Bulldozer vs. Motor Grader: Which One Should You Use?
When working on construction, you often require the help of several pieces of heavy equipment. You might even have an established list of machines that you use depending on the task at hand.
However, some pieces of equipment have overlapping functions that may affect your choices. Two of the common machines that you often have to choose from are bulldozers and motor graders:
Bulldozer
A bulldozer is a piece of construction equipment used for various tasks in the worksite. It is a multifunctional machine that can be fitted with different attachments, including the following:
- Straight blade: Most bulldozers come with this kind of attachment. A straight blade, as its name suggests, does not have any curves or side wings.
- Angle blade: Angle blades don’t have side wings and are often mounted on bulldozers at an angle.
- U-blade: This is a type of very curved blade that is fitted with large side wings. U-blades are the widest and tallest type of blade for bulldozers.
Similar to the loaders offered by SDLG, bulldozers fitted with a straight blade can easily remove any obstructive materials on the worksite, such as brush, trees, and boulders. They can also be utilized in construction projects to spread fill materials across the ground.
Additionally, bulldozers are useful for shallow digging and rough grading. Once fitted with an angle blade, bulldozers can also be used for backfilling holes and trenches.
Motor Grader
Another piece of equipment that you can use on your construction project is a motor grader. This is another type of multifunctional machine that has a moldboard or blade attached between the front and rear axles of the equipment.
A motor grader’s moldboard is mainly used for accurate grading and leveling. This blade can be adjusted to fit the specifications of various tasks. It can be tilted forward or backward, lowered or raised, and rotated 360 degrees to the left or right.
Similar to bulldozers, a motor grader can also be fitted with different attachments to perform various tasks:
- V-plow: This attachment is used to disperse materials to both sides of the machine and is often utilized for snow removal tasks.
- Tire chains: Tire chains improve a motor grader’s traction during winter. It is typically attached to the rear drive tires to ensure that the heavy equipment doesn’t slide out of control while in use.
- Ripper: A ripper is a claw-like tool usually attached to the rear of a motor grader. This tool allows the equipment to break up asphalt, rocks, and other kinds of debris found at a worksite.
Choosing Between Bulldozers and Motor Graders
When deciding between bulldozers and motor graders, make sure to consider the specific needs of your project. If your project requires a lot of materials moving, digging, and backfilling, you should choose bulldozers.
On the other hand, if you are working on road construction, choose motor graders. This heavy equipment is specially designed to prepare surfaces for asphalt laying.
To ensure that your motor grader functions properly, obtain it from Civic Merchandising Inc. We offer SDLG graders that will allow you to complete your construction projects with ease. You can also count on us for exceptional after-sales services to maintain your new motor grader. Reach out to us to learn more.
