Just purchased a low hour, JD550J for property work. It is our first dozer. Mostly woods work, maintaining & building logging/woods roads, leveling clear cuts for fields & food plots, some logging, other work around the place. We are up in the mountains in central Vermont. We have a lot of large rocks & stones, but not very ledgy, or nor is there a lot of shale. Slopes & grades range from gentle to very steep. Dozer is at the shop now getting "up armored" with full forestry package, grille guards, brush/root rake, belly pan reinforcements, etc. Dozer came with the guards at front & rear of track, but not complete rock guarding along the whole track. Have received mixed opinions on full rock guards. Some guys have said that they are a must, others have said that they trap sand, soil & smaller rocks so don't do it. Would be interested in perspectives & reasons to add the full on rock guards or just go with the small plates front & rear. Thanks,
For that small a machine I wouldn't worry about it, the guiding guards front and rear should be fine. :my2c
Have you priced them yet? I think once you price them you may just convince yourself you don't really need them.