The core difference between a crawler tractor (often referred to as a tractor) and a dozer (bulldozer) lies in their primary function and design features. While a bulldozer is a type of crawler tractor, the term "crawler tractor" is broader and refers to a vehicle that can perform a variety of tasks, while a dozer is specifically designed for pushing material.
Here's a breakdown:
- Crawler Tractor (General): A crawler tractor is a versatile tracked vehicle used for various tasks. It's the broader category.
- Dozer (Bulldozer): A dozer is a crawler tractor specifically equipped with a large, metal blade (the 'dozer blade') attached to the front, designed for pushing large quantities of soil, sand, rubble, or other material.
In short, a dozer is a specialized type of crawler tractor. Not all crawler tractors are dozers, but all dozers are crawler tractors. The blade is the key feature that defines a dozer. While a crawler tractor can have attachments, including blades, if it's primarily used and designed for pushing material via a large front blade, it's considered a dozer.
