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Cat D9H or a Hightrack D8L or D9L

Rite 470

Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2011
Messages
10
Location
Piedmont, Oklahoma
Im thinking of buying a big dozer but dont know wich way to go. I am going to bid on some reclamation jobs, and I need some advice on the pros and cons and repair cost of these dozers. I used to run a 9g and thought it was a great machine but I want a cab and I thought the H would have better resale. Reliability, Tranny cost, Torque converter, Final drives any reason why one is easier than the other to work on? What would you buy? Any advice would be much appreciated.
 

Nige

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Jun 22, 2011
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28,973
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G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
High drive D8L will out work a D9H by a major margin, and use less fuel while doing it. Easier to work on, better parts availability, better to operate. I wouldn't even think of a D9L unless you can get a steal deal on one somewhere.

I'd go for the high drive every time but at the end of the day it depends how much money you have available to spend and the condition of the tractors actually available on the market in your area makes any particular one of them a better buy over any other.
 

Greg

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Jan 28, 2008
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1,175
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Wi
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Excavating Contractor
I am just the opposite. I would go for the D9H. Not a high track fan here.
 

Will Musser

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Joined
Dec 19, 2009
Messages
54
Location
Oklahoma
Occupation
Heavyhauler/ Truckbuilder
A D9L is ALOT harder to move from site to site than a D8L. That translates into WAY more expensive. The D8L is probably actually easier to move than the D9H too actually. The D8L is a helluva machine. It is a D8 that thinks it is a 9. Also, it has a much more serviceable engine, and non of the leaking duocone style final drive seals to deal with. (I have a D7G with a final down right now so at the moment I'm piased against them. LOL)
 

JDOFMEMI

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Jan 3, 2007
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SoCal
I have had all three at different times, and I would not have another D-9H unless it was given to me. While the engine is generally reliable, UNLESS it has been overheated too many times and warped the deck. The finals have been trouble prone, and when there is a problem, it shares the oil and contaminants across all the rear compartments. A final drive rebuild can cost more than the machine is worth. The transmission is another problem area. The D-9H shares the same transmission with D-8K, only with some minor upgrades inside. While up to the task in the D-8, it is sorely lacking in a D-9, IMO. One advantage of the D-9H is the undercarriage is cheaper per hour to run. It needs to be though, as it takes more hours to get the same amount of work done.

The D-9L has been one of the best investments I have owned. I have used the D-9L for many years, and if the maintenance is kept up, it will run trouble free. The undercarriage is a big expense, but the production advantage more than pays the added cost.

The D-8L is the best balanced package, and would probably be my top choice of the 3. I don't know if I would say it outpushes a D-9H, buy it is very close, and I think overall more productive due to lower operating costs, combined with being faster and better ballanced. It compares well with a D-9N, and is easier to move than a D-9L.
 

tctractors

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Oct 9, 2007
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Worc U.K.
Big tractors can soon run away with Cash, so my thoughts are look hard at what you are going to buy, on the older style tractors D9 series G/H, the parts are still very simple to find at very low cost, they are harder to work on from the spanner point, plus sometimes when I start stripping out engines that have been running for 50 years, the inside bits have had their day, but the parts as allready said are common to find at low cost, the High Drive iron do still use the Duo-Cone seals in the F/Drives, again the parts system both from CAT and Non OEM are well established, I can always find work on a High Drive tractor with my toolbox, plus there is the electronic faults that start to get you down unless your service staff are skilled in this area, the transmission shift (hard-soft) brake performance etc are all hooked up to a bit of cable?? its a well known fact that the old standard tractors have the ability to be rebuilt many times, but now with the engineering skills that can be taken to site like line bore etc, the High Drives are also very rebuildable.
The High drive iron looks better on sites, it has all the safety cabin bits and flashing lights, plus impressive to the Customer, the amount of fuel used per hour would be worth checking out though, as I have seen D6R tractors beat old D8H's on thirst duty.
 

Will Musser

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Dec 19, 2009
Messages
54
Location
Oklahoma
Occupation
Heavyhauler/ Truckbuilder
I just move a D9L for Smith Construction from up by Gowen, OK. We moved it 9 miles and I charged them $1250. They were tickled to get it done for that. A D8L woulda been $1000 or less. It looked like a Mountain comming down the road acording to my dad/escort.
 

JDOFMEMI

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Jan 3, 2007
Messages
3,074
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SoCal
Thanks for all the info everyone, Jerry what about the D9G since it is lower hp?

D-9G may be better than a D-9H, IMO, but it is slow. The D-8L will run circles around it. D-9L also, but look at the move costs, as posted above. If you don't need to move often, bigger is better.
 
Last edited:

Rite 470

Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2011
Messages
10
Location
Piedmont, Oklahoma
Well I appreciate everyones advice, but I have more questions do you have to remove cab on 9L to haul it? How many C.Y. can a u blade push on a 9L
 

Will Musser

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Joined
Dec 19, 2009
Messages
54
Location
Oklahoma
Occupation
Heavyhauler/ Truckbuilder
If I move one very far, i pull the rops over the cab, the blade, and the ripper tooth. Sometimes the exhaust stack too. If it is a local move with no bridges to go under, i leave it together and just say a prayer. The D8L stays together comepletly.
 

surfer-joe

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Mar 25, 2007
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1,403
Location
Arizona
D8L would likely be best buy for you. I'd stay far, far away from any D9L. Even an updated or CAT certified one. Any D9G/H is way old and while all parts are available, the D8L will run better and do more work in a day. A standard D8L will push more, pull more, and take less fuel. Boost the engine horsepower up a bit, and it becomes a real joy to operate.

But, this all depends on just how much work and how busy you can keep the machine going. Big Cats are costly to move, and expensive to insure. I like the D8M probably better than any other Cat for ease of operating, but a well maintained D8L gets a lot more done.

Good Luck!
 
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