Is there a compact Dozer out there?

[davygp38]

I am starting to build a pond. Trees are cut, bought a grapple for the Tractor, and have been reading Eddie Walkers epic, lake Maribou. I now realize that a small (10,000lbs) or less dozer would be a big help. I need recommendations. I have a Ford 1 ton, with the V10 to haul it with. All comments welcome

 

[Dmace]

I got the chance to operate a Komatsu D21 (9,000lb / 40hp) dozer and it was a perfect size for small jobs but still had great power and traction for the grading we were doing. Here some used models on Machinery Trader. I don't know if CAT makes a comparable model, even the D3 is a 16,000lb / 63hp dozer.

 

[powergod]

that is quite the grapple you have there

 

[ToadHill]

Depending on what you want to spend, you can get several, Nortrack makes a small one, a friend has one and loves it. I think it's about 25 hp and it will move a lot of dirt. New they are around 16K,

I bought an old Oliver OC3 with a dozer blace attached for 1900 and used it for what I needed before selling it.

Those are some less expensive alterternatives to the Komatsu and the Cat.

 

[plastikosmd]

how compact?

you can do a lot of work with a little dozer

 

[Duffster]

I am starting to build a pond. Trees are cut, bought a grapple for the Tractor, and have been reading Eddie Walkers epic, lake Maribou. I now realize that a small (10,000lbs) or less dozer would be a big help. I need recommendations. I have a Ford 1 ton, with the V10 to haul it with. All comments welcome

I think a tracked skidloader is what you need.

 

[6sunset6]

how compact?

you can do a lot of work with a little dozer

Is that a STRUCK? What is the engine?

 

[sandman2234]

That dozer posted is quite a bit LARGER than the one J.J. has here in Jax. In fact if you remove the seat, it would sit real pretty on that platform. Cute little thing, no doubt.
David from jax

 

[plastikosmd]

naw, not a struck, it is a trackmaster, mine at one point even had a backhoe attachement...after finding original owner...some of the newer magnatracs are closer in size..weight on this is prob around a ton or more with all the counterweights. engine is a 12.5 hp single cylinder wisconsin...it is a monster single cylinder
here is engine comin out at time of rebuild

 

[ROUSTABOUT]

I would go with the skid steer and a set of tracks made from pawn shop chain. Buy a dirt pan to pull with your tractor. Take a rear tractor blade and adapt it to fit the front of the skid steer. Do your digging with the pan and use the skid steer to keep things dressed and make things easier for the tractor. A skid steer is good for many things and a dozer is only good for pushing or pulling.

 

[6sunset6]

naw, not a struck, it is a trackmaster, mine at one point even had a backhoe attachement...after finding original owner...some of the newer magnatracs are closer in size..weight on this is prob around a ton or more with all the counterweights. engine is a 12.5 hp single cylinder wisconsin...it is a monster single cylinder
here is engine comin out at time of rebuild

Wow I built a Struck and used a Wisconsin 2 cyl off a hay bailer. I got it as a box of parts and put it back together by the paint marks. 16HP at 3600rpm

 

[chh]

I personally have not been too impressed with the little jimna/nortrac rigs, I have not owned one, but I have not heard a lot of great things about them either. The little D21 Komatsu and the small Mitsubishi can do a lot of work for their size and are commerical grade machines. You could tow one easily with an F350 and do a lot of work. The can be found grey market fairly cheaply and come up on craigslist and the equipment sites on a regular basis.

I have had a D6C and currently have a D3C series III hydrostat and a D4H LPG, so I will give you a bit of advice. If you are serious about buying a dozer, get someone who knows what they are looking at to help you look at them. There is nothing cheap on one when it comes to having it worked on. If you are mechanically inclined you can do some things yourself, but other items can take more equipment than the average homeowner has available. I had one idler roller replaced on my D4H. The tracks where too heavy for me to work with, so I called and independent repair service I knew. Aftermarket parts and labor totaled right at $1000. Thru Cat service the total parts where over $1000 + labor. Just about any hydraulic hose on one of them will set you back over $100(parts only) for the "correct rated and covered" hose.

 

[davygp38]

that is quite the grapple you have there

Its a markham 60" light duty Grapple

 

[davygp38]

I personally have not been too impressed with the little jimna/nortrac rigs, I have not owned one, but I have not heard a lot of great things about them either. The little D21 Komatsu and the small Mitsubishi can do a lot of work for their size and are commerical grade machines. You could tow one easily with an F350 and do a lot of work. The can be found grey market fairly cheaply and come up on craigslist and the equipment sites on a regular basis.

I have had a D6C and currently have a D3C series III hydrostat and a D4H LPG, so I will give you a bit of advice. If you are serious about buying a dozer, get someone who knows what they are looking at to help you look at them. There is nothing cheap on one when it comes to having it worked on. If you are mechanically inclined you can do some things yourself, but other items can take more equipment than the average homeowner has available. I had one idler roller replaced on my D4H. The tracks where too heavy for me to work with, so I called and independent repair service I knew. Aftermarket parts and labor totaled right at $1000. Thru Cat service the total parts where over $1000 + labor. Just about any hydraulic hose on one of them will set you back over $100(parts only) for the "correct rated and covered" hose.

Thanks for the advice, and the tracked skid steer is something I might look into. That Komatsu is worth looking into as well.

 

[scoutcub]

Great question/thread.
I was looking for a small dozer as well to clear some land I bought as well as dig a few small ponds. I also read Eddie's thread on creating a lake and although his pond was a huge 4+ acre project, I remember him saying you can never buy enough dozer for a job. I've also seen that same comment on other threads.

I started my search by weight/reliability. You can get the nortrac fairly cheap, but it's only a 6000 lb dozer. And I was unsure of the reliability/parts. CAT used to make a D2, but they're pretty old now, I wanted something newer. I'd love to have a D3, but they're top dollar and start around 16,000lbs. So I settled on a Komatsu D20/21, about a 10,000 lb machine. Many out there, good reliability/parts availability. There's even a parts store on Ebay that sells everything for them.
Well, during my search I came across a great deal on a Komatsu D-38, and bought it. I pick it up next week and start having fun with it!
Some great advice was brought up. Bring a mechanic/pro with you to check it over. Dozer parts/labor is very expensive. (especially CAT)
I really like skidsteers, and while I've only run wheeled ones, I personally wouldn't use one for clearing/digging. Maybe they're up to it, I just think a dozer is more suited for the job I'm/we're doing. My .$02. Good luck!

 

[Brahmus]

My JD350 is about in that range. It's an older unit and weights 11K but has plenty of grunt, was affordable and parts are plentiful.

 

[20 20]

Own the nortrack, great little machine no problems except the ones I caused. Parts were/are very easy to come by just get a hold of northern tool along with others. I have logged dug ponds cleared road ways moved boulders dug stumps pushed snow etc...

I have owned/operated many types of different machines, no matter what you're planing on buying be ready for HIGH maintenance. The nortrack dozer is just as good as any other, but the function of the machine remains on the operaters shoulders. A name is just a name maintenance is what will keep a machine alive!!!

 

[jas67]

naw, not a struck, it is a trackmaster, mine at one point even had a backhoe attachement...after finding original owner...some of the newer magnatracs are closer in size..weight on this is prob around a ton or more with all the counterweights. engine is a 12.5 hp single cylinder wisconsin...it is a monster single cylinder
here is engine comin out at time of rebuild

Is that a PowerKing Economy with a loader in the back of your garage?

 

[Baucom]

Looks to me like an old Allis Chalmers mower with a loader.

 

[Sprocket1]

Sorry. I just couldn't help it. YouTube - 038