Sweco trail dozer

[digger242j]

I'm sorry. The headlights just look so much like eyes. I couldn't help myself...

:beatsme

 

[tylermckee]

the unibrow 3500

 

[Countryboy]

the unibrow 3500

:laugh

You gotta take into account who drew it. :bouncegri

 

[treemuncher]

I'm currently building foot trails for a customer. I use my Posi-track 4810 to clear, doze, grade, prep and load by using the versatility of multiple attachments. It's tracks are about 72" wide which is perfect for 6'-8' wide trail construction. The only problems that I encounter are when I get into rocky area. Most of the area has lots of flint rock and that really tears at the tracks. Otherwise, it is the perfect machine with over 100 hp and 6 mph. My 6 way dozer blade really slicks things off nice to prep the trails for aggregate.

Anytime you build trails or roads, you will need to clear further back than the width of you trail to compensate for limbs, turns, working space and drainage issues. There is no such thing as a trail built as narrow as the machine. There would not be enough room to work and to clean up all of the brush and trees from the clearing work. All of my 6' trails usually become 8'-10' wide except for areas between large save trees.

 

[littledenny]

Think the width of the trail vs. the machine is a matter of technique. My boss and I cut a footpath across a wooded slope last week, using a New Holland L120 skidsteer with a manure fork. The fork seems to work really well for digging out the rocks, and it has enough of a "bucket" that he can grade with it.

Don't remember the size of the bucket or machine offhand, but I think it's around 42 inches or so. Machine's so small I can't get into it, but the boss can, and it's positively amazing what he can do with it.

The trail is barely four feet wide, and he's so good with the machine, that I only need to do a little hand raking and a bit of pruning for roots and branches. Ended up being a perfect, low inpact, walking trail, but it's too narrow for an ATV.

(Personally, I'd have wanted the trail a bit wider, but the guy with the wallet was happy, so I didn't get a vote.)

 

[Cat420]

The trail is barely four feet wide...snip
snip...too narrow for an ATV.

You should have seen the course at the one race I did. Half of the trees had no bark left at the end, because it was so tight. It was a rough two hours and I wrecked a couple of times.

 

[jim-in-so-ore]

Sweco Trail Cat

I just found this site and registered.
The motorcycle club that I belong to has one of those Chinese cats. After a year of ownership I have come to the conclusion that it is built out of too soft of steel materials.
Before we purchased it we tried out a ASV ( I can't remember the model) and took it out for a days try out. It was the smallest one (4 feet wide) and we discovered it to be way too light. We hooked it numerus time on 1 1/2 inch roots and they would stop the machines forward motion.
The U.S. Forerst Service has a number of Sweco Trail cats for OHV trail maintainance and construction here in the state of Oregon. They are both 450 and 480 models. There is nothing finer than the Sweco for these types of projects with the machine weighing almost 10,000 lbs and having 80 horsepower. The operator sits right behind the blade ala skidsteer so he is virtually on top of his work The blade is a six way affair with the tilt angle far more aggressive than any other machine. If we could afford one we would own one also.
Jim

 

[Countryboy]

Welcome to HEF jim-in-so-ore! :drinkup

Glad to hear from somebody that has had expierence with one of these. I have to agree with you, while the machine would be excellent for what it was intended, the price is a bit of a put-off.

 

[Opie]

Has anybody seen one of these, know where I can find one or have more information on them. Its called the Sweco 480 Trail Dozer. There is also a 450 model. It looks to be very versatile from the little bit of info and pictures I have found on it. I would like one to use on my property to keep things looking good.

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That little thing has a ripper system on it, and my D6R XW dosent.............ointhead :beatsme :Banghead

 

[rcn11thacr]

fla

I have seen some at work here in north fla and they do quite well for their size. Surprizing to say the least.

 

[Legga]

Sweco 480 dozer

Anyone who would like info or pics of the Sweco 480 Dozer can contact me. My Name is Tim and I have been building the Sweco 480 for the last 4 yrs. I work for the Manufacturer not the Man who sells them. I have pictures of all phases. I am personally responsible for the building of The body. I also build the roll cages. I have in the past built the blade sets and Hyraulic cylinders for the Dozers as well. I have been building the Dozers for a total of 6 yrs. I work for Sutter Welding and Equipment Co. in Sutter, CA. aka Sweco Products Inc. The man who distributes them, John Mueller is not my employer.

