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

[GManBart]

I'm with you! The 450 is right at 10K and if you run it against the other small dozers here, it will push a lot more dirt!

That's important if you want to get something done, and still not have, too heavy of a dozer to move.

SR

TSO can't legally move a 10K dozer without getting into Class A CDL territory, which he wants to avoid. His truck GVWR is 16K, so he can only pull a 10K trailer (combo has to be under 26,001lbs), and that's not enough for a 10K dozer.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

TSO can't legally move a 10K dozer without getting into Class A CDL territory, which he wants to avoid. His truck GVWR is 16K, so he can only pull a 10K trailer (combo has to be under 26,001lbs), and that's not enough for a 10K dozer.

Well, he's from Michigan... Put a tractor in front of that trailer, to look like a farmer, and he won't ever get bothered!! lol

SR

 

[Rock knocker]

There is a nice little Hitachi DX 40 for sale on machinery trader. I don't know anything else.

 

[Dozernut]

Here is a little Komatsu D10S on YouTube. I did not know they made them this small. Definitely a gray market machine, but it sure is a cute little loader crawler. It would be fun to own just to play with. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELI9DKg1DOo

 

[GManBart]

Why are these deals always on the far side of the moon?

Not next door (to you), but not exactly the far side of the moon (about 15min from me). I love spending other people's money...

http://www.machinerytrader.com/listingsdetail/detail.aspx?OHID=11037113

 

[moriboy]

I like the looks of that... Can you tell me about what it does well, and what it doesn't?

The good:

-Fine grading of loose dirt and gravel. As I mentioned earlier, the controls are very responsive and quick. Even a guy like me that doesn't make a living running heavy equipment can make roads and pads look pretty darn good. The size also makes it nice for cleaning up in moderately dense forested areas. However the lack of sweeps and screens limits how much I do if there are too many limbs.

-Ergonomics. Like a lot of Japanese products (which I am a fan of) the control layout is comfortable and easy to work. The engine and drivetrain is quiet and does not have any vibration which makes it easy operate all day. Mine is a power shift model, no gears to fiddle with. Fuel consumption is amazingly low, although we are only talking 40 HP.

-Easy to work on. All the normal maintenance items are available at Napa. I haven't had any major breakdowns so I can't comment on hard parts but there are a lot of companies on the internet that appear to have parts.

The bad:

-Does not like rocks. Traveling over rocky areas is rough and bumpy.
-Limited weight and traction can sometimes be frustrating when moving a blade full of brush or dirt, especially when turning. While the engine has plenty of horsepower, it's easy to spin the tracks.
-Mine is grey market, so the lack of a real rops is always a concern.

 

[jenkinsph]

Reading through the entire thread my concern would be if a small machine like these under 10k lb. will pencil out where a guy could make a profit. While I like to play with these tools as much as everyone else I doubt you can make a profit with it. I remember working through this many years ago when I bought my Deere 450, could not compete with the CAT D6 and D7 size machines. Bought a Deere 850 new and struggled with payments and operating costs but made a decent living. The small dozer is a handy machine to have but I question if adding it to the arsenal of equipment makes enough sense to buy it.

 

[TSO]

Reading through the entire thread my concern would be if a small machine like these under 10k lb. will pencil out where a guy could make a profit. While I like to play with these tools as much as everyone else I doubt you can make a profit with it. I remember working through this many years ago when I bought my Deere 450, could not compete with the CAT D6 and D7 size machines. Bought a Deere 850 new and struggled with payments and operating costs but made a decent living. The small dozer is a handy machine to have but I question if adding it to the arsenal of equipment makes enough sense to buy it.

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?

 

[rustyshakelford]

A case 45 would be excellent for building house pads and even underbrushing. I Like its size in then woods too. When you gets some hours on it, you'll be set for making money. No reason why you wouldn't get $700-750 per day here every day you wanted. If your wanting to just shove dirt all day on a highway project the 450 isn't ideal. But for homeowner work and underbrushing it'll work great.

Brett

 

[arrow]

Reading through the entire thread my concern would be if a small machine like these under 10k lb. will pencil out where a guy could make a profit. While I like to play with these tools as much as everyone else I doubt you can make a profit with it. I remember working through this many years ago when I bought my Deere 450, could not compete with the CAT D6 and D7 size machines. Bought a Deere 850 new and struggled with payments and operating costs but made a decent living. The small dozer is a handy machine to have but I question if adding it to the arsenal of equipment makes enough sense to buy it.

I agree. What used to be a few years ago but has turned into many; the owner of our logging crew thought that a D6 (old style) would be a great addition to the 3 skidders he already had. We tried this thing in the winter. It lasted two weeks before he gave up on the rental. The dozer was absolutely scary on hard packed snow and ice when on even the slightest slope. One guy who drove it for a day, got it high centered on stumps 3 times thinking he was still on a skidder. Plus it was "slow" and really couldn't take more of a bite of stems than our largest skidder. It was perfect for cutting trails but most folks who owned the land we harvested on, didn't want anything more of a trail that a skidder would make.
It took a short time to learn a dozer wasn't for us. That being said, I'd still love having a small dozer.....and a mini x...and a dump truck. Basically, everything I fell asleep with that was in the crib when I was 3 only a bit bigger