don't need a monster dozer for normal sized trees, it just takes a little finesse. Just like with tractors, a small dozer can do most of what a large dozer can do but it just takes longer and is harder on the dozer.

There are some tricks like pushing up a dirt ramp so that you can push the tree over from higher on the trunk. Also, I've been told a dozer can pull about three times the weight that it can push so I started pulling trees over with the drawbar with great luck. A winch is great for this.

I think the fears of some may come from not having actually owned a dozer. The dozer is pretty much just a tractor with funny tires, what's the difference?

The benefit the lower pounds per square inch on the ground and excellent traction from the grousers, you can go more places and push more weight.

 

[sparkkky]

My 40AC is split by a bluff and I need to build some small roads and clear down my fence rows. Would like to build a small dug out pond and need to repair my terrace's, if I take out any trees it will be cedars.

 

[kuby]

A nice old D6 with a standard transmision and a johnson bar go faily cheap and are a great machine. I would sugest taking a guy with you that knows cats and make sure the undercarrige and final drives are in good shape or you could be dumping 12000 to 20000. As others suggested renting or hireing a pro may be the right way to go but i know how you feel " theres no fun in that" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[slowrev]

True a smaller dozer can do quite a bit of tree downing. However downing trees with a dozer depends a lot on the type and location of trees. For instance trees in sandy or loamy soil push over a lot easier than trees in clay based soil. Also different varieties of trees have different root structures and will vary in how easially they push over.

On a safety note, I grew up around dozers and if you use a cable to pull over trees make darn sure the cable is big enough to stall the dozer and in good shape /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Remember on dead and dying trees the tops can fall towards you while you are pushing the lower trunk the other way.

Be safe , have fun.
Ben

 

[EddieWalker]

Sounds like a small dozer would work for you. Not the tiny ones, but something in the 80 hp range. Those cedars are about the easiest tree to take out, so that's not an issue.

Cutting a road and clearing fencelines is something you can do yourself and have a good time doing it.

Be sure to get a six way blade and whatever brand you chose, make sure you have a supplier of parts close by. Hoses you can get from just about anybody, but some fittings, engine parts or cylinder rebuild kits are more specialized.

Don't shop for a tractor on your own. If you have to, hire an operator or somebody who know's something about dozers. You wouldn't believe some of the scams people try to pull.

If they won't let you drive it first, walk away. Crawl under it and look real good for leaks after you drive it. I had one Cat D6 that was dumping anti-freeze from several locations after just pulling it out of it's parking spot.

Others told me the batteries are dead, but to trust them on how strong it ran. For $20,000 grand, they should have new batteries installed unless they are hiding something.

If there is a problem stated up front, be very very cautious about the extent of it. Most will lie or sugar coat it. Tell you it's something minor that they just don't have time to fix. This means it's too expensive or dificult for them to fix and they are dumping the problem on you.

Fixing dozers can be very, very expensive.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[DKinWA]

When you find a machine you're interested in, hire the local cat, JD or ?? dealer to come out and appraise the machine. They can do a pretty detailed appraisal and give you some idea of what the machine is worth. It'll cost a bit, but they can easily save you thousands of dollars. As everyone else has said, tracked machines are expensive to own and operate. I'm not trying to scare you out of your plans, but it's definitely a "buyer beware" market.

 

[MMM]

Cedars are quite easy. I took out half a dozen over 24" Gums and larger pines are tough. One thing about owning is you don't have to feel hurried like I did when renting.

 

[Highbeam]

They are extremely inexpensive to own or operate unless something major breaks. Sounds like wives tales to me.

I've had a hyd hose break(63$) a 30 year old alternator expire (45$) and a couple of 30 year old rollers need replacing at 122$ each and a couple other miscellaneous issues that were similar in cost to fix. BFD. Don't be scared. Do be sure not to buy a lemon just like with anything else.

 

[slowrev]

You got that right Highbeam. Also some parts do not cost too much but are hard to get at and all parts are very heavy.

Ben

 

[bdog]

Eddie,

Sorry it took me long to reply. The dozer I am talking about for the poster was a 100k machine. The dozers I contract out are at a minimum a D6R or preferably a D7. These are $300,000 machines. They are over weight and and over sized and require special permits to haul. I work all over the the state so I would need a truck /trailler to haul them, fuel truck, driver with CDL, operator, etc. Also when I said 5000 hrs it is not only on one dozer. Some times I go a month with out using one and then sometimes I have 4 working for me.