The Forestry Forum

I LOG BY MYSELF I NEED ONE MACHINE TO DO EVERYTHING EVERYONE KEPTS RECOMMENDING D6C OR D6D WHAT R THE PROS AND CONS OF THESE DOZERS THANKS 4 THE HELP

First thing turn off your caps lock so we don't think you're yelling at us. I don't have any experience with those dozers, but it takes a pretty special application to log profitably with a dozer.

What do you mean by everything, fell, skid and cut to length ? What kind of timber are you cutting and where at ?

just skidding cutting roading

The main difference between a D6D and D6C is the operator station. On a D model blade control lever moves up and down instead of front to back as on a C model. D models  have a door to access the batteries also you have a door to access your fluid levels dipsticks and filler pipes for your transmission and cross shaft housing. They have the same 3306 motors.don't remember if there is a horsepower difference.Other than that they are basically the same.
The Cons:
  Moving cost, they are more expensive to move from one job to the next.
  Some land owner prefer small equipment. they tend to look at the per hour cost instead total job cost.
  Angle blades are manually positioned.
The Pros:
   They are built tough. Main frames and swing frames normally don't need re-forcing.
    A lot of them around so used parts are available.
    Here we have a good dealer so parts are available so down time is kept to a minimum . 
    Cheaper to buy than a smaller crawler. (A round here that is.)
    I feel they are more safe on steep slopes, better balanced.
    In deep snow they get a round better.
    Big enough to pull a loaded truck out of a mud hole.
   

The Logcutter knows of what he speaks.  The big money repair items on both tractors are 1.  Undercarriage 2. Final Drives.  3. Transmission   4.  Clutches & Brakes  5. Engine    Before you buy, run the tractor for a while, pushing some dirt or rocks.  If it is not using water or slobbering oil out the stack,  make sure it will still brake and turn using the clutches.  Listen for popping noises from the final drives.  Have the local Cat parts rep measure the undercarriage for you.  He will be glad to help you.  Both tractors need a winch to be operated in the woods with no other tractors around.  Make sure you know your state laws for hauling a dozer on a flat bed with the blade attached.  If you are going to do much stumping or clearing, a KG blade is a nice thing to have.  Good luck,, Regards, Clark

thanks 4 all the help