How to Choose a Large Dozer | Construction Equipment

Crawler dozers 300 horsepower and over are staples in heavy-duty earthmoving and mining applications, usually facing high-production expectations but often suffering extra wear due to abrasive or rocky conditions.

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Managers are tasked with balancing production requirements and operating costs with maintenance needs and component and machine life. Large crawler dozer makers and their dealers are ready resources, offering advice on configuration and cost savings through maintenance, technology, and more.

How to configure a bulldozer

One of the most obvious questions is what kind of big dozer is needed? There are options for the front and back of the unit, as well as the technology, and there are only a handful of manufacturers making large crawlers.

“Choose the right size of dozer with the right attachments, like blades, ripper, and undercarriage. All too often it seems [buying] a replacement dozer is a ‘copy and paste’ exercise without really understanding the needs,” says Caterpillar’s large dozer application specialist, Todd Cole. “You can never optimize your cost if the wrong size of dozer/blade/ripper combination is purchased.”

Charles Murawski, dozer product manager for Komatsu, says moving massive amounts of material in high-production applications requires managers to specify the proper front and rear attachments, and undercarriage, to suit job site conditions.

“For the front attachment, a semi-U or Sigmadozer blade should be selected for bank material that can be slot dozed or for the greatest versatility in general dozing work,” Murawski says. “In materials that heap up, the Komatsu Sigmadozer blade can increase productivity by up to 15 percent over semi-U. For looser material such as sand and gravel, a full-U blade should be considered. Special applications with low-density material like coal, woodchips, and waste require a blade with an extra-large capacity—two to three times standard capacity.”

Although the rear attachment on a large dozer is typically a ripper, Murawski points out a counterweight or towing winch may be selected if ground conditions are relatively soft and won’t require ripping before dozing.     

“The undercarriage track shoe width should be as narrow as practical,” he says. “On firm ground, select 24- to 26-inch-wide shoes. For soft ground conditions, Komatsu’s D155AX-8 LGP with 38-inch-wide track shoes will provide optimum flotation.”

Undercarriage costs on dozers

The biggest factor in keeping operating costs down for large dozers is maintenance. Manufacturers key in on undercarriage care, as the undercarriage is universally considered a crawler’s most substantial expense.

4 tips for undercarriage care.

“When it comes to getting the most life out of the undercarriage, we can’t overlook the fundamentals,” says John Deere’s solutions marketing manager for roadbuilding, Matt Goedert. “First is track tension. Maintaining proper track tension is an important, controllable factor in undercarriage life. A tight track greatly increases component stresses and increases wear rates; however, running the tracks too loose will also reduce the life of the undercarriage components and cause uneven wear on the sprockets. Tracks should be adjusted to the proper amount of sag; this procedure is shown on every John Deere dozer located on the periodic maintenance chart decal.

“Track tension should be monitored regularly, especially when soil conditions change,” Goedert says. “Increased soil moisture, for example, can cause packing in the sprockets and a tighter track. It’s important to make sure your machine is properly configured for the application. In this example, recessed sprocket segments and track shoes with trapezoidal holes would be beneficial in getting more life out of the undercarriage because both options help reduce packing of material and allow a path for material to escape.”

Caterpillar’s Cole agrees that dirt in the wrong areas can be a problem, leading to premature wear. “There is no replacement for a good daily walk-around and shoveling dirt off the roller frames,” Cole says.

“In an ideal world, all undercarriage components would wear equally,” Goedert says. “Depending on variables such as shop labor rates, part costs, and which undercarriage components are wearing the fastest, it may be most cost effective to turn the pins and bushings or it may make more sense to keep running the machine until the pins and bushings need to be replaced.

“Knowing the cost per hour of operation is key in making such decisions, and the John Deere dealer can help with this,” Goedert says. “If a pin and bushing turn is a cost-effective approach, regular inspections are critical to scheduling the time for that service. Generally, larger crawlers are more likely to be better candidates for pin and bushing turns due to part costs. If the track links have around 50 percent wear and the bushings are at 90 percent worn, for example, a pin and bushing turn could maximize the life and return on investment on that undercarriage.”

Large crawler dozer OEMs offer extended-life undercarriages for more difficult and abrasive applications. Managers must weigh their options here.

“We offer our extended-life undercarriage option on our 850L, 950K, and K dozers,” Goedert says. “This option decreases bushing wear by 50 percent over a standard bushing, which can greatly reduce operating costs and allow customers to get the most life out of their undercarriage components. Depending on wear rates of the various components, the decision to run until replacement is needed may be a clearer choice.”

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Komatsu says its PLUS rotating bushing undercarriage can extend life up to twice the life of conventional without requiring a pin and bushing turn. Caterpillar’s Heavy-Duty Extended Life undercarriage has a 20- to 40-percent longer wear life and longer seal life to give “the best cost per bank cubic meters of material moved,” says Cole.

Dozer grade control

Utilizing manufacturers’ telematics systems is another way to find cost savings. One example is Komatsu’s new My Komatsu customer portal, which provides a number of fleet-management tools the company says can help maximize dozer value while being proactive about machine health.

“[You can] receive alerts for excessive engine idle time, fuel consumption, or DPF regeneration,” Murawski says. “Also, view machine operation settings, machine usage, maintenance, cautions, and abnormality information, as well as determine remaining warranty coverage while finding the correct replacement parts with pricing for your specific machine. It’s also possible to place orders on the spot.”

Finally, operating habits and tech use play a role, as available grade-control systems can help operators achieve greater accuracy faster, eliminating extra passes and saving fuel.

Liebherr calls its grade-control offerings “Operator Assistance Systems” available in three levels: Free Grade for active shield stabilization during fine grading, Definition Grade for automatic blade positioning when creating 2D surfaces, and a 3D Grade option that offers a factory-mounted GPS machine control from Topcon, which is fully integrated and calibrated. Kits are also available for retrofitting of the latest 2D and 3D control systems from Trimble and Leica.

