Bulldozers come in many shapes and sizes. But most of them have one common trait, can you guess what it is? That’s right, caterpillar tracks. If you’re wondering why all bulldozers share this component, you’ll find your answer here. All you must do is follow this post till the end.
Continuous tracks, commonly known as caterpillar tracks, are most preferred in robust and heavy machinery. The large surface area of such tracks distributes the weight of vehicles evenly enabling them to traverse soft grounds, thus eliminating the possibility of getting stuck.
Find out what makes caterpillar tracks the best for agricultural/landscape machinery in this post. Without any further ado let’s learn more about caterpillar tracks in the next section.
What Are The Caterpillar Tracks And What Are They Used For?
A caterpillar track is a continuous band of treads rotating around a series of wheels. They are made using steel or a rubber belt fastened around the wheels. Caterpillar tracks move across uneven terrain creating high traction. In short, the metal chain fastened around the wheels of heavy vehicles like bulldozers and tanks helps them move through rough grounds.
5 Uses of Caterpillar Tracks
Better Performance
Compared to traditional wheels, caterpillar tracks boast better performance. They have an optimized traction system to fuel power delivery efficiency.
In general, continuous tracks improve the power efficiency of bulldozers. This is a critical factor when using vehicles on uneven terrain.
More Traction
Caterpillar tracks are known for their grip. Their traction is high even on snow or wet concrete making them ideal for heavy vehicles. It offers more friction on a wider range of soil conditions.
The tracks provide more stability on hillsides by maintaining traction. This takes us to the next application, traversing across rough grounds.
Moving on Rough Terrain
Caterpillar tracks make it easy to exhibit higher flotation and ride smoothly on rough fields. This is because of the track’s ability to bridge over irregularities rather than sinking into soft soil which is common in regular wheels.
Where tires get stuck in muddy terrains, caterpillar tracks slide effortlessly across them. The continuous bands of treads can ascend and descend stairs and surmount obstacles with ease.
Increased Ground Friction
A bulldozer moving on tracks has no air like a tire does. This means that suspension doesn’t use any of the force like it does in normal vehicles. And the increased impact with the ground, especially in the case of heavier models, creates more friction which in turn provides massive gripping power. Though due to the track’s build, the speed of the machine decreases.
Even Weight Distribution
Bulldozers are built close to the ground allowing them to use their weight to push heavy objects out of the way.
Tracks play a vital role in this as they distribute the weight around the engine itself. With wheels, the weight is distributed only on the four corners.
Why Do Bulldozers Have High Tracks?
Recent research concludes loads are easier to pull with tracks than with wheels. The reason behind this is simple, tracks provide more surface area to distribute the weight minimizing the depth of the rut. Whereas with wheels, you get a larger rut to cross.
The bottom of a tire has a smaller area for weight distribution than in caterpillar tracks causing the tire to sink. It creates a rut and pulls the tire against it as the vehicle tries to move out of it. Consequently, you are left with an even compact rut, disturbed soil, and spend more fuel on a simple task.
Still not convinced? The points given below will prove that caterpillar tracks are the best choice for heavy bulldozers.
But first, take a look at this video about tracks vs. tires:
Are Caterpillar Tracks Worth it?
So far, we presented you with theoretical explanations to show how efficient caterpillar tracks are. Now, let’s talk numbers.
- With tracks, you save 11% to 15% of the total amount of fuel you’d normally burn when using tires.
- You can save hundreds of dollars as tracks lower your horsepower requirement to a great extent.
- Research suggests plots, where tracks were used, showed a 5% increase in the overall yield.
- Pulling loads becomes 50% easier when using caterpillar tracks.
- You can also experience a 53% improvement in soil compaction and seed placement.
- Additionally, switching to tracks increases the water infiltration level x2.5times.
If you look at this video on twitter you’ll understand how tracks help the dozer float on top of the soil rather than creating a rut.
So to answer the actual question–most bulldozers feature caterpillar tracks to avoid sinking into ruts. It lets them remain above the ground and convert the saved engine power to push and pull power. Without tracks, a bulldozer loses most of its capabilities as most of its power is consumed while coming out of ruts.
Can A Bulldozer Get Stuck?
Now, a question that arises is – Do bulldozers with tracks get stuck?
This is perhaps the most frequently asked question when talking about bulldozers.
The honest answer here is, yes. Bulldozers are not prone to get stuck except in some extreme conditions. However, the chances diminish when using caterpillar tracks. Although with wheels, you may find yourself calling for help more often.
If you look at the environment bulldozers operate in, the advantages of using tracks become clear. You get better flotation, a smoother ride on rough terrains, and better traction all in one. So, to stop mushy soil and rough terrains from sabotaging your work, it is important to use continuous tracks.
Preventive Measures
As mentioned earlier, dozers with tracks can get stuck at times too. To avoid such situations, follow the six simple measures listed below.
- Examine the worksite plans before taking on any projects. Look out for ditches, holes, and any caverns the bulldozer could fall into.
- Walk around the grounds before bringing out any heavy machinery to the site. Check if there are any debris or hazards not visible on the sitemap. These can pose a threat to the bulldozer when working on site.
- Be extra cautious when looking for sinkholes and wet spots. Pay attention to big patches of water and extremely uneven ground. There is a high possibility that the dozer gets stuck in such locations.
- Use a stake to poke around in the ground. If you are easily able to push the stake into the ground, the bulldozer will most likely sink.
- Don’t go overboard. Rent the right bulldozer for the job. It should neither be too big nor too small for the job. This helps you save fuel and rental costs. More importantly, smaller dozers are easier to remove if they get stuck.
- Trust your instinct. If it feels unsafe to use a bulldozer on the site, wait until the conditions improve.
With that said, you can rent a bulldozer on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis based on your needs. The rental costs vary depending on the size, duration, and location of the rental. For example, renting a mid-sized dozer in Canada may cost $2100CAD. Whereas the same dozer in the US cost around $800USD.
Factors to Consider
Buying or renting dozers with tracks is not as easy as it seems. There are certain factors you must consider before deciding.
For starters, the initial investment is pretty high.
A bulldozer with tracks requires more maintenance, this means more spending.
Finally, when operated on harder surfaces the track may wear out sooner.
As a general rule:
- Caterpillar tracks are best for dirt and uneven natural surfaces.
- Wheels are best for concrete or asphalt.
With all these factors in mind, if a bulldozer seems beneficial to your project it’s a very helpful addition. You cut the time spent working on the same site, thus increasing productivity. And increased productivity is directly proportional to the profit. So, by using a tracked bulldozer you save time and earn more. If you ask us, that’s a win-win situation.
The Bottom Line
When operating on surfaces with less traction, it is important to reduce the speed to maintain the steering control. Caterpillar tracks in bulldozers come in handy when maneuvering across such tricky surfaces. Some examples of surfaces with low traction are icy dirt roads, snow, and gravel roads. Simple rubber tires in these scenarios won’t suffice as they hardly provide traction comparatively. For that extra grip, caterpillar tracks are a boon when paired with bulldozers. Tracks and tires both have their pros and cons but when it comes to landscaping, tracks are ideally preferred.
The higher tracks help pull loads better than wheels. This is due to the difference in weight distribution between the two. With wheels, the weight is spread across four main points–the four tires. But in the case of tracks, the weight is evenly distributed all around the bottom. It gives the dozer the ability to move seamlessly without creating a rut. Most bulldozers come with caterpillar tracks for extra traction, whether they’re needed is your choice. If the budget permits, the caterpillar tracks can help finish your job faster when working on surfaces like dirt.