Small Dozer under 10,000 lbs ... do they exist?

[jenkinsph]

I'm thinking it would be better than my current grading machine (my tractor) for rough grading and building elevations. I have built up a network of contractors who use me for their building sites... And that list keeps growing. $10k would pay itself off in less than two years (most likely).

Am I off base to think a small dozer would be a better grader than my tractor?

For grading building sites I would rather use a landscape loader. A used Deere 210 LE for instance can move a lot more dirt per hour than the small dozer and weighs about 9100 lbs. Having an industrial fel makes a huge difference compared to an agricultural fel. A heavy duty box blade behind the 210 is a great combination for grading. I would think you could cut the time in half using the more powerful landscape loader. Time is money.

When you look at the larger heavier dozers then they can really shine at pushing hard, bumping stumps etc. An 8000 lb. dozer is too light to be very effective. It might be more worthwhile for steep slopes and cutting in driveways but is it as useful in your business as a landscape loader? I think not, and it would be better to rent one for the limited times you need it.

 

[4570Man]

The ROPS on dozers are fall rated. That's why you crawled out. When you go through surface mine training that's one point they touch on. The only piece of equipment on site who's ROPS isn't fall rated is the excavator.

I have seen the hill that a D6 rolled down, and rolled multiple times and ended up in a pond. The operator was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected and killed, but the roll cage was fully intact. I have heard another story from a Forman from a road construction crew about a D11 falling about 200 feet into into an abandoned mine shaft that had about 50 feet of water in it. They sent in divers, but were never able to recover the operators body. They tried to fill in the hole, but they couldn't even get above the water level, so they built a fence around the hole and moved the road.

 

[sd455dan]

A D3 weighs 18,000 pounds. Even if the weight was equal steel tracks will push harder than rubber. For real grading work a dozer will eat a SS's lunch. No offense, but you probably are not a good dozer operator. I suck at using a dozer too, but that doesn't make a SS faster. An 18,000 pound dozer VS a 10,000 SS doing grading work is no contest. Now if the contest was to load a dump truck with dirt the SS is a clear winner.

Have to agree- our family group has a bobcat s250 skid steer and a JD 550 long track dozer
and if it has anything to do with pushing dirt -no comparison
flexibility and comfort -well that is another thing
and I will admit the dozer outweighs the skid steer by a fair amount.

 

[newbury]

Since following this thread I've started looking at dozers on CL.

This one picture struck me.

Aren't the track shoes supposed to have vertical parts or is this a special smooth track for on road usage

 

[4570Man]

Since following this thread I've started looking at dozers on CL. This one picture struck me. Aren't the track shoes supposed to have vertical parts or is this a special smooth track for on road usage

They are supposed to have vertical parts. This track is probably just severely worn.

 

[farmer2009]

Since following this thread I've started looking at dozers on CL. This one picture struck me. Aren't the track shoes supposed to have vertical parts or is this a special smooth track for on road usage

That's a track loader so it has to have an asphalt track or a low grouser track. Otherwise turning with a bucket load can be too hard on tracks.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Those are finish tracks, very common on smaller track loaders that were used for finish-clean up work. Notice that there are 3 bars (normally about 1/2" tall when new) to every plate vs just one (grouser) that would normally be sticking out from 1"- 1 1/2" or more as the machine gets larger. The majority of steel tracked excavators that I have seen have finish tracks, even the fairly large units.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Since following this thread I've started looking at dozers on CL.

This one picture struck me.

Aren't the track shoes supposed to have vertical parts or is this a special smooth track for on road usage

Everyone mentioned the worn grousers but those pads are extremely worn. Don't buy a dozers with a worn out undercarriage unless you get it for less than scrap or every other system is perfect. UC can easily run $10k. This opinions are geared towards the older tractors that we would use on a ranch or personal use. If your buying it to make money budget the high dollar repairs

Brett

 

[rustyshakelford]

Since following this thread I've started looking at dozers on CL.

This one picture struck me.

Aren't the track shoes supposed to have vertical parts or is this a special smooth track for on road usage

Everyone mentioned the worn grousers but those pads are extremely worn. Don't buy a dozers with a worn out undercarriage unless you get it for less than scrap or every other system is perfect. UC can easily run $10k. This opinions are geared towards the older tractors that we would use on a ranch or personal use. If your buying it to make money budget the high dollar repairs

Brett