What dozer?

Guess who makes the CAT D-3, 4 and 5 low drives? ----- > yup, "Mitsubishi".....

A crawler loader is a handy machine, but not good for a novice to learn how to grade with, and even then, it takes longer to do the same work you would preferto do with a dozer that has a 6 way blade, and remember a 6 way is not suited for pushing heavy objects out like stumps or rocks, need a straight dozer with outside pusharms. I've spent a lot of time on 955's and 977's, not so much on newer equivalents, great for carrying, loading materials, demo, clearing, grubbing, harder to grade with, they have fixed track frames so they don't osciallate to the contour of the work surface, if you are on uneven ground, no tilt, so it's a challenge to grade sometimes, once you get a cut started evenly, not so bad. for maintaining a motocross track, I would like to think a small D3 sized grading tractor would work well, especially with a 6 way blade. A lot of this is a matter of preference, but you should know what a machine does and how you will want to use it, that and it's mechanical condition, can be costly to repair or re-build, smarter to get one in better shape and spend a bit more.

Also, learn about safety, there are some things to know when operating and or working on these, common sense, but good to be aware if you are not. Later models with have a R.O.P.S. structure to protect you against falling objects like tree limbs, but are designed to protect you in a roll over, must wear the seatbelt as well, so you don't fall out. It's a fun thing to learn, more fun if you get one that has a lot of seat time left before it needs wrench time LOL !

Overall I would look more closely at what you need to do and investigate what a 4-1 loader can do before you get a dozer outright. I think the advice for the 955, 941 or 933 cats is good advice. Also look into the other brands like Case (450,850), Komatsu, Deere (450), IH/Dresser (100, 125, 150) etc as well, you could get a good machine for quite a bit less than your $15K budget. I bought an old IH loader w/4-1 bucket a few years ago for much less than your $15K budget and have used it for considerably more than what you describe with great success.

As far as size is concerned, it doesn't sound offhand like you have a huge job, so I'd say a 40hp machine should do what you need to do in a reasonable time frame. Although on the other hand, a moderately larger sized machine can be a good thing too because you don't have to work it as hard or as long as a smaller machine, making it less likely to break down on you. And you definitely want to avoid that if you can!

Also, ( don't want to get into a dozer vs crawler loader war LOL ) consider what most of your work will consist of, if it's a lot of cutting and grading, and you won't need to carry things, load fill out or anything a loader does, the dozer is more suited for the work, If you plan on banking radius turns, and other shaping type work, I know a crawler loader would not cut it for me, would be downright annoying actually. Also think of your ground conditions, crawler loader usually has narrow pads, double bar grousers which are not that tall and can slip easier. Flotation is an issue with narrow pads on soft material and I'd not want to be doing slopes with a crawler loader if I had a choice. I used to be pretty good at dressing up a site with a 955 or 977 type machine, at the end of a day after loading out trucks or what have you, also good at clearing and some other tasks, but if the bucket has teeth, it will leave those grooves if you don't find a way to set the bucket to smooth things out.

I like crawler loaders, don't get me wrong, on some jobs they are indispensable, and I thought highly of those old 55's and 77's, I'd own one without hesitation, and you do get more use out of one when you think about it, but trust me, your production rates go down if you try and do work suited for a dozer, and yet you are still wearing a set of tracks down for less work finished if you are struggling to grade something or similar, that a dozer would do, same is true in reverse. I like the right machine for the job, but can work with what I have, sometimes a 977 was all that was on site, so you make it work.

You might try and rent one or the other at different times and see how you do with it then see which one you prefer. These late model ones are easy to learn on, if you know an experienced operator, that can show you the ropes, by all means learn as much as you can, it's a great skill to learn and use.