Something to Move a Dozer with

[dk8019]

So I'm thinking about buying a dozer early next spring, nothing too large, just something to clear some more of the brush covered land I own. I would love to be able to pull it with or loaded it into the M814.

First, did the military make any trailers large enough to handle equipment like this? The tow behind capacity for the 5-ton is somewhere around 30k it claims, and I'm thinking something the size of a D3 or a John Deere 450 in size, so they are only a little north of 10K or so.

I would love to carry it in the back, but I have no idea how to get it in and out of the truck, except for building a ramp of sorts tall enough, any thoughts on removable ramps that can be carried in the truck itself?

Thanks for the help!

 

[NDT]

Read the "deuce vs excavator" thread. The exacavator slid off the ramps while getting loaded on a trailer. I would not want to be on a dozer 40" off the ground trying to load into a 5 ton bed. At some point the machine will "break over" and at that point you have little control. It is even spooky driving a dozer onto a lowboy trailer. I would advise a pintle towed civilian tagalong trailer to pull with your 5 ton.

 

[swbradley1]

My Brother wanted to do something like that with his Case 450 dozer. The dozer weighs less than his Case backhoe and he towed the backhoe for a couple years with a Deuce.

If a Deuce will tow it then a 5-ton will tow it no problem. I have seen several trucks in our area that have ramps built onto the back of the truck that the dozer just runs up on to load it. You put the blade on the ramp and lower it which raises the front of the tracks and you just drive forward until the tracks catch the ramp and up you go.

Depending on what truck and dozer combination you end up with I would be more worried that the ROPS or EROPS might be too tall to be road worthy.

YMMV

steve

 

[Recovry4x4]

M345 might work, still kinda tall!

 

[dittle]

You're almost better off getting a trailer that would fit behind an 818 but as you said in you're post you don't have an 818. The M345 trailer that Recovry said would probably be your best bet but like he said that is still kind of tall.

Depending on how big of unit you get there is the trailer that makes up the M85 laundry unit. I don't know what the trailer model is but that trailer is getting pretty short for a dozer.

 

[BKubu]

As long as its not my money , I vote for the purchase of a civilian 20 ton tag along low boy. The 20 tonners have air brakes. They are not cheap, though. You can get a new one in the $15K range.

 

[DaveP]

So I'm thinking about buying a dozer early next spring, nothing too large, just something to clear some more of the brush covered land I own. I would love to be able to pull it with or loaded it into the M814.

First, did the military make any trailers large enough to handle equipment like this? The tow behind capacity for the 5-ton is somewhere around 30k it claims, and I'm thinking something the size of a D3 or a John Deere 450 in size, so they are only a little north of 10K or so.

I would love to carry it in the back, but I have no idea how to get it in and out of the truck, except for building a ramp of sorts tall enough, any thoughts on removable ramps that can be carried in the truck itself?

Thanks for the help!

i may know of the perfect trailer for you.

Let me try to get some pics.

the trailer does not belong to me but a good friend owns it.

its military and just about the perfect size for a 12 - 14,000 pound dozer.

beaver tail and ramps. and its lower than any tilt top deckover.

the fellow that owns it gets along with computers and digital cameras about

like i do so give me a couple days to try and put this together.

its in mid Michigan.

 

[rmgill]

What about the 4 wheel 5 and 7 ton trailers for Engineering plant and hardware. They're lower to the ground and are capable of the weight (depending on the size of the dozer).

 

[M813A1]

You might consider a M172A1 lowboy it is about 28 ft long and has wood decks to keep the equipment from slipping

 

[73m819]

i would NEVER use a 4 wheel, steering axle trailer, unless as a LAST resort, going forward is simple, backing up with a deuce or 5t will bring words and thoughts that you didn't know existed

 

[DaveP]

i may know of the perfect trailer for you.

Let me try to get some pics.

the trailer does not belong to me but a good friend owns it.

its military and just about the perfect size for a 12 - 14,000 pound dozer.

beaver tail and ramps. and its lower than any tilt top deckover.

the fellow that owns it gets along with computers and digital cameras about

like i do so give me a couple days to try and put this together.

its in mid Michigan.

UPDATE

Just got off the phone with the guy i was talking about and he wants to keep the trailer trailer that i had in mind.

sorry.

i thought he wanted to sell it.

 

[swbradley1]

Good point about the wood decking.

Nothing worse than driving a dozer onto metal. Slicker than a greased minnow's d$ck.

That's the biggest fault with drive-on ramps at the back of a truck.

 

[ecostruction]

I pull my JD 350 and mini exc. around on a civilian tag along behind a deuce. It's a smaller tag with electric brakes. I wanted electric because of the weak deuce system. If the deuce brakes fail, I still have electric in the trailer. I normally pull it with the deuce, but now have a 5 ton M818 I'm trying to get ready to use to pull it around.

 

[No.2Diesel]

Trailer

Hi,

I also would advise you that acquiring a civilian trailer is the way to go. The military "flatbed" trailers available do not have the desired load rating, the decks are too high, and the deck lengths are always too short for whats being asked.

Forum member JimK inspired me to paint the trailer I have similar to his. I was looking for a long time before I purchased this Interstate 20DTA tag-along this past summer. It needed paint and decking but was well worth the $3,000. By me these trailers routinely go for significantly more in worse shape. ( $7-10,000 ) It has air brakes, abs on one axle (new trailers have them on all axles ) 21' flat deck, 5' beavertail, conventional tandem axle dual wheel oil filled hubs ( no trailerpark wheels or interior axles like on econoline trailers )

Look at these manufacturers on the web, they are a quality product.

Trailking
EagerBeaver
Towmaster
Interstate

I added tie downs along the side as well as putting a pioneer tool rack on the tongue and painted it seabees green. The trailer weighs a little over 6K. I have used a bunch of times and its great! Its long length ( 30' overall ) and axle placement allow me to back the trailer in the tightest spaces with confidence. I tow my JD 2010 ( weighs 13K ) with it all the time. Attached is a pic I've posted before with another trailer and equipment.

In terms of what equipment to get: You want a Crawler-Loader. Look for one with a 4-in-one bucket or a backhoe. They are much better than a cheesy skid-steer: stable, more breakout-force, durable etc. etc. I'm partial to the JDs but a "little" Cat931 would be great too. A New fancy pants Takeuchi or CAT/ASV may appear to be more precise and quicker but the old stuff gets it done with less fuss and bouncing around.

Good luck in your search.

 

[moleary]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUvcrL9ojjo[/media]

Real men don't need ramps

 

[dk8019]

Guys, thanks for advice. I'm thinking you're right that a civilian trailer would be the best way to go. I'm talking to a member about a tri-axle that might do the trick. Thanks again guys!

 

[PorscheTech911]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUvcrL9ojjo[/media]

Real men don't need ramps

That's the coolest thing I've ever seen! That was so dangerous, but so bada**. Thanks for sharing that video

 

[Squirt-Truck]

By all means gowith the civie trailer. A little paint and the match is just fine. Just be sure that the trailer is rated for the anticipated load. We were only over by 9K.....

 

[M215]

Tag trailer

Picture of our M813 + Case 455 + 9 ton Eager Beaver trailer. Only paid $2,000 for the trailer, changed the lights to 24V. Left the brakes 12V with a civiy brake controller in the cab.

 

[tm america]

i would go with a trailer like m215 has a 20ton is way overkill for what you are looking to do if you go with a three axle trailer you could pull it behind deuce or five ton. i would put some rub rails on it to to keep things from sliding off the side .i dropped my backhoe of the side of a trailer once cuz of muddy tires and i just had to flip that excavator back over cuz of slick conditions