What size dozer????

[Twisted]

I'm thinking about getting a 6-way dozer. I have a D65P Komatsu with a 4-way for the heavier stuff and a 45,000# excavator for the digging duties. I'm in the need of a machine to finish my jobs. I use the D65 and skid steer now but it takes a long time and they aren't the correct machines to do what I want. I need to do some spreading and general clean-up of my sites.

My question is what size to get. Is there a benefit to a D3 size machine vs. a D5 size or 350JD vs. 650? I have a lowboy to haul but something to pull behind the truck on a 5th wheel would be a little handier. I don't do much urban work but mostly rural and farm stuff. I'd even consider another 45,000# rig with a 6-way if there was no benefit to a smaller rig. It would really help to have two dozers that could share duties if needed.

Long to short.... Is smaller ever better than bigger?

 

[Shimmy1]

Sounds to me like if you have the resources a D51PX is what you're looking for. Big enough to work with the 65, small enough for any finish work. I know what others on here say about Komatsu but those little finish dozers are pretty mean not to mention cheaper than Cat and more reliable than any Deere.

 

[Twisted]

I wish a $100k investment was an option right now. I looked hard at machines in the 18-20,000# range but I think that I'd just get frustrated. Maybe a D4H or something similar would fill the void.

Except for the lighter weight to haul, I don't see any benefit to a sub 25,000# dozer.

 

[CM1995]

Cat D5G. Great little tractor with some ass.

I have an '04 (I bought it new) with 4500 hours, just put new pads on it, re-bushed the blade and re-flashed the computer to calibrate the drive sensors - it's like a new tractor.

Great on fuel, agile on fine grading and can move some dirt with proper slots - not a major earth mover of course but the little tractor is very versatile.

 

[stumpjumper83]

I've had deere 550g, and now that I have a TD15c, unless I was doing 1 day jobs everywhere, I doubt I will own another little one. The ease of transport, and smaller physical size are the end of the benefits of the smaller dozers. The 20 ton class is a lot smoother to operate, the power to handle the blade better, and at the end of the day, the added cost of transport is easily outweighed by the increase in production. The traditional use for the 90 hp and smaller dozer has been taken over by the large ctl's.

I found that for my fine grading, and tight quarters my ctl was better than the 550, and the dirt I was getting asked to move was too much for the 550. I do skid trails, which are just 12' paths thru the woods, usually on some slopes. Horse barn pads with small riding arenas, 40x60 pole barn pads and the like.

I rented a 4 way td15c, did a pole barn pad in a day that would have been three easy with the 550, if the 550 would have even cut into the hardpan clay. Decided that I needed some iron of that caliber, and bought a different td15c with an angle blade. I don't think it moves quite as much dirt as the straight blade does but it makes up for it in its finishing and grading abilities.

My suggestion is to go buy an angle blade and c frame for the tractor you already own.

 

[CM1995]

Twisted what is your budget?

 

[Twisted]

A good deal. I'm not worried about making investments. I have plenty of equity and minimal payments right now. I just can't swing another lemon like my D65 turned out to be. It was too expensive, not only parts but lost work.

 

[Landclearer]

I agree with CM. A 5G is a good all around machine. It will move a decent amount of dirt and is a good grading machine. I wish Cat never stopped making the g series. They were good machines.

 

[Colorado Digger]

I have a case 850h and it is basically the same size as the 5g. It has been a great dozer and is as handy as a pocket on a shirt. It will push some dirt and is a great finisher and clean up machine. Working in rock and pit run it is a light, but with the right operater you can get through it. We use it to push back stockpiles and build ramps for the trucks to dump on. Pushing off 80 loads of gnarly material will take a good hand 6-8 hours. Now, the size jobs I am working on warrants something bigger. I rented a Deere 750j and it was ok. I am not bad mouthing the Deere, it had been mistreated in it's previous life and you could tell. Based on this experience, I concluded that I want the biggest dozer I can fit on my 25 ton tag trailer. The 750j fit fine, but I am going to look at some Cat 6n's maybe Case similar sized and Komatsu. Seeing as you have the 65 a 10 ton dozer may be the ticket. I also have a Bobcat T770 ctl and there is no way it will push like the 850h or a 5g for that matter. If you are looking to run a rock rake and prep for landscaping the ctl is fine.

