Hi all,
I would really appreciate some help choosing the correct dozer for the work I have scheduled. I have a job that is big enough to justify purchasing a machine (my first). Hope to have a machine on the job site end of Dec 2018.
The job is a small subdivision in steep, clay country. The desire is to tow a scraper (scoop) to form the access ways – the bigger the capacity the better.
Two reasons for posting. I would love some help and insight. Also, having put in a bit of time to understand a little about the machinery I would like to share what I (think!) I’ve learnt.
Let me start by saying I would like a D6T. For the sake of economy/available funds I have had to lower my expectations and had leveled my sights at a D5M sized machine. After a little more research, I thought I had settled on a Komatsu D41P/E-6.
As a bit of background, attached is an excel sheet which lists the machine specs for the various machines I had been collating info on.
My requirements for the job:
1) A cab / AC is a must
2) Relatively low hours machine ~<= 4000 hours
3) Cost <= 75,000 US landed in NZ.
4) (V)PAT blade – I don’t intend to do any land clearing.
5) Capable of towing a ~9 yd scraper. I could go for a smaller dozer, but I would like to maximize the capability of the machine I am purchasing for future, potential work (no sense going to small..?).
In terms of sizing the correct Dozer for a 9 yd scraper (I feels as though I am working the problem backwards…:/) the only concrete input I have is a page out of the Caterpillar performance handbook. I have pasted the snippet below for reference.
http://i63.tinypic.com/2z52hdw.jpg
The snippet lists the estimated hourly production for a D5B with a R568 scraper in tow and indicates that the D5B (105 hp / 11700 kg) is capable of pulling a 9yd struck load.
As further confirmation, there is a vid of a D5M (110 net hp / 11700 kg) pulling an Ashland I-950 (
). For my inexperienced eye, it seems to be doing ok..?
There is a spreadsheet sheet linked below in which I have populated a list of Dozers and their relative spes. Most of the information comes from Richie Specs with a few corrections where I have found anomalies.
The info is by no means validated / correct, but the best I have, to date!
Apologies! I'm unable to share the excel file on the forum. I have uploaded the file to
http://s000.tinyupload.com/?file_id=76156979637997659244
Below is a link to a screen shot for reference..
http://i63.tinypic.com/sdefsj.png
In sheet 2 of the spreadsheet I have been populating the specs for different scrapers. The list of scrapers is not yet complete, but there are a fair few to go of.
Based on the D5B (105 hp) / R568 combination and D5M / I-950 I have several dozer options in that hp range:
D5B (105 hp)
D5M (121 hp).
D5K (~104)
Komatsu D41P/E-6 (110 hp)
Komatsu D39XP/EX-22 (105 hp)
JD 750. etc
For those kind enough to take a peek you will find a number of dozers listed in the sheet (hopefully others will find this info useful too!).
What is missing here, and where I am stuck, is on the weight of the respective dozers and how I can translate this to drawbar pull or similar.
Pricing is tilting me in favour of the Komatsu. For a D5M I can expect the machine to have an additional 50%-100% hours and to be, on average, 2-6 years older than the komatsu.
Now, my problem, how does the weight of the machine and ground pressure factor into the capacity of the machine to push, or in my case to pull a 9 yd struck scraper up hill?
I note that Komatsu also have a D39PX-22. The XP machines (LGP) seem to be very popular. Further, if I was to purchase a D39PX-22 I would not need to import the machine which would help speed things up. The D41P-6 are not so prevalent.
Below is a quick comparison (hp / weight / ground pressure) for the D39/D41 and the D5M/D5B/D6D?. I have included both the D39EX and D39PX in the line up. The cat D5M/D5B appear to be more than capable of pulling an I-950 scraper (what about the lighter D6D?)
http://i64.tinypic.com/efs22x.png
I note, according to the manuals for the Komatsu the drawbar pull vs speed is almost identical for the D41/D39. I have started to look at calcs for drawbar pull, but sadly my noodle of a brain has taken me about as far as it can. Am I going to notice the output of the D41 vs the D39 due to vehicle mass in soft material / clay?
Please excuse the length of post. For anyone who has made it to the end of this old epistle, thanks. I would be very grateful for you input!!
