How Much Does a Bulldozer Weigh?

Bulldozers, or “dozers”, are large, powerful tracked heavy equipment, used for construction equipment and equipped with a metal blade at the front that’s used for pushing material such as soil, snow, and rocks.

Bulldozers are used for aspects of work like landscaping, construction projects, road construction, mining, waste handling, excavation & earthmoving. They’re powered by heavy-duty diesel engines that allow the machines to move heavy loads.

How much does a bulldozer weigh?

Bulldozers can have an operating weight anywhere between 1,600 pounds to 360,000 pounds (8 to 180 tons), and the size of a specific bulldozer a potential user may need depends on the specific business or job site.

Small bulldozer weight

Small bulldozers, such as the Caterpillar D series, have an operating weight of 17,855 pounds for the Caterpillar D1 and 20,639 pounds for the D3 model.

Small bulldozers are ideal for working in more confined environments where the ability to maneuver and be versatile are essential.

Medium & large bulldozer weight

Medium and large bulldozer weights depend on the manufacturer. The two models John Deere currently classifies as large bulldozers, the 950k & 1050k, have operating weights between 65,300 and 96,100 pounds.

Caterpillar’s large bulldozer models are much heavier, with an operating weight between roughly 110,000 and 230,000 pounds.

How much does a bulldozer cost?

Fastline lists new and used bulldozers that range anywhere from $6,000 to $17,000 for older bulldozer models, to nearly $6,000 for a 2021 John Deere 1050k.

How to operate a bulldozer

Before you start to drive the bulldozer, you’ll first need to conduct a safety check. Begin by checking the dozer for damage and wear and tear, and check underneath the machine for oil and hydraulic fluid leaks.

Make sure the latches and doors are closed, and check to make sure all your fluid levels are correct.

How to start a bulldozer

When you turn the key in the ignition, you’ll need to have your foot on the bulldozer’s break. Warm up the engine, and turn down the speed control, usually located on the left joystick.

The left joystick is used to move the machine forward or in reverse, while the right joystick is used to control the bulldozer’s direction.

How to use the bulldozer’s blade & Ripper

Moving the right joystick horizontally will control the blade’s tilt - the side of the blade which is lowered to the ground. To control the blade to either the right or to the left, angle the control knob. In some bulldozers, this is a button, while in other models it’s a small dial.

The angling control determines which side of the dozer the dirt or other material flows to.

To engage the ripper - located at the back of the bulldozer, move the ripper joystick backwards. The ripper joystick is located behind the right joystick. The ripper uses its shanks to loosen dirt.

Find a bulldozer near you

Fastline currently has nearly 300 bulldozer listings, including bulldozers by manufacturers such as CAT, John Deere, and Komatsu. Filter the listings by state, manufacturer and more.