Good Luck, CD

 

[CM1995]

D6N's are fine tractors, I would love to have another one. Had an '06 D6NXL with rippers. Powerful machine yet agile with good sight lines for fine grading. I could haul it on the tag trailer with an escort and over width permit which was easy enough.

 

[td25c]

I'm thinking about getting a 6-way dozer. I have a D65P Komatsu with a 4-way for the heavier stuff and a 45,000# excavator for the digging duties. I'm in the need of a machine to finish my jobs. I use the D65 and skid steer now but it takes a long time and they aren't the correct machines to do what I want. I need to do some spreading and general clean-up of my sites.

My question is what size to get. Is there a benefit to a D3 size machine vs. a D5 size or 350JD vs. 650? I have a lowboy to haul but something to pull behind the truck on a 5th wheel would be a little handier. I don't do much urban work but mostly rural and farm stuff. I'd even consider another 45,000# rig with a 6-way if there was no benefit to a smaller rig. It would really help to have two dozers that could share duties if needed.

Long to short.... Is smaller ever better than bigger?

I'm pretty much in the same situation Twisted .

Use a tracked skid loader for small jobs then jump to a 50,000 # dozer with 4 way semi U blade . My favorite machine to finish is a farm tractor & box blade as it packs in good with the rubber tires , easy on fuel , and it's not wearing out an expensive undercarriage grading a small rift of dirt or picking up a few sticks .

If I was looking for a tracked dozer in the size range your thinking about my pick would be a D5G with 6 way blade . Be a handy machine for a lot of jobs .

 

[Twisted]

Screw it. I'm sick of the way my equipment has been treating me. It's a fun hobby but it costs way too much. I could own a fleet of boats cheaper. I'll just run my service truck doing repairs and do metal fab in the shop. I have most of the tools already and the work is there rain or shine. I really enjoy playing in the dirt but someone else can have it. I sat down and ran the numbers today and working in my shop is paying for my dozer/excavator addiction.
Do I need to join a different form to post metal fab pics?????

 

[td25c]

Don't give up so quick . Sounds like you have a pretty good combination of equipment & skills Twisted .

Like I stated a smaller dozer would be handy at times . But you know I really don't need one as the tracked skid loader with back hoe attachment filled the gap between large & smaller jobs for me . Hands down that rig will move dirt & handle tasks as good as anything in it's size range . We should have bought two of them ,LOL !

Yes ..... Welding & Fab work has always paid well . I enjoy the service call's & mobile in field work the most . Post your story & metal fab pics . Sounds interesting .

 

[Georgia Iron]

Screw it. I'm sick of the way my equipment has been treating me. It's a fun hobby but it costs way too much. I could own a fleet of boats cheaper. I'll just run my service truck doing repairs and do metal fab in the shop. I have most of the tools already and the work is there rain or shine. I really enjoy playing in the dirt but someone else can have it. I sat down and ran the numbers today and working in my shop is paying for my dozer/excavator addiction.
Do I need to join a different form to post metal fab pics?????

I know the feeling. It seems i find a weak hydraulic hose, every time I run something hard. Sometimes just taking care of batteries is a major headache. But there is something special about rolling iron. Even with high rates, running machines alone, only one can make money, so the others sit.

I run track loaders almost weekly now. I recently got to use a new cat d4 dozer. It really t'd me off. I could run circles around it with my 953. If I got a dozer it would be larger than 40k.

On a side note, I am sitting in the hospital, we just had our second little girl, 6.7 lbs.

Post the metal pics!