What Size Bulldozer Do I Need?

Bulldozers, also just known as dozers, are heavy-duty earthmoving machines used to push and move large swaths of material efficiently. These versatile machines are powerful tools within industries like construction, mining, agriculture and roadbuilding. Bulldozers can help smooth out terrain, clean up demolished materials and even break down rock and earth.

This guide to bulldozers will help you select the right type and size of bulldozer for your project needs. We'll explain how to choose the right bulldozer based on your application, terrain type, operator experience and more. We'll also explore some of the top benefits of renting bulldozers when choosing the right one for you.

Jump to a section:

• About Bulldozers
• What Are the Sizes of Bulldozers?
• How Do I Choose a Bulldozer?
• Top Bulldozer Blade Attachments
• Benefits of Bulldozer Rentals

About Bulldozers

To know how to choose the right bulldozer, it's important to understand how a bulldozer works and the purpose of its different parts. Regardless of size, bulldozers consist of the following main parts:

• Tracks or tires: While most bulldozers are crawlers, meaning they are equipped with tracks, some bulldozer models come with tires. Tracks allow the machine to traverse uneven ground by covering greater surface area more efficiently. Tires are suitable in settings with dry, hard terrain where the machine can maintain stability and not sink into soft earth.
• Front blade: The hallmark of a dozer is its front blade, which is a heavy-duty reinforced metal plate that can push around heavy loads of material. Dozer blades can be swapped out for different varieties, including ones with side wings that help direct material into the blade for more efficient clearing. 
• Rear ripper: Many people may not be aware that the dozer also has a rear appendage called a ripper, used to puncture hard earth and break up rock. A ripper is a claw-like tool that helps break down material before the front blade can push it away. 
• Dozer engine: Dozers are powered by a heavy-duty diesel engine that gives them the capacity to push and lift heavy loads. It's important that dozer engines have enough torque to propel the machine through rough terrain and overcome the resistance against the heavy loads of material.
• Tractor cab: A bulldozer has an enclosed tractor cab that houses the machine's controls. Operators use the controls to move the right or left side of the tracks and to lift and move the front blade and rear ripper.

In addition to these basic components, different bulldozer models and manufacturers have a variety of features. Speak to your equipment rental specialist to get more in-depth information on the type of dozer you're thinking of renting.

What Are the Sizes of Bulldozers?

When renting a bulldozer for your construction, farming or mining project, it's important to choose the right size machine for the job. Getting the right size bulldozer ensures you can work productively and safely. 

Bulldozer sizes are categorized by their operating weight capacity as well as their horsepower ratings. Below are the three categories of bulldozer sizes to choose from.

Small Dozers

Small bulldozers are considered compact equipment. Cat bulldozers in the small category have a horsepower rating under 100 horsepower (hp) and an operating weight capacity of around 20,000 pounds. Small dozers are ideal for residential projects or light-duty construction, such as building a driveway or easement. 

Caterpillar makes three different small dozers:

• D1 with 80 hp and an operating weight of 17,855 pounds 
• D2 with 90 hp and an operating weight of 18,382 pounds 
• D3 with 100 hp and an operating weight of 20,639 pounds 

Given their compact size, small bulldozers are convenient to transport to and from the job site. They're also easy to maneuver and can operate in tight spots. Their lightweight makes them speedier and more efficient to operate than larger models. 

Small dozers are uniquely suited for fine finishing and grading, which is why they're often added to a landscaping equipment fleet. Since small dozers are equipped with tracks, they're ideal when working on soft terrain as they maneuver over the ground without sinking in.

Medium Dozers

Medium dozers are considered the most efficient and flexible size of bulldozer because of their ability to strike a balance between power and fuel efficiency. With an operating weight typically between 20,000 and 100,000 pounds, medium bulldozers are the right choice for projects that need more strength than a small dozer can offer but not the maximum power found in a large dozer. Medium bulldozers also have a horsepower of under 400.

Caterpillar makes five different medium dozers:

• D4 with 125 hp and an operating weight of 29,690 pounds 
• D5 with 150 hp and an operating weight of 36,747 pounds 
• D6 with 215 hp and an operating weight of 50,733 pounds 
• D7 with 265 hp and an operating weight of 65,644 pounds 
• D8T with 354 hp and an operating weight of 87,600 pounds 

Medium bulldozers are a versatile equipment option in construction, farming and landscaping. With a medium bulldozer, you can get your job done more efficiently, as medium-sized dozers cover quite a bit of ground in less time than a small dozer. Medium dozers are suitable for commercial or industrial construction, given the wide range in capacity within this size category.

