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Excavator v/s Bulldozer: Best Land Clearing Equipment to Clear your Land

All the heavy land clearing machines are quite expensive. But bulldozers and excavators fairly stay on the cheaper side. So, it is easy to understand why the land clearing contractors near me go for one or the other. 

Both these machines have different settings hence they work differently for different functions. So, how will you figure out which of this equipment is right for clearing your land?

We will clear the air on it in this blog!

Benefits of Using Land Clearing Equipment

The process of getting your property ready goes more quickly when you use land clearing equipment. Because of the considerable reduction in manual effort, you can cover more ground in less time.

Effectiveness is a major benefit. Strong terrain can be easily navigated by machines like bulldozers and excavators, which can quickly remove dense foliage and debris that would take days to remove by hand.

Another crucial element is safety. The risk of harm associated with prolonged handheld tool use is reduced when working with big machines. Operators are shielded from potential dangers such as falling branches.

Furthermore, precision is improved by purchasing the right tools. Cutting-edge technology guarantees efficient clearance of every inch without compromising the integrity of the underlying soil structure.

When compared to conventional procedures, using professional-grade equipment frequently yields better results. This means you’ll have a cleaner slate for construction or landscaping projects down the line, saving both time and money in future endeavors.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing Equipment

When selecting land clearing equipment, the first factor to consider is the size of your project. Larger areas may require heavy-duty machinery, while smaller plots can be managed with compact tools.

Next, determine the kind of plant you are going to work with. Large trees or dense brush will require different equipment capabilities than plain grassy fields.

Think about the landscape as well. Uneven or rocky terrain may require specialized machinery that can successfully negotiate difficult situations.

The budget is also quite important. Excellent equipment is frequently very expensive, so it’s critical to choose a solution that strikes a balance between price and functionality without sacrificing safety.

Think about your experience level. Some machines are user-friendly for beginners while others may require more skilled operation. Choosing wisely here ensures efficiency and reduces potential accidents on-site.

Excavator v/s Bulldozers

Excavators work great for land clearing if there are a lot of fallen trees, shrubs, and debris on the land. 

Bulldozers are best for removing standing trees, boulders, and large debris from land.

What Should You Use For Land Clearing: Excavator or Bulldozer?

Both excavator and bulldozer are excellent options for ground clearing. However, if you have access to only one of them, it is recommended to consider the possibilities of both.

So, let’s begin by examining the pros of both the land clearing machines.

Pros of Using A Bulldozer

Bulldozers have better pushing power than excavators. You can easily push boulders around and uproot huge trees without any disturbance.

The blades of the bulldozer can efficiently remove roots and keep away future weed growth. While pulling out a tree, you can dig below the stump with it to cut it apart.


Bulldozers enable partial reshaping of land while land clearing. You can flatten an area, create hills or slopes for running water.
You can use the bulldozer to quickly fill in an empty ditch with debris. 

Pros of Using An Excavator

While working with excavators, you can sit in on spot and manage everything from a distance. You don’t have to relocate the land clearing machine to change direction. An excavator can push and pull all kinds of debris efficiently and quickly.

You can dig trenches with an excavator without any problem. You don’t need any special attachments for it.

The stump splitter attachment of the excavator breaks trees into multiple pieces. You can also dispose of the pieces with the excavator shovel. 

The Downsides of Both The Land Clearing Machines

As with all land clearing equipment, you will encounter a few issues in both bulldozers and excavators. 

Here are the downsides of both the machines –

Bulldozers can pull roots easily but they are not efficient at scooping and digging holes.

If you are looking for pushing boulders and standing trees, the excavator is not the tool for you. They don’t have the equipment to strip roots and roll rocks.
You can’t operate the bulldozer from a single place. They need to be moved back and forth continuously.

Renting or buying an excavator for land clearing work will be more expensive than a bulldozer. You will have to spend more if you wish to use an excavator.

Final Takeaway

As you have seen, both the land clearing machines have their fair share of pros and cons. The cons will not be that big of a deal in the long run. 

The clever option would be to use bulldozers for knocking everything over and the excavators to remove it all.

Decided on the land clearing machine? It is time to call Branch Specialists Buffalo

Whether you decide to use an excavator or bulldozer for land clearing, you will need Branch Specialists in Buffalo to get the job done perfectly. With our team at work, you can have peace of mind knowing that the job is getting done safely and precisely.

Give us a call today!