Caterpillar D8
Medium track-type tractor
title: "Caterpillar D8" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["caterpillar-inc.-vehicles", "tractors", "tracked-vehicles", "vehicles-introduced-in-1935"] description: "Medium track-type tractor" topic_path: "arts/film" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar_D8" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Medium track-type tractor ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox tractor"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Caterpillar D8 |
| image | Seabee using Cat D8T.jpg |
| caption | Caterpillar D8T |
| manufacturer | Caterpillar |
| production | 1935– |
| length | 186 in |
| width | 101 in |
| height | 156 in |
| weight | about 80,000 lb depending upon year, model and accessories. |
| propulsion | tracks |
| type | Bulldozer |
| :: |
|name = Caterpillar D8 |image = Seabee using Cat D8T.jpg |caption = Caterpillar D8T |manufacturer = Caterpillar |production = 1935– |length = 186 in |width = 101 in |height = 156 in |weight = about 80,000 lb depending upon year, model and accessories. |propulsion = tracks |type = Bulldozer
The Caterpillar D8 is a track-type tractor designed and manufactured by Caterpillar since 1935. Today, the largest in Caterpillar's medium range, it was superseded by the D9 in 1955. Though it comes in many configurations, it is usually sold as a bulldozer equipped with a detachable large blade and a rear ripper attachment.
The model offered in 2025 is a D8 - Tier 4/Stage V, equipped with a 363 hp Cat C15 engine and an operating weight of 87083 lb.
History
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Caterpillar_D8H.jpg" caption="abbr=on}}"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e0/Caterpillar_D8R_p2.JPG" caption="ripper"] ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/MCB_1_Sled_train_departing_Little_America_for_traverse_to_Byrd_Station.jpg" caption="MCB 1 Sled train departing Little America for traverse to Byrd Station with SD8-LGPs"] ::
- 1935: RD8 (132 hp) introduced.
- 1937: The "R" prefix dropped, D8 debuts.
- 1940s: D8 2U Series (148 hp) introduced
- 1950: D8 new front-rounded grill that would last until D8K was replaced by D8L in 1982.
- 1953: SD8-LGP produced 1953-59 for military use in Greenland and Antarctica. The "S" indicates the frame was stretched and came with 48" or 54" wide pads with a 15'-16' blade. In 1955 Cat came out with the 286 hp motor for the new D9s and the Seabees put them in their LGPs.
- 1955: 1H Series D8 ends production; 191 hp D8E and D8D introduced with new 1,246 cuin displacement (CID) D342 diesel engine. D8D had a torque converter and D8E had a direct drive transmission.
- 1956: D8D replaced by D8G.
- 1956: D8E replaced by D8F.
- 1958: 235 hp D8H introduced.
- 1965: Power increased to 270 hp
- 1970: D8 46a 48a power increased 280 hp
- 1974: 300 hp D8K replaced the D8H.
- 1982: 335 hp D8L replaced D8K. The D8L was the first D8 with the elevated drive sprocket undercarriage.
- 1984: D8L SA (special application) for farming applications premiers. Available with a three point hitch, for mounted implements.
- 1987: D8N (285 hp) with differential steer transmission, the first track-type Caterpillar tractor to have one (the new D8N was smaller than the old D8L size, which was replaced by the new D9N model).
- 1996: 305 hp D8R replaced D8N.
- 2000: D8R Series 2 replaced the D8R.
- 2004: 310 hp D8T ACERT replaced D8R Series 2.
Blades
Several types of bulldozer blade can be used on the front of the tractor:
- Straight ("S-Blade"): A short blade with no lateral curve and no side wings. It can be used for fine grading
- Angle: held by a U shape frame that has three holes on each side, to set the blade to 3 positions: right, center, and left.
- Universal ("U-Blade"): A tall and very curved blade with large side wings to carry more material
- "S-U" combination: A shorter blade with less curvature and smaller side wings
Other blade types include landfill U-Blades, woodchip U-blades, and two-way blades for work inside the holds of ships.
References
References
- [https://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/dozers/medium-dozers.html Medium Dozers] cat.com
- Cat SD8-LGP Crawler Tractor - "Rebecca", Gov Planet, 2025 [https://www.govplanet.eu/for-sale/Dozers-Cat-SD8-LGP-Crawler-Tractor-%22Rebecca%22-California/1076788/NSN/2410-01-320-1278?iprefoh=www.govplanet.com]
- [http://www.cat.com/en_US/products/new/equipment/dozers/large-dozers/18582378.html] {{Webarchive. link. (2017-01-06)
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::