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Let's Talk Slope Boards

Mass-X

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 18, 2006
Messages
167
Location
CA
I plan on putting a new slope board on a D8T on my mass-grade crew, and probably follow suit with some other dozers as well. The problem I'm running into; I can't find any slope board manufacturers?

So I started researching with my Equipment Manager. Online searches found a G&X article mentioning slope boards, with one manufacturer: Mountain West Attachments - www.mwattachments.com

The web link doesn't work, the phone and fax numbers are disconnected, and the e-mail address is invalid. Obviously out of business.

My Equipment Manager then spoke with a Kiewit Equipment Manager who informed him that CAT used to make slope boards, but discontinued doing so due to convertors overheating. The problem became so bad that CAT published a bulletin citing the issues and discontinued production of the boards. From what I gather, Mountain West Attachments went by the wayside shortly thereafter.

So what's the scoop? In a recent Equipment Today article there's a picture of a new D8T with Accugrade GPS and a slope board (Sukut machine). And they're not too uncommon on new dozers in MachineryTrader, Catused, etc. They're big in California, and I know a number of contractors out there are running them on new dozers; Sukut, Pinnick, Teichert, Archer Western, etc. When I worked at Kiewit, we ran several of them on National Division dozers.

So who is still manufacturing them? Why did CAT have so many problems with their design but nobody else seems to? And most of all, where can I find one?
 

JDOFMEMI

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2007
Messages
3,074
Location
SoCal
Look up Safe-T-Cab
Thats who put the board on my D-8T when we bought it. I don't have the contact info with me, but it was all arranged by the local Cat dealer here, Johnson Machinery in Riverside CA
Their # is 951-686-4560

I have never heard of Cat manufacturing them, but there used to be several other companies, but they are all out of buisiness.
Saf-T-Cab has been around for many years in California. You see the D-8T in my avatar has one.
I have never heard of converter issues when running boards, but they will cause accelerated U/C wear one one side. This is a good trade off for the production gain.

Hope that helps
 

DPete

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2007
Messages
1,677
Location
Central Ca.
Why does a slope board cause converter overheating? The only reason I can think of is operating at partial throttle for extended periods.
 

JDOFMEMI

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2007
Messages
3,074
Location
SoCal
Why does a slope board cause converter overheating? The only reason I can think of is operating at partial throttle for extended periods.

I have in the fleet 3 D-9's, 2 D-8's, 1 D-6, 1 D-5 and 1 D-4 with slopeboards, and have had in the past 5 other D-8's with them, and I have never had converter heating problems, unless they were just worn out.

Sometimes stories like this get started by people who don't have one, but just assume thats what would happen.

here is the link for Saf-T-Cab
http://www.saftcab.net/
 

PeterP

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Messages
5
Location
Ventura
Occupation
Engineering and Dirt Contractor
Peter from ATECO.

Do you still have the need for slope boards, we can fill it. Mountain West was manufacturing our boards without our license so it was enjoined from production. Our boards are now produced in Ventura, California. Let me know if you are still in the market for a sloper. Peter
My email is PeterP@ateco.us.


I plan on putting a new slope board on a D8T on my mass-grade crew, and probably follow suit with some other dozers as well. The problem I'm running into; I can't find any slope board manufacturers?

So I started researching with my Equipment Manager. Online searches found a G&X article mentioning slope boards, with one manufacturer: Mountain West Attachments - www.mwattachments.com

The web link doesn't work, the phone and fax numbers are disconnected, and the e-mail address is invalid. Obviously out of business.

My Equipment Manager then spoke with a Kiewit Equipment Manager who informed him that CAT used to make slope boards, but discontinued doing so due to convertors overheating. The problem became so bad that CAT published a bulletin citing the issues and discontinued production of the boards. From what I gather, Mountain West Attachments went by the wayside shortly thereafter.

So what's the scoop? In a recent Equipment Today article there's a picture of a new D8T with Accugrade GPS and a slope board (Sukut machine). And they're not too uncommon on new dozers in MachineryTrader, Catused, etc. They're big in California, and I know a number of contractors out there are running them on new dozers; Sukut, Pinnick, Teichert, Archer Western, etc. When I worked at Kiewit, we ran several of them on National Division dozers.

So who is still manufacturing them? Why did CAT have so many problems with their design but nobody else seems to? And most of all, where can I find one?
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,250
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
Welcome to HEF PeterP.