For many companies, buying a used bulldozer is an excellent way to get your hands on a piece of equipment and save a little cash at the same time. When purchased from trusted dealers, used bulldozers offer construction businesses excellent reliability and long-term performance. However, there are a few things to consider when choosing a used bulldozer.

Knowing what to look for in a dozer can help you find the best used option for your business. In this guide, we'll explain how to buy a used dozer and provide tips for finding the best one for your applications.

Your first consideration when buying a used dozer should be the tasks you need it for. The bulldozer you need for a construction job is different than the one you'd use for demolition. You might need a dozer with a ripper to tear up the ground or one with a blade that can help you move heavy loads. Consider what the landscape of your work is like and what tasks you'll need your dozer to accomplish.

What Type of Bulldozer Will You Need?

Different dozer styles lend themselves to different jobs. The three primary types of bulldozers are:

• Crawler dozer: These dozers look somewhat like a tractor, and use tracks instead of wheels — these give it added traction on difficult surfaces. A crawler is good for heavy materials and working on any irregular landscapes.
• Wheel dozer: By using wheels instead of tracks, a wheel dozer is easier to maneuver and better on sensitive ground where you don't want to leave track marks or damage the surface.
• Mini dozer: This compact dozer provides more maneuverability, even with its tracks. It is faster and easier to handle. Plus, it offers versatility for an array of scenarios, making it good for residential or small-space landscaping.

What Kind of Attachments Will You Need?

So, what should you look for when buying a dozer? The type of blade you use will also need to change according to your project. You can use the following blades with most dozers, though different industries can have specialized blades with features unique to that environment:

• S-blade: This blade is the shortest option and lacks wings on the sides. It is best for tasks like back-filling, grading and ditching, due to its limited carrying abilities.
• U-blade: The U-blade is curved, with wings on the side to aid in pushing and material handling tasks. This shape helps keep materials in the blade when moving — It is also the largest blade.
• S-U blade: A combination of the two, the S-U blade is curved — but not as much as the U-blade — with smaller side wings. This shape makes it more versatile and great for pushing soil around, which is helpful for back-filling, crowning and ditching.
• Power-angle-tilt (PAT) blade: The PAT blade is incredibly versatile and helps with scraping, leveling, grading, land clearing and much more. It can move in nearly every direction to aid in maneuverability.
• Angle blade: This blade is good for moving material out of the way since it can form a sharp angle to the left or right. It does not have side wings and is also good for shaping, stumping and ditching.

As you start the process of buying a used dozer, you'll find a wide variety of options available — but, not all sellers are created equal. Generally, you can purchase a dozer from a private seller, an auction or a reputable dealer:

• Private sellers: When you buy from a private seller, they probably won't look out for your interests. Their primary goal is to sell you the dozer, so you have to be extra careful.
• Auctions: Buying from an auction is similar to buying from a private seller. Always check out the different components, do extensive research and bring along a trusted second opinion, like a technician. You'll also want to test drive it.
• Reputable dealer: Buying from a trusted dealer means you can obtain a warranty, extensive records and the knowledge that the seller wants you to be happy with your purchase.

Make sure you are able to get as much information on the bulldozer as possible, such as the hours of use, any repairs or part replacements and other necessary data. With the improvement of online shopping options, you can often find this data on the dealer website, along with photos.

Inspection is a vital part of picking a used dozer. It can alert you to problems the seller might not be aware of or is trying to hide. If you're not confident in your own ability to inspect a dozer appropriately, consider bringing along someone who can. Here are some indicators of what to look for when buying a used bulldozer:

• Excessive wear and signs of repair: While you should look over the whole dozer, pay special attention to damage or wear to the blade, the cutting edge and trunnion pins. You'll also want to keep an eye out for signs of welding and plate lines on the blade, which can signify repairs or refacing. Cracks, loose belts, leaks and rust are significant red flags.
• Undercarriage wear: The undercarriage of a dozer can lead to costly repairs or an expensive full replacement if it's on its way out. Inspect the undercarriage for excessive or uneven wear. Look for flattened bearings or worn trackpads.
• Hydraulics: Watch the hydraulics for signs of problems or leaks. Make sure they control easily and that the blade functions correctly.
• Hours: Hours are a significant indicator of use, but replacements of the undercarriage or engine can make them less influential. Use hours to gauge the lifespan and wear of the tool.
• Maintenance: Ask for an evaluation of the equipment, like maintenance records and machine history. This information can give you a much more comprehensive overview of the machine and allow you to judge how well it has been cared for.

Maintenance is critical to the life of a used dozer, both before and after you buy it, but perhaps more so in its later years. Be sure to keep up with preventative maintenance tasks, including:

• Regularly inspecting key components, including the undercarriage, belts, tracks and engine functionality.
• Changing the oil, fluids and filters.
• Greasing critical parts.
• Keeping hydraulic hoses, batteries and blades in good condition.

When you work with your local Cat® dealer for servicing and maintenance, you can even improve the resale value of your bulldozer with extensive records, original Cat parts and preventative maintenance. Maintenance can both extend the life of your dozer and improve its efficiency. Plus, you can prevent safety issues if you identify problems as soon as possible.

Cat dozers are built to last and are one of the most popular brands on the used market due to their longevity. We offer everything from as-is machines to Cat Certified Used equipment, which is low-hour, well-maintained and backed by a Cat warranty, so you can be confident in its performance.

Our representatives can help you find the best used dozer for your work, budget and business. Whatever the job, we can help you find a used Cat bulldozer that can get it done. Take a look at our dozer offerings today for more details.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of 40 Hp Bulldozer. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.