(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

decisions, decisions...help???

P

pasbonbasile

Member
I have about 1/2 mile of fence row, 1/4 mile of roadside, and about 1 acre that i want to clear off, nothing big. I have been looking for a tractor with a dozer blade, found a JD 5020 with a blade and a Komatsu d-21 dozer. asking for opinions on what would be best or what which would you choose and why... Don't know the price on dozer yet but tractor is 5000. both are about 7 miles from the house and about 1/4 mile apart... thanks for any help you can give...
 
you won't push much dirt with a 5020 compared to a track machine. Just not enough traction. if you are working roadside you probably have a ditch and the track vehicle will do much better in that situation also.
 
I always have found a dozer to be better for those jobs. NO flat tires for one thing. And push a lot better to uproot small trees.
 
Yep, track machine...you can always sell it later. Down side is just do not run a track off,and be sensible cautious while operating it.
 
Track machine if that are your options. How about a mini hoe with a hydraulic thumb? I have a 5,700 lb mini hoe and its great. Dig out a small tree, grab it with the grapple, shake the dirt off and put it in the dump trailer. A hoe is a precision tool compared to a dozer.
 
What would it cost to hire it done, compared to the exposure of repairs on your own unit and possible capitol loss when you eventually sell it?
 
That is an easy one tracked machine, you would have the clutch torn out of the tractor before you got much done. All those blades were good for was knocking down dirt or loose gravel.
 
You are doing more construction type work - tractors weren't designed for that like a crawler/dozer is. If you go about it carefully and don't overwork the front axle and hydraulics you would probably be fine with the tractor. If you have someone else helping you or you don't have a use for the tractor afterwards I would go with the track machine. I use my tractors for all kinds of thigs but I am the one running them, I understand their limitations well, and I give them the best care possible. I guess if you drive it like you stole it you need a machine made for what you are doing.
 
Unless you want to have the machine after you are finished, hire someone with a mid-sized trackhoe.
I think you will be time and money ahead. Working in the timber is also very dangerous.
 
JD 5020 with a front blade is not very good for clearing ground. The front blades are OK for loose material not cutting hard ground or pushing trees.

Go with a true tracked machine.
 
thanks for all the info guys, you are a great knowledgeable bunch. I was leaning toward the tracked unit as I figured it would be better doing what it is designed to do...
 
Here in east central mo you can rent a machine to do the job and you never have to do any repair on it. It is cheaper than buying one and you don"t have to sell it when you are done.I would use a track machine to do the work. A dozier or highlift or a track hoe. With a track hoe you tear up the least amount of ground, High lift is second best for least dammage to the ground and then the dozier. Having said that if you are an experienced operator and take your time you can clear a lot of land with a dozier and not tear up much land and get very little dirt in your brush pile. Dirt in brush pile ="s no burn all the way up.The highlift and the trackhoe you can pick up a lot of the trees once they are out of the ground and carry them to the pile. Less ground disturbance and less finish gradeing. I hope this helps.This has just been my experiance. 30 years in the seat.
 
Without knowing how big the trees are in the fence rows or one acre, you might want a machine bigger than a D-21. A D-21 is maybe 10,000 lbs. I would getting something in the D-4/5 Cat range or the equivalent Komatsu.

Regardless, dozer or excavator all the way. And if this is your only project, rent one.

Rick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

W
Addition to quick fix: Not to steal Tgrashers post;
Replies
0
Views
440
Wheat47
W
M
John Deere 1010 dozer not starting
Replies
6
Views
565
Dan in Ohio
Dan in Ohio
rusty6
Cat Feeding and Cold Starts
Replies
10
Views
432
RedMF40
RedMF40
B
Hay Delivery fee for 2023
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
cjunrau
C
K
Jacobson G10 Help
Replies
6
Views
446
mhb@ufe
M
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top