i guess this is a custom machine for the oilsands what do ya think?
Looks like something Squizzy built for the cast of "Mad Max 4 - Beyond the Road Warrior" ! Just needs machine guns! Very cool looking!
Is it because of the dust that it looks like the grill is closed and the radiators are mounted up on top of the cab? Also what are those red bottles on the side of the cab?
It looks like a set up for landfill but the blade is too small. Usually landfills have custom designed machines like that with the radiators up and out of the way. The red bottles must be some kind of fire suppression system.
My guess is a fire extinguishing system.
This type of dozer is made to operate right up to their final drives in wet sandy slurry (after the oil has been extracted from the sand). This is why the radiator and cooling systems are mounted up high. The red bottles are the fire extinguisher cartridges that is standard on most mining machines.
Maybe that bright and shiny new one is to replace this one...
Sure hope that operatoe had an excape route. Does the back window come out like it does on some of the bobcats?
I'm pretty sure that they have a roof hatch, the operation is very well run and supervised so there is minimal risk to the operator but quite a lot to the machine! Here's a link to a description of the Komatsu D155AX-5 (D8 class) machines operating in the same application... http://www.komatsuamerica.com/case_studies/Coneco_Syncrude.pdf
Any more pictures or info on that machine? Most of the time theyre a D7/8 size rig. They actually jack the UC's up a bit on those machines for better ground clearance.