Small Dozer under 10,000 lbs ... do they exist?

[TSO]

Can anyone point out a few machines that I could look at? I am considering picking up a small dozer as my business expands. But I would like something that I could trailer around easily. I am rated to pull around 18,000 pounds but would like to keep the machine under 10K on a 14K trailer (trailer would weigh around 3K).

Or... Would a tracked skid steer with a dozer blade be okay for site grading? I'm worried that the skid steer would be prone to the same issues that a tractor has: due to where the loader connects, when the blade would start digging it would cause the machine to dip and dig in ... Whereas the dozers short arms would keep the machine level and be more efficient.

Thoughts and/or recommendations?

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Price range? This will make a big difference. First ones that come to mind are CASE & John Deere, but they will have to be older to be small enough, 350s and 450s I think. Mitsubishi and Komatsu have some small units.

It actually is unbelievable how much these small machines will do. :thumbsup:

 

[TSO]

Price range? This will make a big difference. First ones that come to mind are CASE & John Deere, but they will have to be older to be small enough, 350s and 450s I think. Mitsubishi and Komatsu have some small units.

It actually is unbelievable how much these small machines will do. :thumbsup:

Valid Q ... But I'm not really sure. As always, the less the better. Looking for used. I honestly don't know where the price range falls, because I don't know which models are small enough. Every time I think I've spotted something small enough, I look up the specs and it weighs too much. Saw a CAT DC3xl HST today, thought it looked right, but turns out it weighs over 15K !

 

[jenkinsph]

I would suggest you look at a rubber tracked unit with a laser set up. Here is a pic of a tire model with the laser set up.

http://assets.bobcat.com/images/skid-steer-loaders/s630/132988-_t6k1488-js_fc_fc_one_col_wrap.jpg

 

[Ivan49]

Valid Q ... But I'm not really sure. As always, the less the better. Looking for used. I honestly don't know where the price range falls, because I don't know which models are small enough. Every time I think I've spotted something small enough, I look up the specs and it weighs too much. Saw a CAT DC3xl HST today, thought it looked right, but turns out it weighs over 15K !

I had a JD 350B and wish I had never sold it. If you dont know anything about tracks get someone who does and have them check it out. If the tracks need to be repinned and the rollers are bad it will cost more than you payed for the dozer

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I would suggest you look at a rubber tracked unit with a laser set up. Here is a pic of a tire model with the laser set up.

http://assets.bobcat.com/images/skid-steer-loaders/s630/132988-_t6k1488-js_fc_fc_one_col_wrap.jpg

Here is the laser to get.

Spectra Precision Laser LL500 Exterior Self-Leveling Laser Level With HL700 Receiver - Rotary Lasers - Amazon.com

 

[arlen4720]

Here is the laser to get.

Spectra Precision Laser LL500 Exterior Self-Leveling Laser Level With HL700 Receiver - Rotary Lasers - Amazon.com

The kind that Steve linked tie into the hydraulics and level the cutting edge on the fly.

 

[whis]

can't spell it but a good operator on a 150 tak skid can do as much as one on D3 dozer

 

[4570Man]

Maybe a case or JD. A Cat D3 weighs 18,000 pounds. An old D2 might weigh less than 10,000. You probably could buy a bigger truck cheaper than a laser guided skid steer. A skid steer just can't push like a dozen anyway. After some more research a case 350 weighs about 10,000 pounds, and a case 450 weighs about 13,000 pounds.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Valid Q ... But I'm not really sure. As always, the less the better. Looking for used. I honestly don't know where the price range falls, because I don't know which models are small enough. Every time I think I've spotted something small enough, I look up the specs and it weighs too much. Saw a CAT DC3xl HST today, thought it looked right, but turns out it weighs over 15K !

I think that you should be able to find a 350-450 Case or JD under 15k. If you want newer, then the Japanese models. I would think that you could find a good machine for under 20K.

New Holland and Landini also have crawlers, Get them basically new from lease returns where they were used as pull tractors in the vineyards. Up to 100hp in an under 10,000lb machine. They seem to be pretty nice machines, but they are not cheap.

 

[4570Man]

can't spell it but a good operator on a 150 tak skid can do as much as one on D3 dozer

That is not going to happen. A d3 weighs close to double what that skid steer weighs. Doing any serious earth moving a d3 will eat that skid steers lunch.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

That is not going to happen. A d3 weighs close to double what that skid steer weighs. Doing any serious earth moving a d3 will eat that skid steers lunch.

