Don't want to sound like a salesman here but the D4 dozer with the ripper is an ideal combination.....especially on a 6U that is limited to narrow grousers. The D4 will not bite into virgin hard dirt and make it move without ripping/scarifying first. Just doesn't have enough weight to do it although there is no problem spinning the tracks. Otherwise the D4/D2 dozers are no more than scratch dozers. Scratch away long enough and you'll get it done but forget about efficiency. You can forget about grading with a D2, the tool bar units being the worst.

If you can or want to...post a picture of the ripper/scarifier.....it may even be a Cat unit....pirated from the HT4 or early 955 loaders which had them as attachments.

"Old wrote:

If you can or want to...post a picture of the ripper/scarifier.....it may even be a Cat unit....pirated from the HT4 or early 955 loaders which had them as attachments.

First: I really appreciate everyone's input - it's very much appreciated!!! Thanks guys!

Old Magnet, Unfortunately I don't have a photo of the Rear Ripper. I was too busy measuring the tracks & stuff and didn't even think of bringing a camera. I can tell you the Ripper is very heavily built. The attachment plate covers the entire rear of the Cat below the seat tank. The two Hydraulic Cylinders extend from the upper mounting plate to the ripper bar. It all looks very well engineered! Does that sound like a Cat HT4/955 unit? Do you happen to have a Cat Ripper photo?

If I can get the D4 for $6000 and get it home, I guess I could always trade/sell it for a D2 later! Getting it safely to the BSOT is another story! I live about 35 miles from Woodland, CA!

John

I am A little surprised at how high your Bumper hitch is Rated. Make sure it is tight and connected with the proper hardware, as over the years I have seen a lot that were not

A lot of those 14000 lb bumper pull trailers only have a 12000 lb rated bulldog hitch.

The trailer is rated at more than the hitch. The trailer hitch (on the trailer)should have the rating on it

I say buy it!!

If this sets your mind at ease.... I just hauled (2) D4 dozers home last week with a trailer like this one. I did not use the tilt down feature though. If the trailer is going to bend it will bend loading and unloading. Make sure you block up the back of the trailer when you load it. It will be heavier than you think. I pulled the the trailer and the dozer with a Ford F250 superduty. Do not worry to much about hauling it. If you can leave it sit there a while it will give you time to find a bigger trailer to borrow or rent. I hauled mine right down the interstate no problem.
The blade is heavier than I thought also. Maybe take the blade off and haul it without the blade and go back for the blade. Comes off pretty easy. I took mine off and set it on a snowmobile trailer. I had a ATV hooked to the trailer just to move it. It picked the ATV 3 feet off the ground WOW. It was a trick to unhook it! Hooked my truck to the trailer and moved it behind the shop no problem. I say buy the dozer. It looks pretty nice. I am not sure that your trailer will be wide enough to load with the blade on, you might want to take another look at that. Keep us posted.

$750 Bucks To Go 44 Miles???? You Realize Thats Over $17 A Mile Right?

If that ripper/scarifier has a full plate across the back of the case it is not a Cat unit.....not that an aftermarket unit wouldn't be better but the Cat twin cylinder units were configured so that you didn't lose the option to run a PTO (BeGe) or whatever.l

For my 2¢ I am not a lover of pulling a D-4 on a bumper hitch trailer. If you go with the D-4, get a good trailer for a 5th wheel. There is no comparison how the rig handles with the 5th wheel compared to the bumper hitch set-up. One quick swerve with a heavily loaded bumper hitch rig and it can all be over.

Buy the D4 6U now and use it. If something better comes along, (if it does) sell the D4 and step up and buy the replacement. I do a lot of towing and my load is usually around 10,000 pounds. My first 12,000 pound hitch (factory installed) on my 1999 GMC ripped off of the frame taking part of the GMC frame with it. The second 2004 GMC tow vehicle is staying together but it is showing a lot of wear in the hitch reciever after 70K miles. A fith wheel hitch is the real answer. I sure do like my D4 7U and I have never found another like it that I would like as much. Unfortunately, I never take my D4 off of our farm. We spent this last week steaming around Placer County with our Stanley steamer. There is a lot of pretty country in California. We enjoyed Folsom, Auburn, and several museums in the area too.

Ahhh, the Stanley Steamer. I wonder if they still have them in Estes Park Co. They used to give rides in them (in the 80's) and I rode in one a few times. I was always amazed how they could start it on a hill, and I mean quite a hill.

Like Steamer said, buy the D4 now. Otherwise it may go to China as scrap!!