Excavator vs. Bulldozer: Functions, Features, and When to Use Them

Heavily machined equipment plays a vital role during construction projects to clear debris and excess mud during initial stages of work. For land clearing, there are two types of machinery that come in really handy, namely bulldozers and excavators. These two machines can accomplish a range of burdensome and huge tasks really easily. Moreover, both these machines are really versatile and can be utilized in any kind of construction project bet forestry, landscaping or construction. Bulldozers are mainly used for levelling earth, while excavators are used for digging. 

In this blog, we will make a detailed comparison between these two construction machines and discuss their role in achieving different project tasks. 

Bulldozer Function 

A bulldozer is one of the most commonly used piece of machinery in a construction project. The main attachment of the bulldozer is a blade that is fixed to the front end of the vehicle. The blade shape varies according to bulldozer type. This blade is quite adaptable to the nature of the project since its angle can be adjusted accordingly. The bulldozer can execute a range of tasks like: 

Clearing land: 

The front blade is used to level the land by pushing the uneven mud mounds. Excavator can also be used for this task but it way less efficient than a bulldozer which is literally built for this purpose. 

Digging ditches: 

A bulldozer can be utilized to dig a ditch but this is not its main function so a deep ditch cannot be made using a bulldozer. 

Grading: 

Bulldozers is very effective for land grading and make a level uniform surface. 

Landscaping: 

Lastly, the bulldozer can easily reshape a land area by uprooting trees, moving rocks and debris, and removing soil and large stones or rocks. 

Excavator Function

This type of powerful construction machine gets a lot of things done within a short time. They feature a hydraulic system and they come with multiple attachments like bucket, stick, cab and boom. The attachments work in sync to perform a range of tasks like lifting and loading. The attachments are fixed to a rotating platform that can rotate full circle which means that the attachments are positioned perfectly to accomplish any activity. Excavators are mainly used for the following activities

Mining: 

Mining involves a lot of lifting debris and mud or sand and excavator come fitted with attachments that can easily be lifted. 

Digging trenches: 

Excavators can easily dig a deep trench since they have a powerful engine and the rotatable platform gives them much mobility.

Moving materials: 

With its bucket attachment, the excavator can easily transport materials from one place to another. 

Demolishing:

Excavators can also be used to destroy structures since they have digging and drilling tools as well. 

Utility work: 

excavators are excellent for laying down underground structures like cables and pipes since they are fitted with an array of tools.

Excavator Types

Crawler Excavators: 

This excavator is utilized in intensive construction projects that are built on uneven or hilly areas. 

Dragline Excavators: 

This excavator version has a hoist rope and a dragline that is used for digging trenches. These excavators are more suited for underwater excavation and mining projects.

Long-reach excavators: such excavators consist of a long arm that can extend and reach remote locations. 

Suction Excavators: 

This excavator is equipped with a suction pipe that can vacuum the soil and liquid waste that is usually found after an underground trench. 

Bulldozer Types

Crawler Bulldozer: is fitted with tracks instead of wheels that give the excavator traction on ground. The bulldozer has a heavy plate that can move debris and heavy objects. 

Mini Bulldozers:

As the name suggests it's a small sized bulldozer that can be used to clear congested or small area.

Wheel Bulldozer: 

This bulldozer type has wheels instead of tracks and is designed to be driven on level land and roads. Such bulldozers are used on spacious grounds as their large wheels can cover a greater distance than tracks. 

Bulldozer VS Excavator: How Are they Different?

Design: Bulldozers have a fixed blade that is attached to the front part but excavators have attachments on bothe frond and back namely an arm and a bucket at the back. The difference in structure is because both machines have different function. Moreover excavators run on wheels but that is not the case for bulldozers since they have tracks. 

Clearing and Digging: 

Excavators are well-adapted for digging trenches but bulldozers are more suited to clearing land and digging is not their strong point. Bulldozers can only dig a shallow trench. 

Attachments: 

Typically an excavator  have a greater variety of attachments compared to a bulldozer. Back attachments of excavators consist of couplers, rippers and auglurs while the front attachments include snowplows and grapples. A bulldozer have only one type of attachment which is the fixed front blade. 

Power: 

Bulldozers have a more powerful engine compared to an excavator. Since they are required to move larger loads. 

Conclusion

Using machinery that is not the best fit for your particular project will only result in project delays. To avoid this, it is best practice to analyze the project and only then decide on the equipment. For instance, when you have to clear large areas of land, an excavator is the correct selection.

Moreover, don't forget to consider the scope of your project, as well as the budget and building regulations as that has an impact on your equipment selection. 

Regardless of whether you choose a bulldozer or an excavator ensure your team is well-trained to guarantee safe and effective operations. In this manner, you can enhance safety within your team and guarantee that projects are finished more promptly.