 

[nedly05]

They look like a neat little machine, how much do they weigh? What are the benefits versus an 80 hp CTL with a six way? Seems the CTL would be more versatile.

 

[Legga]

Sweco 480 Dozer

My name is Tim and I build the sweco 480. I have for 6 yrs. If you would like any info, contact me at [email protected]. I have all the pictures and info you want. The dozer is built by Sweco Products Inc. Not by Sutter equipment. That company has nothing to do with building them.

 

[N.CarolinaDozer]

Nice little machine. Looks like a skid steer on steroids! I could also use one around my house to clean debris up. Nice find!:thumbsup

 

[John White]

Sounds like a nice little dozer and would be great for building trails. But like you said, the price. I would stay away from the ICC. A rental c. near me had two of them and they were trying to get rid of them at give away price. Nothing but trouble they said. I looket at the Northern tool, (Chinese YT360) dozer imported under different names and talked to people who bought them and they just do not hold up for very hard use. If they had better metal in them, with the 3pt hitch, it would be a great little dozer for small jobs. I personally drove a Struck dozer. Small, well built. But is just too small to do any productive work. I think the Rayco are made here in Ohio. I met a fellow who rented one several times a year and he really liked it and said they havent had any trouble. I've seen a couple of used ones in the "Equipment trader" books for around $20,000. Again if you bought a new one, I think the price would be out of the ball park. I have owned 4 of the small type dozers. Probably larger than you want. I presently have a Mitsbushi bd2j and love it. But I think it might be to wide for type of trail making. I have used a skid steer with a short blade and I cut down a pair of old truck snow chains and mounted on it to prevent spinning and it seemed to be pretty productive. Then you can reatach your bucket for other use. A skid steer is a pretty versitile machine. Cheaper to purchase and maintain than a dozer. Not near as tiresome to operate. Though I dont think it would take the hard punishiment of simply shoveing rock or dirt that a dozer would.

 

[John White]

Sounds like a nice little dozer and would be great for building trails. But like you said, the price. I would stay away from the ICC. A rental c. near me had two of them and they were trying to get rid of them at give away price. Nothing but trouble they said. I looket at the Northern tool, (Chinese YT360) dozer imported under different names and talked to people who bought them and they just do not hold up for very hard use. If they had better metal in them, with the 3pt hitch, it would be a great little dozer for small jobs. I personally drove a Struck dozer. Small, well built. But is just too small to do any productive work. I think the Rayco are made here in Ohio. I met a fellow who rented one several times a year and he really liked it and said they havent had any trouble. I've seen a couple of used ones in the "Equipment trader" books for around $20,000. Again if you bought a new one, I think the price would be out of the ball park. I have owned 4 of the small type dozers. Probably larger than you want. I presently have a Mitsbushi bd2j and love it. But I think it might be to wide for type of trail making. I have used a skid steer with a short blade and I cut down a pair of old truck snow chains and mounted on it to prevent spinning and it seemed to be pretty productive. Then you can reatach your bucket for other use. A skid steer is a pretty versitile machine. Cheaper to purchase and maintain than a dozer. Not near as tiresome to operate. Though I dont think it would take the hard punishiment of simply shoveing rock or dirt that a dozer would.

Just did a webb search and found 2 Raycos one is priced at $16,000 740-259-5313 1600hrs. another $24,500. 845-256-3900 620 hrs.

 

[Countryboy]

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums Legga! :drinkup

 

[Legga]

I am new to the forum and would like to know just how it works. All advice will be appreciated. legga

 

[Countryboy]

I am new to the forum and would like to know just how it works. All advice will be appreciated. legga

Take a look in our "Support" forum and have a look around. Most of your questions should be answered there. If not, start a new thread or add to an existing one with your questions.

 

[SSkinner]

The Little Sweco

I have a little sweco, it is a great tractor to operate and does fine finnish work. as for trail building it does that great also. It does however have some draw backs first of all being the price. If you want to build atv trails you need to build them extra wide if on a slope. Visibility behind you is very poor and what ever you do, dont rest your feet anywhere other than where they belong.:bash