TD9 Safety Advice

1. How important is a Roll-cage/seat-belt on this machine? I heard one word of advice that if I don't have a roll-cage, don't use seat-belts ... so I could 'jump' out if I need to.

also,

2. Roll-cages. I have access to square steel 4"x4" (I think?) tubing and a welder. Just wondering about the best attach-points and cage design.

I can post pictures if it'll help.

Thanks!!

-Marc.

I have just spent the last year learning how to use a TD7-TD8 IH/Dresser dozer. So I can still remember how terrified you can get when you start working on a hill. Even after a year of grading around my pond, brook, ditches and hillsides, it still puts the fear of God into me. Working on hillsides is NOT for beginners. Get real comfortable with using that dozer. They have a tendancy of biting when you least expect it. It takes an awful lot to roll a dozer, but I seriously doubt if it would be survivable without a properly engineered ROPS. A home made roll cage would not be adviseable.

IH spent serious time and dollars developing their roll over cages for the TD 7 - 9 series dozers, as they are used extensively for landscaping. They are highly mobile and can climb almost impossible angles on hills and I have seen them work on very steep hillsides. But the key here is that those who are operating in that type of scenario are highly skilled operators, most with decades of experience. I would not even attempt it without a qualified dozer operator to supervise and properly instruct.

This is just my own personal opinion gained from a somewhat limited amount of time as a dozer operator. (since last October I think I have about 750 hours on the dozer)

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