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The Ultimate Small Dozer
- Thread starter Steve Frazier
- Start date
craig60
Member
I just picked up a Sutter 480 Dozer yesterday, been wanting one for a very long time!
Welder Dave
Senior Member
Curious how well that Sutter would compare to skid steer?
Willie B
Senior Member
Remarkable machine! Predecessor, but dissimilar to a compact track loader.
craig60
Member
I haven't operated a skid steer. I like that it has steel tracks grousers as I will be operating it in areas that can be steep.
craig60
Member
I use to have an old D-4 to keep the ranch roads open with. It got old and tired. Then I rented a Case 450 for a week to work on the roads. Then I rented a D-3 to work on the roads. Just wanted to have my own dozer again to clean up and maintain the roads with when ever I wanted and not wait until there was a lot of work to do to rent one to make it worth while. I like that I can haul the 9,000 lb dozer myself.
The predecessor to the SWACO I believe. These are used to make trails on public lands out here in the west.
craig60
Member
Its Sweco.... and yes it is. Partner ship split and they are both (Sweco and Sutter) are still building the trail dozers. I know they are for building trails, I've been wanting one for over 20 years.
National Forest and BLM buy a lot of them.
Willie B
Senior Member
I'm old.
As a child, I drooled, wanting a Case backhoe loader. Before the first of these were bulldozers, & very small hoes. George Connors built a military surplus every wheel drives truck, added a Bantam hoe. He was the dominant machine digger locally.
Donald Edmunds bought new the first Case Construction King. He dominated the new home business locally. Like everyone else, his truck was a clapped out town truck. He didn't own a trailer. Hook the loader bucket over the tailgate, drive carefully.
As a child, I drooled, wanting a Case backhoe loader. Before the first of these were bulldozers, & very small hoes. George Connors built a military surplus every wheel drives truck, added a Bantam hoe. He was the dominant machine digger locally.
Donald Edmunds bought new the first Case Construction King. He dominated the new home business locally. Like everyone else, his truck was a clapped out town truck. He didn't own a trailer. Hook the loader bucket over the tailgate, drive carefully.
Truck Shop
Senior Member
CM1995
Administrator
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2007
- Messages
- 13,375
- Location
- Alabama
- Occupation
- Running what I brung and taking what I win
First of all I am not a dozer expert by any means but have owned a few. Our new D3 (formerly the D5K) is one fine small dozer. Cat refined their small dozer line as they were falling behind with the G and K series IMO which resulted in a very well balanced finish tractor.
Ours is LGP so that has something to do with balance. Speed is infinitively proportioned along with power to the ground. Only have 300 hours on it and of course it has a lot of electronics so time will be the true judge.
Ours is LGP so that has something to do with balance. Speed is infinitively proportioned along with power to the ground. Only have 300 hours on it and of course it has a lot of electronics so time will be the true judge.
cuttin edge
Senior Member
Our D4K is a dandy little tractor, so If this is an improvement, it should be great
That's a good looking dozer CM! I wish mine looked that nice.
Based on the amount of paint still on the cutting edges, the machine in the picture doesn't look like 300 hours just yet. I assume this was taken within the first day or two.
cuttin edge
Senior Member
Does it have the blade shaker? Our 4 does, and it's the craziest thing I have ever seen.
Rustyshacklford
Member
The shaker is pretty a neat feature. Once you hook up a guidance system it loses this and becomes the automatic button.
Clawed Backster
Senior Member
I had one of those about 50 years ago, when I was just a kid. Mine had been converted to a ride on unit. Someone had put an old tractor seat on it, and moved the controls. Like a lot of things, I wish I still had it.