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Right size dozer?

Joined
May 13, 2019
Messages
7
Location
Edmond, OK
Curious if the dozers I'm looking at are the right size for what I'm planning on doing. It's going to be used to work on the ranch clearing small/medium trees and brush and moving dirt for driveways, and pads for houses and shops. I'm thinking that a Cat D4K or Deere 550K would be more than capable of handling that. Also considered D5K or 650K but don't know if the extra money I'd be spending on the bigger machine would be worth it. Don't want to buy a bigger machine than I need.

Any advice or input would be greatly appreciated.
 

Bls repair

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2017
Messages
1,612
Location
S E Pa
Occupation
Equipment operator,mechanic
What kind of soil ,sandy ,rocky, hard clay, loomy ?
 

CaseFan13

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2011
Messages
71
Location
Flatwoods, Pennsylvania
We generally consider the 100 HP 20,000 pound class to be a minimum. The physical size of a D5K/650K/850M isn’t much bigger than a D3K/450K/650M so tight sites aren’t a problem but they have a lot more production in them. Maybe consider a D5 size dozer now and down the road if you think you need something smaller and business is good, try a large frame CTL.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,432
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Know that area of OK, hard pan Red Clay, loam on top at times. Bigger is better but just working brushy crap and stream edges move into a loader with a 4/1. Is easier to transport suspended loads of brush than to push it where want it. 455G would be a good choice.
 

td25c

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
Location
indiana
We try to include every piece of iron in our little operation .

Send in a larger dozer first to clear & hog as needed . Take care of the " Rough work " so to speak .

Then hop on a rubber tire farm tractor with a cold barley soda to finish it out . :)

Both got there place .

100_1541 (1).JPG
 
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td25c

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
5,250
Location
indiana
I like cold barley sodas too. Refuels me while I refuel the machines at the end of the day.

I tell ya what ! ….. If it don't stop raining and the river rising we may have to call in the US Army National Guard to air drop us in some Hamm's . :D

serveimage
 

Oldcatpusher

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
161
Location
Arkansas
I tell ya what ! ….. If it don't stop raining and the river rising we may have to call in the US Army National Guard to air drop us in some Hamm's . :D

That's right. River almost had me blocked to my Hamm supplier. Thought I was going to have to trade one of my ol 621's in for a boat. Or just make a high water rescue in the 621 and load the pan full.

serveimage
 

Oldcatpusher

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
161
Location
Arkansas
Not the first time they've been down the highway. One of them will outrun my other one and my crazy brother followed me on it and pushed me going up hill on the highway. He also took a chunk out of the pavement to avoid a FedEx truck. That's the reason he follows me. The one he drives doesn't have brakes.
 

Oldcatpusher

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 29, 2019
Messages
161
Location
Arkansas

dirtmonkey

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2009
Messages
342
Location
norman oklahoma
Occupation
dozer monkey , self employed
Can’t go wrong with the D5k with rippers. Ive had D4s and wished i had D5s. Never had a D5 and wished i had a D4. Ive done lots of work from Purcell to Edmond with mine. If you need a truck and trailer to haul it with , i have one for sale.
 
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