Yup, the guy on the D-3 would have to be sound asleep! lol

I have a Case 450,

I haul it on my trailer rated for 12K...and no the trailer is not maxed out!

SR

 

[jenkinsph]

Here is the laser to get.

Spectra Precision Laser LL500 Exterior Self-Leveling Laser Level With HL700 Receiver - Rotary Lasers - Amazon.com

A slope laser is what is needed unless everything you do is level and flat.

 

[jenkinsph]

Can anyone point out a few machines that I could look at? I am considering picking up a small dozer as my business expands. But I would like something that I could trailer around easily. I am rated to pull around 18,000 pounds but would like to keep the machine under 10K on a 14K trailer (trailer would weigh around 3K).

Or... Would a tracked skid steer with a dozer blade be okay for site grading? I'm worried that the skid steer would be prone to the same issues that a tractor has: due to where the loader connects, when the blade would start digging it would cause the machine to dip and dig in ... Whereas the dozers short arms would keep the machine level and be more efficient.

Thoughts and/or recommendations?

A much cheaper alternative would be a to use your box blade and add a mast, laser receiver indicate system and a good slope laser. There are some pretty good receivers with a remote for the cab so you don't have to turn around to see what is happening. For small sites a $2000 laser and a $1000 receiver with remote display would help a lot with grading.

I grade some larger fields and use a Topcon RL200 2/s laser with a range of 1800' radius and use the Topcon LSB110 receivers which work with automatic machine control. This stuff is costly but it does help with grading accuracy and can be used on larger tractors if you upgrade later.

Working in town on lots that need finish grading primarily your existing box blade should work very well. You just need to add a pipe mast and 30 lbs of electronics.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

The kind that Steve linked tie into the hydraulics and level the cutting edge on the fly.

Notice that it is using a Spectra laser and the HL700 receiver.

For machine control you want the spectra CR600 receiver.

Anyway, this is the set-up I want to buy for my rear box blade.

 

[TSO]

A much cheaper alternative would be a to use your box blade and add a mast, laser receiver indicate system and a good slope laser. There are some pretty good receivers with a remote for the cab so you don't have to turn around to see what is happening. For small sites a $2000 laser and a $1000 receiver with remote display would help a lot with grading.

I grade some larger fields and use a Topcon RL200 2/s laser with a range of 1800' radius and use the Topcon LSB110 receivers which work with automatic machine control. This stuff is costly but it does help with grading accuracy and can be used on larger tractors if you upgrade later.

Working in town on lots that need finish grading primarily your existing box blade should work very well. You just need to add a pipe mast and 30 lbs of electronics.

I do lots of grading with the boxblade, and it does work well for the price. But it's not always the right tool, especially when adjusting side slopes. I'd try a 4-in-1 blade on my tractor, but I just don't think I could get enough traction with a CUT like mine.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

I do lots of grading with the boxblade, and it does work well for the price. But it's not always the right tool, especially when adjusting side slopes. I'd try a 4-in-1 blade on my tractor, but I just don't think I could get enough traction with a CUT like mine.

The Spectra GL522 and HL750 radio receiver does side slopes.

Trimble - Heavy Civil Construction - Construction Machine Control - Spectra Precision Laser GL512 and GL522

 

[TSO]

The Spectra GL522 and HL750 radio receiver does side slopes.

Trimble - Heavy Civil Construction - Construction Machine Control - Spectra Precision Laser GL512 and GL522

Looks cool ... That would be fine on a front blade (not on a tractor tho...) But not on a boxblade.

Especially without down pressure

 

[Dozernut]

The Komatsu dozers, specifically the D20, 21 series weigh in under 10,000 lbs. These are good little dozers that will really put out the work. Do a search on the D20p6 or D21-A for a sampling, parts are readily available and they are fairly easy to work on.

 

[jenkinsph]

I do lots of grading with the boxblade, and it does work well for the price. But it's not always the right tool, especially when adjusting side slopes. I'd try a 4-in-1 blade on my tractor, but I just don't think I could get enough traction with a CUT like mine.

If you have enough work on side slopes a small dozer would be a good choice. I had a Deere 450 years ago and pulled it with a dump truck. One thing I learned about this business is you can only drive one piece at a time, the more you have the more is sitting. You can hire employees if you can find ones that are worth it. Good luck with the decisions.