Page 13 - Equipment Echoes Issue #137

The Return of the D-2

The new nomenclature is based solely on the horsepower class
of each model, arranged into the three basic groups in the product
line. The D1 through D4 will replace the K suffix machines for light
to medium duty. The D5 through D8 will fill the old N suffix role
of dual-purpose machines, and the D9, D10 and D11will continue
as heavy grading and pushing dozers. The D1 through D4 will have
low drive sprockets, D5 and up high sprockets. Note in the above
table that the new D5 will replace both the D5R2 and D6N.
Having a new, lower number doesn’t reflect on machine power.
For example, the first affected machine was the D6N. Its genera-
tional update in 2019, saw it redesignated the D5, but it is more
powerful and heavier than the D6N.
As with the original 2017 plan, the new designations will be
A rebranded D3 LGP, formerly a D5K or D5K2, lettered to promote financing promotions and applied as each dozer receives a generational upgrade. As of press
“up to 10% improved fuel efficiency.”
time, the product line consisted of the D3K2, D4K2, D5K2, D4,
tional sequence, various crawlers had been using non-generational D5, D6, D6XE, D7E, D8T, D9T, D10T2, D11 and D11T, along
suffixes since circa 2000. K and N were the first, followed by T with variants of several models. The electric-drive D6XE and D7E
in 2006, and E for the electric-drive D7E. The basic nomencla- will retain their suffixes, as will the LGPs as noted earlier.
ture was organized around horsepower and weight for the model
number, followed by (with the exception of the D7E) a letter for
configuration: K for finish grading, T for heavy production work
and N for a balance of the two, with the D6 available in all three
configurations. The original plan in 2007 was to retain the con-
figuration letter, and add Build Numbers to it as with the rest of
the products; instead of becoming a D6L, the new generation D6K
would become a D6K Build 12.
But plans change. In January, 2020, Equipment World pub-
lished a second article explaining that the revered D series crawler
tractor nomenclature was going to be revamped, again for the sake
of simplicity and ease of understanding. In the article, Cat Prod-
uct Application Specialist Sam Meeker cited automotive strategy:
“We’ve had a Ford F-150 for decades, but there has never been
a Ford F-150 dash-1 or dash-2.” (Be that as it may, Komatsu and
other manufacturers have been doing this on construction machin- This kid’s riding model, dubbed a D1C, turned out to be ahead of its time! Shown at the 1999
ery for many years.) HCEA Convention at the National Pike Steam, Gas and Horse Association ground near Browns-
Equipment World furnished this table to summarize how the ville, Pennsylvania, it accidentally predicted the new replacement for the D3K and D3K2. The
third generation of the new D1 will be the D1 (Build 03). (Slide courtesy of Roger Amato)
new system will work:

Horsepower class Old nomenclature New nomenclature
75-84 D3K and D3K2 D1
85-99 D4K and D4K2 D2
100-124 D5K and D5K2 D3
125-159 D6K and D6K2 D4
160-199 D5R2 and D6N D5
200-239 D6R2 and D6T D6
240-319 D7E and D7R D7
320-404 D8R and D8T D8
405-599 D9R and D9T D9
600-849 D10T2 D10
850+ D11T D11

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