Share your thoughts number three.

Deas Plant · Sep 3, 2007

Hi, Folks.
Would you like to share your thoughts on what makes a good dozer a good dozer? What characteristics would you be looking for if you were buying a dozer? Or conversely, what makes a dozer a bad dozer?

And, To Whom It May Concern, I DON'T mean whether it is high or low sprocket drive. Not a joke.

Let the discussion begin - peacefully.

surfer-joe · Sep 3, 2007

Brute power that comes on quick, yet with some finesse in tractor balance and feel. Good view out both sides and the front & back, with minimum blockage. Creature comforts in a fully enclosed and tight cab, easy to use controls with good feeling. Minimum instruments and dashboard size. Easy to get on and off. Easy to enter and exit cab. Easy to check vital fluids. Quiet!

Construct'O · Sep 3, 2007

Lots Of Variables

Deas Plant said:
Hi, Folks.
Would you like to share your thoughts on what makes a good dozer a good dozer? What characteristics would you be looking for if you were buying a dozer? Or conversely, what makes a dozer a bad dozer?

And, To Whom It May Concern, I DON'T mean whether it is high or low sprocket drive. Not a joke.

Let the discussion begin - peacefully.

There are several things to consider when deciding on the machine for you,or company.

The type of soil or rock your going to be working in.If your dealing with rock,attachment(ripper) would also have to be considered.Wet ground lgp machine would be optional.The list goes on.

Lots of people admazes me ,by trying to use small machine for big jobs and big iron for little jobs.I do realize at time you have to do with what you got, at the times.Not always and option to have more then one machine.

For me as owner operater and doing landimprovment work(clearing,terraces,ponds,waterways and the list goes on) in my area.I said my area! Again another variable the area you live has something to do with your choices.

My selection is and has been the D6R Xl,big enough to do the most of the clearing and earthmoving i do.I like the xl for the extra track on the ground for traction and ride,plus balance,which inturn makes for better dozing.

Because of its size it is more mobile to haul with weight limits on bridge here.Don't have to deal with a lot of permits.I might be moving several times in one day.

For comfort cab with air and heat is a most !!!!! Options on the machine would be brushguards and sweeps for clearing,along with extra hydraulic for pulling hydraulic scraper.Since this is kind of like a wish list i would add, set with gps and laser.

For my type of work and customers (farmers mostly) this makes for an all around good machine for my area and type of work.

There are lots more variables to talk about ,but sure others will include them.Have a good day !

Pushblock · Sep 3, 2007

My Criteria

My criteria are:
Is the machine built to efficiently do the job for which it is intended.
Can it easily be maintained.
Parts availability.
Ease of operation.
It may seem odd, but I don't consider price to be a criteria. If you need a machine for a specific purpose, you will pay the price for the machine that will most efficiently serve that purpose.

John C. · Sep 3, 2007

A machine is a tool for making money. Nothing more, nothing less.

For me it has to be reliable more than pretty. It has to be efficient and accomplish its task using the least amount fuel possible. It has to accomplish its task at a speed that will allow a profit. It should be simple to operate and repairable by company employees. Parts should be available in 48 hours or less and at the parts dealer's expense if it takes more time. It should not require thousands of dollars in special equipment to troubleshoot a bad wire or a speed sensor. If there are electronics on the machine the diagnostics should be available, "on the machine".

I know there are machines that I would have preferred to operate over the one I had to operate. But does it really make sense to buy an enclosed cab loader backhoe if you are going to jump up and down in the ditch all day. Does it makes sense to purchase air conditioning if the excavator operator is going to open the front window and leave the door open all day? Does it make sense to pay for a rear entry cab on a logging shovel if there have never been any accidents on the standard entry machines? Finally does it make sense to pay hundreds if not thousands of dollars for comfort options and niceties when the operator spits chew all over the inside of the cab, leaves food and bottles behind the seat and doesn't repair or report safety issues until there is an accident?

I am far more concerned about the safety of all personel than I am about how comfortable they are.

Dozer575 · Sep 6, 2007

Price vs condition if it is used. Don't want to spend big bucks for something that will need all major drive train and hydraulic components rebuilt in the first month you buy it. I know of a place that got a low s/n D8K at auction for I think 25k and probably had to put twice that into it to fix all the problems. And it still had a worn undercarriage.
For a new machine, I'd want good dealer support and the best deal.

LowBoy · Sep 7, 2007

This is almost like arguing which is better, Ford, Chevy or Dodge? (Ford rules, of course.)

Deas Plant · Sep 7, 2007

Ford Rules????????????????????????????

Hi, Lowboy.
The name 'Ford' is code for what those vehicles are all about. To decipher, turn the word back to front. It then stands for 'Driver Returned On Foot'.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LowBoy · Sep 7, 2007

Deas Plant said:
Hi, Lowboy.
The name 'Ford' is code for what those vehicles are all about. To decipher, turn the word back to front. It then stands for 'Driver Returned On Foot'.
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh C'mon Deas...you probably drive on the wrong side of the road, too.:laugh :falldownlaugh :beerchug

95zIV · Sep 7, 2007

This is almost like arguing which is better, Ford, Chevy or Dodge? (Ford rules, of course.)

Depends on what game you're playing, but then again 95 percent of fords ever bought are still on the road today.

95zIV · Sep 7, 2007

The other 5 percent actually made it home:falldownlaugh

LowBoy · Sep 7, 2007

95zIV said:
The other 5 percent actually made it home:falldownlaugh

I was just beginning to like you...:cussing :guns :avid :falldownlaugh

Deas Plant · Sep 7, 2007

Side of the road???????????

Hi, 95ZIV.
That's EXACTLY what I meant by Driver Returned On Foot. And did the other 5% actually make it home EVERY time?

