A few projects I have done recently

[cuttin edge]

Nope. The D3 running the standard 2D handled the job quickly and much faster than the grader box for our 279's.



^^This. We have no need for a grader when a GPS/2D dozer handles what we do fine. Would it be awesome to have a grade - hell yeah but if I had one then I'd put GPS on it then have a $250K+ (for a small machine) piece of equipment that would get 10-15% utilization. Doesn't make sense.

The guys were able to find 3 of the old control points on site so we were able to run GPS. We didn't have a model for this project but they were able to set elevations.

I've often heard guys talk about having a D8. You can for a lot of work with one but it's a lot of money to be sitting in the yard when you don't have work for it

 

[Welder Dave]

I thought the wider blade on a grader would make the job faster. Maybe could hire out a grader for a few hours.

 

[hvy 1ton]

The D3 running the standard 2D handled the job quickly and much faster than the grader box for our 279's.

Have you considered building a set of removable wings for pushing out gravel? I was sure it'd be super easy to find an Eberhard D3 with wings pushing out rock, but here I am half an hour later with a picture from Stutsman.

I did find without even looking for it, a 963 with a pushbox leveling road base. Just in case you need some extra motivation for a shiny new 953 with grade control.

 

[cuttin edge]

I thought the wider blade on a grader would make the job faster. Maybe could hire out a grader for a few hours.

Definitely faster. But a big investment. When we had our 730 Champion, they looked at grade control. Not a gps or laser, just slope control. The sales man said the grader was too loose, and it was the kind of slop that couldn't be shimmed away. The sports plex project. He is putting gravel on, and on grade faster with the dozer than I ever could with the grader by the seat of my pants and eye. Rental is an option but not sure what the rate down there would be for machine and operator. I know a lot of large parking lots or roads we pave for someone else, usually they put the material as close as they can, and then we fine grade it before it's paved.

 

[CM1995]

I thought the wider blade on a grader would make the job faster. Maybe could hire out a grader for a few hours.

Why would I hire someone else when I have a D3 sitting there?

 

[Welder Dave]

Just thought a grader with a wider blade and faster travel speed would do the job faster. GPS and 2D on the D3 would make it faster.

 

[AzIron]

Just thought a grader with a wider blade and faster travel speed would do the job faster. GPS and 2D on the D3 would make it faster.

Everyone tries to run a blade like its a dozer and they definitely are not. If your laying material with belly dumps or scraper then a blade is the answer

If your rough cutting and mucking material on a small site were you can push faster than you can pick it up and carry it a dozer is your tool especially one that can do finish work it covers more than one base

Blades are a handy tool but you have to have something around to move material out of there way or they are not efficient

 

[smifwal]

I am much smaller outfit like way smaller than CM1995 and I struggle with needs vs wants and things sitting around, by necessity and budget (of course) I tend to make things work, will"enter piece of equipment here" work better/faster sure but what I am going to do with it the rest of the time. I know a guy that had a cat grader blade set up with GPS, when he got a small dozer he took everything off the grader blade and put it on the dozer. He said at the moment he wasn't going to reoutfit the blade until he absolutely had to

 

[CM1995]

I am much smaller outfit like way smaller than CM1995 and I struggle with needs vs wants and things sitting around, by necessity and budget (of course) I tend to make things work, will"enter piece of equipment here" work better/faster sure but what I am going to do with it the rest of the time. I know a guy that had a cat grader blade set up with GPS, when he got a small dozer he took everything off the grader blade and put it on the dozer. He said at the moment he wasn't going to reoutfit the blade until he absolutely had to

We haven't used the laser box blade for the 279's since we bought a D3 with GPS. No real need for it now for what we do.

Anyone interested in it?

 

[CM1995]

Erosion control going in on our new project. This is about a 4 acre site that is the future home for small 1,500 SF office/warehouse rental spaces.

Silt fence sub installed around 800 LF of wire backed.



Putting in some brush berms on the lowest part of the site. This area was designed to have double rows of wire backed silt fencing.



Hired a new guy that can run a track loader so we put him on the '53.



Lucy found some really thick chunks of asphalt hiding on the slope hidden by the little pines.

 

[Metalman 55]

Good work Lucy!

 

[CM1995]

Stopped by the Cat House today to pic up a part for the 321DL. Gotta ride around the yard and absorb all the shiny yellow iron right?

Thought this pic is a good representation of the new Cat dozer numbering.

From left to right - D3, D4, D5 and D6. All 4 tractors are LGP which makes a nice size comparison.



Considerable size difference from a D3 and D4. Our D3 has one more payment and it's ours so thinking about the next new dozer being a D4.



All the 4's, 5's and 6's had factory GPS. 2 of the 3's had GPS.

 

[smifwal]

Life goals!!

 

[smifwal]

I have never ran a cat dozer, any brand really, the exhaust stack right in the middle looks like it would be annoying having that thing in your sight path all day long

 

[HarleyHappy]

Actually, it never seems to be a problem as you’re always looking at the cut on the left and the right. Only used to try and see over the blade, when learning to run one.
After a while, you can feel the cut through the engine.

 

[DMiller]

Focus on Path not machine parts. Ag Tractor exhaust was out of the hoods forever. Similar to wife whining turn on wipers when not bothering me as do not focus on droplets on WS, just surroundings.

 

[CM1995]

I have never ran a cat dozer, any brand really, the exhaust stack right in the middle looks like it would be annoying having that thing in your sight path all day long

What HH and DM said.

You're not looking over the hood while blading. What you want in a dozer is a clear line to the edge of the blade on both sides.

 

[materthegreater]

It really blocks the view when you're trying to enjoy the scenery though

 

[CM1995]

It really blocks the view when you're trying to enjoy the scenery though

View attachment 360808

You should be watching your blade..

 

[AMBMike]

Considerable size difference from a D3 and D4. Our D3 has one more payment and it's ours so thinking about the next new dozer being a D4.

The D4 size is a great machine. Nimble enough for tight areas and large enough to handle large pads.