If you would take some time please take a look at the Forum Rules

Here's an excerpt from the rules -

Aside from the "for sale" area, for member's personally owned goods, advertising of goods and services is not permitted unless sponsoring heavyequipmentforums.com. A vendor of goods or services may make one introductory post explaining their product or service and may answer questions about such within that thread. No further promotion of your product or service may be made without sponsorship. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, click “Contact Us” at the bottom of any page.

Special Note: Vendors of goods or services, or their representatives, who join the forums and make no worthwhile contributions other than to post multiple links to said goods and services are considered spammers. Spammers will have their posts removed, and their membership terminated with extreme prejudice.

This post is your "freebie" and feel free to answer any questions about your product in this thread only.

Thank you for your cooperation.;)
 

vapor300

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
382
Location
St. louis
i see slope boards are a big thing out west, but i dont really see the pont of them. Someone care to expalin?
 

Dozerboy

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
2,232
Location
TX
Occupation
Operator
So you can keep your dozer on flat ground while cutting a slope. Most of the slopes I cut where 1:1 or 11/2:1 and if you got 50' of cut thats hell of a lot easier with a slope board. They're also nice for finishing and grubbing.
 

vapor300

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2010
Messages
382
Location
St. louis
sorry just never really been around them, i would like to get some seat time in an 8 or so with slope boards, but dont see them around here. I just think i could do it better to get up on the slope and just run it using the blade, or maybe i am pissing something??? Anyone have a vid of this thing in acticion to better show the advatageds of using one?
 

PeterP

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Messages
5
Location
Ventura
Occupation
Engineering and Dirt Contractor
Slope Boards

sorry just never really been around them, i would like to get some seat time in an 8 or so with slope boards, but dont see them around here. I just think i could do it better to get up on the slope and just run it using the blade, or maybe i am pissing something??? Anyone have a vid of this thing in acticion to better show the advatageds of using one?

Slopers are the best things since ice cream. The attachment will give you much wider swath to finish on flat ground and gives you full control of the angle of slope. If I had to compare; it's like shaving with a nice sharp blade as opposed to shaving with a log. If you are running a finishing tractor you can have a sloper on each side of the blade doubling the rate of cutting finish grade.
 

Dozerboy

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2006
Messages
2,232
Location
TX
Occupation
Operator
I just think i could do it better to get up on the slope and just run it using the blade, or maybe i am pissing something???

One of the nice things about SB is that you can see the whole cutting edge and what its doing. Everything is on a slope in Socal and they can get pretty intricate. There not the greatest thing in the world or anything, but pretty handy for a specific task. Every company I worked for had at least 1 dozer with a SB or 2. I don't care for hands that use SB for everything its just added wear on the machine. Running a SB off each side of the blade make your D8 have a 30' swath thats pretty handy for light pushing.
 

PeterP

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Messages
5
Location
Ventura
Occupation
Engineering and Dirt Contractor
One of the nice things about SB is that you can see the whole cutting edge and what its doing. Everything is on a slope in Socal and they can get pretty intricate. There not the greatest thing in the world or anything, but pretty handy for a specific task. Every company I worked for had at least 1 dozer with a SB or 2. I don't care for hands that use SB for everything its just added wear on the machine. Running a SB off each side of the blade make your D8 have a 30' swath thats pretty handy for light pushing.

I am with you Dozerboy, I was interested though, to learn how many operators or owners, would be interested in having the ability to preset the angle of the slope board blade, say 1:1 or 2:1 or even 1-2%, etc. It may be useful even if you blade a finish grade on a pad at 2% the board could guide the dozer blade to a fixed grade angle. Anyway, just thinking?
 
Last edited:

Cam85

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
275
Location
Roma
Why not just climb on batter off with a percent level on the dash?
 

dirtmonkey

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
342
Location
norman oklahoma
Occupation
dozer monkey , self employed
That's bascily how I do it. I just use a magnetic angle finder, like for pipe or welding , and mark hash marks with a sharpie on it. Works great for blind rough in and working with out stakes or surveys. I use it for cutting roads/driveways too.
 

Cam85

Senior Member
Joined
Nov 15, 2013
Messages
275
Location
Roma
Yea mate I used to try n put the dozer on the right angel and then set up a spirit level on the dash but a bloke I was working with showed me this digital spirit level that showers u exactly what percent ur on bloody brilliant never looked back
 

dirtmonkey

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
342
Location
norman oklahoma
Occupation
dozer monkey , self employed
Cool ! That's a good idea. But that too high tech for my low tech world Lol ! We like things the hard way !
 
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