Looking for a new dozer

We are in the market for a new dozer. Currently we have an old Case 450, 550E and a TD-15E. We are looking for something in the middle. Dozer will be multi-purpose, meaning, it will do everything from bulk push to fine grading. We own machines of several manufacturers so figuring it dealer support our 3 choices are a D5, Case 850 or a Komastu D-51. What are your thoughts and experiences ? :drinkup

What d5 are you looking at
I have a D5h series 2xl and love it

What about a deere 700?

I have a 750C deere with semi u blade, it has been excellent & is a size that can be moved easy, finish grade and do some serious work also. Pretty decent on fuel use too.

I would look at a D5G or a Deere 650 in that size class. If you want a larger tractor that can bulk push and fine grade, then a D6N is hard to beat except for the price tag.

When the economy went south I got rid of a D6N, it was one of the nicest dozers I have ran. It had great balance, power and actually I liked to fine grade with it over the D5G. Love to have another D6N in the future but new is just too pricey to make one work.

DIRTHAWK said:

What about a deere 700?

Click to expand...

Not bad one.

alias2002 said:

Not bad one.

Click to expand...

X2

Or if you are wanting a cat look at a D5k or K2. I've always been a huge fan of the JD 650J's but the K modle cats are hard to beat.

Looking at the K series dozers. We would like to have something that is new. If not brand new, then maybe a couple yrs old with low hrs. John Deere is out. We do not own anything JD and the dealer is about 1 hr away. The Komatsu dealer has a D-51ex on their lot that we are thinking about. Haven't demo'ed anything yet. Spring just finally came about so we are trying to get some work done to get money rolling in first before we get serious about a payment. A D6N is nice but just too big. I will be using the dozer to do work around houses also. The jobs that I have where I need serious pushing I will bring in our TD-15.

Not sure on the undercarriages, but I will have to check. We want one that has a long undercarriage. I am not sure if the Komastu's have them or not.

x2 on the D5K or K2 series machine. We had a 2011 D5K LGP for a couple years that we bought from our dealer's rental fleet with around 300 hrs on it. We set the machine up with a Trimble automated laser control system for some cranberry bog work we were doing and that machine was excellent for everything from bulk pushing to fine grading. The machine had plenty of power and could easily carry a full blade through a corner. I actually chose the D5K over a 650J since I like how you could modulate the blade angle through a roller control on the joystick whereas the 650 had push buttons for the blade angle. At the time I was doing a lot of delicate trimming with the corners of the blade and the controls that machine had made me feel like the blade was an extension of my hand.

Without the laser system, the machine was very balanced for fine grading work and did not require any additional counterweights like the larger D6K might in some situations to get a smooth grade. With the grade system working, the machine was a beast. There was one project I did where I bulk pushed about 1600 yds of sand out over a 1.5 acre bog over the course of a day and fine graded it at one elevation to within 1/10 of an inch (in a 10 hr day). The next day, the project owner decided at 7AM that he wanted to lower the finished elevation by 2 inches and by 10AM the entire bog was regraded and I had started to help bulk push the next bog over.

Sadly, work for the D5K dried up and we sold it sight unseen 2 years later to a buyer in Canada for almost what we purchased it for. I am starting to get back into some projects now that will require a dozer with a automated GPS system and a D5K2 will be on the short list of dozers that I look at when the time is right.

Andrew

I would look into a cat D5G or D5k. In my experience you get what you pay for. Caterpillar service around me is untouchable So that's tuff to beat and they hold there value better than the other brands for resale value. JMHO. Ive looked into Deere and Komatsu dozers also but i keep buying caterpillar. I have owned two deere dozers in the past and have had good luck with them also. The closest cat dealer is 1.5 hrs away from me but they have 3 service truck around my area all the time and i know the guys doing the services. parts might be higher but i can get them quick and down time is money on the job.

I'd got seat time on a Cat D5G. We used it for everything from stripping topsoil to fine grading. Very staple machine and perfect size.

We have a D6K2 and I really like it. Strong enough to move some material and finish grade plus its easy on fuel, comfortable, and good visibility out of the cab. And like others have said, its hard to beat CATs service.

You would be satisfied with the D51EX. Visibility is good , plenty of power and a user friendly cab. I've seen a few around with over 6000 hrs still going strong.