On every large construction site, the biggest challenge for you is to move heavy earth and prepare land for work. Traditional methods will take more time and effort. That’s why you can trust the bulldozer to make your work fast.
Today we have explained applications and major types of bulldozer. After reading this, you can pick the right bulldozer for your work site with confidence.
What is Bulldozer Machine?
A bulldozer is a heavy machine. You can use it to push large amounts of soil, sand, or waste. You often see it on sites where land needs to be leveled or cleared. Basically, it has a wide metal blade in front that moves material easily. Some bulldozers also have a rear ripper to break hard surfaces.
Parts of Bulldozer and Their Functions
| Bulldozer Parts Name | Functions |
| Blade | Pushes soil, sand and debris during construction work |
| Ripper | Breaks hard ground, rocks or asphalt surfaces |
| Engine | Gives powers to the entire machine |
| Cabin | Area where the operator controls and steers the bulldozer |
| Tracks | Provide grip and balance on rough or soft ground |
| Hydraulic System | Moves the blade and ripper with a controlled force |
How Does a Bulldozer Work?
Well, a bulldozer uses its engine power and hydraulic system to work. When you start the engine, it sends power toward the tracks or wheel to move the machine. Basically, the hydraulic system controls the blade and ripper.
The wide tracks spread the weight evenly on both sides. This thing keeps the bulldozer stable on soft or uneven land. Then the blade pushes soil or debris.
5 Types of Bulldozer Explained
Crawler Bulldozer
You can guess by its name, these bulldozers have tracks instead of wheels. Actually, these tracks give strong grip and balance, even on muddy or rocky ground. Therefore, It is best for rough sites where normal tires slip. You can purchase it to work on mining sites and roads.
Mulcher Bulldozer
This type of bulldozer comes with a special attachment to cut trees & bushes. Therefore, it clears your land faster than a normal blade. It has a strong engine that gives power to grind bigger plants into smaller pieces. It is useful for you if you want to clear roadsides.
Wheeled Bulldozer
A wheeled bulldozer moves with the help of heavy duty wheels. So, this is a faster option for you but on flat surfaces and roads. Its front blade pushes soil, sand or debris just like other bulldozers. Usually, you may see wheeled bulldozers for road construction, urban projects and normal land clearing jobs.
Mini Bulldozer
It is smaller and lighter than regular bulldozers. But still it pushes soil and clear debris efficiently. It works well in tight spaces where big machines cannot fit. You can use this type of bulldozer in small construction sites, gardens and farm projects.
Shiphold Bulldozer
This bulldozer is designed to work inside ships to hold cargo. It also comes in a compact size which makes it easy to move in narrow spaces. Shiphold bulldozers also have blades to shift bulk cargo like coal, grains and other minerals. Usually, you may find it at ports and shipping yards where space is limited.
Types of Bulldozer Blades
There are several types of blades of bulldozers. Each of them is designed for a particular job. For instance: to move soil, to clear land and to level your surface.
- Straight Blade (S-Blade)
- Universal Blade (U-Blade)
- Combination Blade (S-U Blade)
- Angle Blade Ripper
10 Uses of Bulldozer
Road Construction: You can use bulldozers to spread and move asphalt or other materials on the roads.
Mining Operations: You use bulldozers to clear the soil and rocks that cover valuable minerals. You also use them to move the mined material toward the processing area.
Agriculture Usage: As a farmer you can use bulldozers to turn rough land into productive fields. It also clears rocks, plants and waste from the area.
Winter Blockage: In winter, when snow covers everything then bulldozers are used to clear it. Their big blades push snow from the roads, parking areas and airports.
Destruction: Their strong blades break hard materials like concrete and bricks. This makes the site easy to clear.
Land Level: Bulldozers have wide and strong blades that push a lot of soil easily. Therefore, they move big loads at one time. This makes them very useful for large projects.
Pound Excavation: You could choose a bulldozer to make a pound to store water on your farm.
Flood Control: This versatile machine helps you in case of flood. You can create barriers of soil near your field and buildings to stop heavy flow of water.
Forest Clearing: It is also useful for you when you want to clear plants, trees or bushes near residential areas and streets.
Stop Fire: In case of fire, bulldozers remove trees and plants to stop fires. For reaching other complicated areas also during emergency.
Pros and Cons of Bulldozer
Advantages of Bulldozer
- You can finish your work fastly because bulldozers can move large amounts of soil easily.
- There is no need for workers to move debris and rocks from the site.
- You do not need to worry about rough or muddy surfaces. Because it works well in all conditions.
- It may save your money because this single machine does many tasks. For example digging, pushing, shifting and destructing.
- You might face less accidents and make your work safer than manual labor.
- Your money will also be saved because you need fewer tools and workers to complete tasks.
- As you know it has a long life span so you do not need to buy it again and again.
Disadvantages of a Bulldozer
- You must have proper skill to control a bulldozer safely.
- It costs you a lot when you buy or rent a bulldozer.
- Your fuel expenses can be high when the machine works for long hours.
- If you are not careful, the bulldozer can harm soft land or plants.
- It is hard for you to operate the machine in tight or small areas.
- You need to take care of the machine regularly to avoid breakdowns.
- Noise and dust from your bulldozer can affect people and the environment.
Maintenance of Bulldozer
Bulldozer Maintenance Checklist
| Part | Action |
| Engine | Check level and change if low |
| Hydraulic fluid | Inspect it and refill if needed |
| Tracks | Search for damage and repair on time |
| Blade & Ripper | See cracks and loose parts |
| Air filter | Clean regularly |
| Brakes & controls | Test before work |
| Fuel & coolant | Check levels |
What is Bulldozer Capacity?
Answer to this question depends on your blade type, weight, size and the power of your machine. You measure it in cubic yards or cubic meters. So, small bulldozers move a few cubic yards. On the other hand, big mining bulldozers can move over 90 cubic meters in one time.
Bulldozer Price
Market prices of bulldozers are not fixed due to multiple types and sizes. Small or compact bulldozers cost less, but a mining bulldozer can increase your budget. If you want to buy a bulldozer from China then it may charge from $2000 to $10000+.
But if you are planning to do very heavy work, you will have to purchase a bulldozer which has high hydraulic power. In this case, you can buy it for more than forty or fifty thousand US dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Bulldozers Dangerous?
Yes, bulldozers can be dangerous if you do not operate them carefully. Therefore, always follow safety rules to protect yourself and workers.
What is Bulldozer Price Per Hour?
The price of using a bulldozer per hour generally ranges between $95 and $200. However, if you want to rent a dozer for a full day, it usually costs about $400 to $600+.
What is the Biggest Bulldozer in the World?
The ACCO Super Bulldozer holds the title of the world’s largest bulldozer. It weighs about 183 tons. However, people never actually used this super bulldozer, so the Komatsu D575A-3 SD is considered the largest operational bulldozer around the world.
To Summarize
Bulldozer is helpful to make the hardest job on the worksite easier for you. There are so many types of bulldozers available in the market. So, you should use a dozer that perfectly matches the surface condition.
If you have a large scale project, install proper signages to inform outsiders. For further inquiries, you can talk to us. Our team will guide you about construction solutions.