Large Dozers

When you need the maximum amount of power, speed and efficiency, choose a large bulldozer model. Large bulldozers are typically considered between 100,000 and 200,000 operating weight capacity or more, with a horsepower rating of over 400. These powerful machines are suitable for heavy-duty industrial settings, including mining and highway road construction.

Caterpillar makes three different large dozers:

• D9 with 436 hp and an operating weight of 106,618 pounds 
• D10 with 700 hp and an operating weight of 171,674 pounds 
• D11 with 915 hp and an operating weight of 225,500 pounds 

Large bulldozers are better suited for harsh environmental conditions and rough terrain. They deliver the productivity and performance you need to tackle the toughest jobs safer and with less downtime. 

How Do I Choose a Bulldozer?

Once you know the different sizes of bulldozers available to choose from, you can match up the right bulldozer to the task at hand. When choosing the right size bulldozer, it's important to consider the unique needs of your project, including the type of job, the size of the job site, the terrain and other factors. Since safety is always a top concern, you also need to choose the safest model for the job, as the larger the machine, the greater the risk the operator takes on.

Below are the top factors to consider when choosing a bulldozer for your project.

Application or Job Type

When choosing the right type and size of bulldozer for the job, consider the different duties you need your dozer to take on.

Here are the types of jobs each size of dozer is geared toward:

• Small dozers: Residential and light commercial construction, landscaping and hobby farming jobs
• Medium dozers: Commercial construction and landscaping, roadwork and land clearing
• Large dozers: Landfills, quarries and mining sites, highway construction and large infrastructure projects

The biggest decision to make is whether you can get away with a compact or medium dozer or need something heavier duty. Smaller dozers can be safer to use, but with their lower operating weight, they're less efficient at moving large amounts of material. However, dozers that are too large for the job can be costlier to operate and carry higher risks.

Terrain Type

Dozers can either have tracks or wheels. Each option is better suited for certain types of terrain and weather conditions. Dozers typically come with tracks, which gives the machine greater weight distribution over a larger surface area. This allows tracked dozers to crawl over terrain with better traction. Tracks climb over uneven, sloped and hilly terrain more easily and safely, and they are also less likely to sink into wet, soggy and muddy ground.

Wheeled dozers have the opposite benefit. Wheels provide less surface area contact with the ground. However, because dozers have four wheels, the machine's weight is evenly balanced on all four points. Flat, hard earth provides the right terrain for operating a wheeled dozer. You'll find wheeled dozers are preferred for surface mining, cleanup and road maintenance or reclamation.

Operator Experience

A final consideration when deciding which size and type of bulldozer to rent is the experience level of the operator. Compact construction equipment, like mini dozers and excavators or compact loaders, like skid steers, is designed for anyone to use. They're small enough to operate with minimal experience, and their intuitive controls are easy to get the hang of.

The bigger a machine gets, the more knowledge it can be to operate. Heavy-duty equipment, like medium and large dozers, requires more safety protocols on-site to ensure the safety of everyone working or walking nearby. When renting medium or large dozers, make sure the operator is experienced with heavy-duty equipment and can operate it safely and correctly.

Top Bulldozer Blade Attachments

When deciding how to choose a bulldozer, you might also need to consider blade attachments in conjunction with size. The blade is the working end of the bulldozer, used to push and demolish material in its way. Operators can swap out a variety of different blade styles to gain more precision, control and power over their tasks. Below are the standard types of blade attachments for dozers:

• Straight blade: Also called an S-blade, a straight blade is the most basic kind of blade. Without wings on the side, it's an entirely flat blade, often used for grading everything from fine sand to hard gravel.
• Universal blade: A universal blade, or U-blade, is a tall, wide and curved blade with wings at the sides. U-blades are ideal for keeping material contained while pushing it over longer distances. 
• Semi-universal blade: A semi-universal blade, also called an SU-blade, is a hybrid of both a straight and a universal blade. It's narrower and less curved than a U-blade and has smaller side wings. This makes the SU-blade ideal for pushing material that's uniform and can be contained more easily, such as soil. SU-blades are good for backfilling and trenching.
• Angle blade: An angle blade attaches to the center of the front panel and can angle either left or right. It's also called a two-way blade. Angle blades don't have side wings because containing material isn't the goal. Rather, operators use an angle blade to precisely direct and shape material, making it useful in landscaping.
• Power-angle-tilt blade: Also called a multi-directional blade, a power-angle-tilt (PAT) blade is one of the most versatile blades available because of its broad functionality. With a PAT blade, you can adjust the tilt and the angle of the blade, making it useful for moving landscape materials and soil for backfilling, as well as for efficient land clearing and grading.

