JD 350 or 450....blade or bucket???

bruster

Member
Like John Deere, and am looking at either a 350 or 450 dozer to use in cleaning up a piece of property I am foreclosing
on.
The lot has about 18a. of over grown wooded area that was logged about 3 years ago, and the logging company did the
usual "cut, top and leave the lot rutted and trashed" type oh harvesting.The other 10 a. is overgrown with an abundance
of Pin Oak, Maple, and Wild Rose. No trees in this section are more than 6" dia. at 2' off the ground.

Just to clean up, and still be nimble enough to maneuver in groups of mature trees that are still standing (all they
wanted to cut was Oak) does anyone have any advise on size, and blade vs bucket?
I did operate a JD 550 & 750 while working in the NE Ohio gas drilling of the mid to late 70s, and also grew up on JD
equipment
 
I would spring for a 450 JD with blade. In my opinion it is a little more all around than the bucket(too specialized). I speak from experience as I have used a 350D(for nearly 30 years) with limb risers, rock guards and winch. With the blade you can dig and push rocks, yard logs, plow snow, etc. If you go for the blade make sure that you have 3 grab hooks welded on top of the blade. They when you need them are invaluable.
 
for clearing land and pushing trees over I use my track loader with a 4 in 1 bucket---very handy for picking up logs and brush---yet still have the bulldozer section for pushing dirt
 
I have run heavy construction equipment most of my life, 6 way dozers, 4 in 1 etc.
For clean up and clearing nothing beats the versatility of an excavator with a thumb.
 
I have always liked the loaders over the blades. Both have there ups and downs. I like the versatility of the loader. I would never buy one with a blade unless it was 6 way blade. Biggest problem with what ever you buy is the parts available , hidden things that are bad about a machine. Jd machines are good if you get a good one. I wouldn't buy anything under a 350. 450 probably better. Do your research on your machines as to design problems, parts available. The 2010 was a good machine but has a design problem with the engines. All said you have to decide whats best for you. Norm
 
I forgot to mention that after removing brush trees etc, I do need to push piles of topsoil around to level about 2 to 4 a. worth, but that would be after everything else is cleaned up
350 and 450 were made around the same time, and both would be nimble enough to scoot around in heavy old groth areas, but still looks like a coin toss on blade (would have to be a power 6 way) or bucket ( on this I would rather find a 4 in 1 bucket)
 

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