Hi, Lowboy.
No, we don't drive on the 'wrong' side of the road. We drive on the LEFT side of the road, which works just fine for us. Not our problem if 'Top-siders' have a problem with it. We also have TIRES on our vehicles instead of 'tahrs'. LOL.

:drinkup :notworthy :guns :falldownlaugh :stirthepot

ointlaugh

:lmao

Your 'first' response to this is :ban

Deas Plant · Sep 7, 2007

Back on track????????

Hi, Folks.
Now can we get back to discussing what makes a good dozer a good dozer? So far, Surfer Joe is the only one to really address the question, and he was uncharacteristically brief.

LowBoy · Sep 8, 2007

Deas Plant said:
Deas Plant said:

Hi, 95ZIV.
We also have TIRES on our vehicles instead of 'tahrs'. LOL.
:drinkup :notworthy :guns :falldownlaugh :stirthepot

Click to expand...

The left side of the road IS the wrong side...suppose you came topside and started tooling around the countryside on a curvy, mountainous road with no guardrails, and blew a "tahr"...you'd be having to change your BVD's immediately if you're sitting on the wrong side of the vehicle!

When we blow a tahr in that situation, we just pull over to the RIGHT, and change it...

(One more tidbit of information for the "deeown undah" chaps that supposedly have our vocabulary all figured out, Deas...) The word "tires" gets thrown around very loosly. It's a word that demands respect. In the portions of the US that has a slightly different "brogue", should we call it, "TAHS" is, and always will be, the true pronunciation. However, in and around the Big Apple, they are referred to as "TYIZ," and in good 'ol New England (north of Massachusetts,) they are affectionately known as a "TYAHHH"...As in Vermont, if you was to blow a TYAHHH and didn't have a SPAYAHH, then "you can't get THAYAHH from HEEAHH"...
Please make note. And PLEASE get on the right side of the road before somebody gets "urt", mate!...:lmao :lmao :lmao :thumbsup

Deas Plant · Sep 8, 2007

Gotta Hott Flash Ferya.

Hi, Lowboy.
Gotta hott flash ferya. Doan keer wut yer sae. Ther rite syda ther rode iz ther 'RONG' syde DowNunder.

We have 'bags', 'doughnuts' tires, tyres and 'rubber' an' they're all round black things thatchyer put on ther rims uv yer vee-hickle and fill with air to stop the rims from scratchi-nup ther road. Least I think that's Y we have 'em. Sorta lyk havin' tracks onna dozer ter stop ther track rollers from breaking two many rocks.

Hope this hepps yer ter 'unnerkerstumble'.

EZ TRBO · Sep 8, 2007

I have had many people ask that question many times or even customers saying "Well so and so has bigger equipment and can get the job done faster" . I have told many people that just cause a piece of equipment is bigger does not make it better. For years, almost since grandpa started the biz we have ran 14's and then onto the 15's(international then dresser). For the type of work we got into they worked well. Somtimes a larger machine would have worked a bit better, and other times a smaller machine would have but for the most part this mid size piece of equipment always got the job done. Well balanced, good power, good sight, and comfortable to run. Our dealer support from Bark River was always awesome and looking back on the type of breakdowns we had on the last two 15's(both identical, only bout 30 numbers off) there was never really anything major. If I were going to just list what I was looking for in a machine of any size or for type of application it would be.

Sized for the project at hand, not to big or too small.

Ease of operation, let the machine work all day, not the operator.

Serviceability, just being able to get at filters and such easily is very nice.

Dealer support, when they break down(and they will) your dealer does what they need to to help you out and get you back runnning in a timely fashion.

Those are just a few things that I look at when selecting a machine.
Jason

LowBoy · Sep 9, 2007

Deas Plant said:
Hi, Lowboy.
Gotta hott flash ferya. Doan keer wut yer sae. Ther rite syda ther rode iz ther 'RONG' syde DowNunder.

We have 'bags', 'doughnuts' tires, tyres and 'rubber' an' they're all round black things thatchyer put on ther rims uv yer vee-hickle and fill with air to stop the rims from scratchi-nup ther road. Least I think that's Y we have 'em. Sorta lyk havin' tracks onna dozer ter stop ther track rollers from breaking two many rocks.

Hope this hepps yer ter 'unnerkerstumble'.

If that's the case, Deas...do ya's have Dunkin' Tires franchises deown undah?
Ya know, chocolate tires, glazed tires, honey dipped tires...betcha can't eat just one, eh Mate?

Deas Plant · Sep 9, 2007

English Language IS Confusing.

Hi, Lowboy.
Ther English language can be a confusing 'sunuva' at times. DowNunder, ther dunkin' things is spelled widdout ther upside-down commas an' usually ain't black. They usually get cooked indoors too, whereas ther ones widd ther upside-down commas usually get 'cooked' out on ther roads.

And I ALWAYS stop at just one of the indoors ones - - - on the VERY rare occasions that I have ANY at all.

Suff-ishently corn-fused yet?

LowBoy · Sep 9, 2007

Deas Plant said:
Hi, Lowboy.
Ther English language can be a confusing 'sunuva' at times. DowNunder, ther dunkin' things is spelled widdout ther upside-down commas an' usually ain't black. They usually get cooked indoors too, whereas ther ones widd ther upside-down commas usually get 'cooked' out on ther roads.

And I ALWAYS stop at just one of the indoors ones - - - on the VERY rare occasions that I have ANY at all.

Suff-ishently corn-fused yet?

Yup...I officially raise the white flag on this thread, Deas. There'll be no roo huntin' for this guy in this lifetime.:usa

Share your thoughts number three.

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Member

Senior Member

Banned

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member