Different blades have different functions and ranges of movement for dozers of varying sizes, including these three types of blade movements:

• Angle: Blades can angle themselves horizontally, to either the left or the right. How far a blade can angle itself to the left or right of center depends on the type of blade and how it's mounted. Most offer a 30-degree angle capacity to the left or right, which is useful for pushing materials to the side without needing to turn the machine.
• Tilt: Blades can also tilt themselves vertically, either up and away from the ground or down toward the ground. The ability to tilt a blade up or down provides additional functionality beyond merely pushing material. A titled blade can act as a shovel for digging up rocks and stumps or for smoothing and grading a particular angle.
• Lift: The hydraulic arms of the dozer also allow you to lift the entire blade off the ground or place it back down. This gives your dozer the ability to scoop materials away from the working area. Keeping the blade lifted is also good for maneuvering around the site without pushing material.

The blade face itself ranges in width from 70 inches for a small dozer to 300 inches for large dozers, depending on the type of blade. 

In addition to blades, dozers can also be equipped with other useful attachments for earthmoving, including rakes and mulchers. This allows you to maximize the versatility of a single dozer rental by equipping it with tools that convert it into different types of machines with additional capabilities. You just need to ensure the dozer size you rent will suit those various applications.

Why Rent Bulldozers From The Cat® Rental Store?

When you rent bulldozers, you need a reliable source you can trust to deliver well-maintained equipment that's ready to perform. Turn to The Cat® Rental Store near you for the bulldozer rental you need, along with a wide selection of attachments and other rentals for earthmoving, landscaping, roadwork and more.

The Cat Rental Store is your source for high-quality bulldozer rentals, offering the following benefits for your business:

• Wide inventory selection: The Cat Rental Store has an impressive inventory of earthmoving equipment, from loaders to excavators to bulldozers and more. Thanks to our extensive Cat dealer network, we can source the right equipment for the job from any nearby dealer. We ensure local customers can find the availability they need when they need it. 
• Guaranteed performance: When you need high-performing, reliable construction equipment that's up for the job, choose The Cat Rental Store. We pride ourselves on our commitment to comprehensive servicing and repair on all our rental models, ensuring the equipment you rent is dependable, no matter the size of the job.
• Local service: Though we're a globally known name, The Cat Rental Store is dedicated to local service. With 1,300 locations worldwide, you'll find The Cat Rental Store near you has the extensive inventory you need with the friendliness of local customer service. Trust your local representatives at The Cat Rental Store to help you find the right equipment for your job.
• Latest technology: Renting from The Cat Rental Store allows you to take advantage of the latest in construction technology that's built into our equipment. Cat technology allows operators to perform tasks more efficiently and precisely, such as the grading function for dozers. Having access to the newest construction technology also allows you to gain a competitive advantage.
• Try before you buy: Renting from The Cat Rental Store gives you access to the latest in construction equipment and technology you can try out before you buy. If you're thinking of expanding your fleet and investing in a new or used piece of machinery, renting from a reliable source like The Cat Rental Store allows you to find the right model for you. Test out different sizes and see which one is right for your fleet.

With reliable rental specialists like those at The Cat Rental Store, you'll benefit from their expertise and service in helping you find the right bulldozer for your next project.

Contact The Cat Rental Store Today

Find the right bulldozer for you at The Cat Rental Store. Stop by one of our 1,300 global locations and speak with a local representative about the right type of equipment for the job. Get access to the expertise, service, selection and availability you need to make the right decision for your business. Browse our entire rental equipment selection to see everything we have to offer.

Visit us today or book your rental online with our convenient Quick Quote option. Call 1-800-RENT-CAT to speak with a rental specialist.