Crawler Loaders and Dozers
When large jobs need to be done, there are equipment and machines to accomplish the work. Crawler loaders and crawler dozers are two types of heavy equipment that can be used to move or remove large, heavy materials. Used for any job from road repair to home-foundation preparation, you can find crawler machines for small and large tasks.
What is the difference between crawler loaders and dozers?
Crawler dozers are large machines that have a slightly contoured shovel to push large material. Used to move dirt for new roadways or to push rocks that have fallen or otherwise need to be removed, dozers primarily push material for clearance. Crawler loaders look almost identical but are used more to pick up heavy material. A crawler shovel is shaped like a bucket and can be used to pick up dirt, rock, and heavy material to be dumped into a truck.
What are the sizes of crawler loaders and crawler dozers?
There are crawler loader and dozer sizes to meet almost any heavy-material job. A smaller dozer can be used as a grading tool. If a road or lawn needs to be flat and graded in a pattern, a smaller dozer can handle that task. A large dozer can push boulders, big tree stumps, and even help push down buildings. Small and large loaders have similar differences. A small loader can move and load small piles of dirt, pebbles, or sand. Large loaders can move and dump rock slides, house debris, and big piles of rock and dirt.
What features are available in a loader or a dozer?
After you’ve decided whether a loader or dozer is appropriate for your job, there are a few features to look for. One of the main considerations is whether or not parts are easily available. Check the loader or dozer you’re considering and do a search for available parts. Consider choosing a six- or eight-way blade if you’re planning to grade or shape land, since more blades mean the work gets done faster. Loaders and dozers come in clutch-driven and hydrostatic models.
What are some of the major equipment brands?
Caterpillar, John Deere, Liebherr, and Komatsu are just a few of the manufacturers that build and sell these machines. John Deere, founded in 1837, is one of the oldest and has grown into one of the world's largest machinery manufacturers. Caterpillar was established almost 90 years later, in 1925. These companies and other brands continue to make durable, efficient, and safe machinery for both the professional and weekend construction worker.