I would really appreciate some help choosing the correct dozer for the work I have scheduled. I have a job that is big enough to justify purchasing a machine (my first). Hope to have a machine on the job site end of Dec 2018.
The job is a small subdivision in steep, clay country. The desire is to tow a scraper (scoop) to form the access ways – the bigger the capacity the better.
Two reasons for posting. I would love some help and insight. Also, having put in a bit of time to understand a little about the machinery I would like to share what I (think!) I’ve learnt.
Let me start by saying I would like a D6T. For the sake of economy/available funds I have had to lower my expectations and had leveled my sights at a D5M sized machine. After a little more research, I thought I had settled on a Komatsu D41P/E-6.
As a bit of background, attached is an excel sheet which lists the machine specs for the various machines I had been collating info on.
My requirements for the job:
1) A cab / AC is a must
2) Relatively low hours machine ~<= 4000 hours
3) Cost <= 75,000 US landed in NZ.
4) (V)PAT blade – I don’t intend to do any land clearing.
5) Capable of towing a ~9 yd scraper. I could go for a smaller dozer, but I would like to maximize the capability of the machine I am purchasing for future, potential work (no sense going to small..?).
In terms of sizing the correct Dozer for a 9 yd scraper (I feels as though I am working the problem backwards…:/) the only concrete input I have is a page out of the Caterpillar performance handbook. I have pasted the snippet below for reference.
http://i63.tinypic.com/2z52hdw.jpg
The snippet lists the estimated hourly production for a D5B with a R568 scraper in tow and indicates that the D5B (105 hp / 11700 kg) is capable of pulling a 9yd struck load.
As further confirmation, there is a vid of a D5M (110 net hp / 11700 kg) pulling an Ashland I-950 (
There is a spreadsheet sheet linked below in which I have populated a list of Dozers and their relative spes. Most of the information comes from Richie Specs with a few corrections where I have found anomalies.
The info is by no means validated / correct, but the best I have, to date!
Apologies! I'm unable to share the excel file on the forum. I have uploaded the file to
http://s000.tinyupload.com/?file_id=76156979637997659244
Below is a link to a screen shot for reference..
http://i63.tinypic.com/sdefsj.png
In sheet 2 of the spreadsheet I have been populating the specs for different scrapers. The list of scrapers is not yet complete, but there are a fair few to go of.
Based on the D5B (105 hp) / R568 combination and D5M / I-950 I have several dozer options in that hp range:
D5B (105 hp)
D5M (121 hp).
D5K (~104)
Komatsu D41P/E-6 (110 hp)
Komatsu D39XP/EX-22 (105 hp)
JD 750. etc
For those kind enough to take a peek you will find a number of dozers listed in the sheet (hopefully others will find this info useful too!).
What is missing here, and where I am stuck, is on the weight of the respective dozers and how I can translate this to drawbar pull or similar.
Pricing is tilting me in favour of the Komatsu. For a D5M I can expect the machine to have an additional 50%-100% hours and to be, on average, 2-6 years older than the komatsu.
Now, my problem, how does the weight of the machine and ground pressure factor into the capacity of the machine to push, or in my case to pull a 9 yd struck scraper up hill?
I note that Komatsu also have a D39PX-22. The XP machines (LGP) seem to be very popular. Further, if I was to purchase a D39PX-22 I would not need to import the machine which would help speed things up. The D41P-6 are not so prevalent.
Below is a quick comparison (hp / weight / ground pressure) for the D39/D41 and the D5M/D5B/D6D?. I have included both the D39EX and D39PX in the line up. The cat D5M/D5B appear to be more than capable of pulling an I-950 scraper (what about the lighter D6D?)
http://i64.tinypic.com/efs22x.png
I note, according to the manuals for the Komatsu the drawbar pull vs speed is almost identical for the D41/D39. I have started to look at calcs for drawbar pull, but sadly my noodle of a brain has taken me about as far as it can. Am I going to notice the output of the D41 vs the D39 due to vehicle mass in soft material / clay?
Please excuse the length of post. For anyone who has made it to the end of this old epistle, thanks. I would be very grateful for you input!!
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