Buster Peterson testing his new Twin D8 Design
One of Peterson’s early signature designs was the twin D8, patented in 1954 as the “Tractor with Twin Power Plants”. The proto-type was built in San Leandro’s Special Equipment Shop (aka SEQ) in response to the need for more horsepower and a wider blade capacity. The “twins” found a variety of uses, serving as a stopgap for higher horsepower requirements until CAT came out with the D9 in 1955.
The Super Push CAT
Field-tested at Montana’s Hungry Horse Dam with a $2.4 million clearing contract, the twin D8 had a special 22-ft blade with rooter teeth that could knock down and push timber 300 feet at a time before having to stop to clear its path.
Coal D8s
Built for use in coal storage yards in Lawrenceburg, Ohio, this unit was outfitted with a 20 ft. x 6 ft. bulldozer blade with side-wings that reached a 25-cubic yard capacity.
Hi-Clearance “Siamese” Twins
Designed for continuous clearing at the King Ranch in Texas, it was equipped with a Holt funnel dozer & root plow that could knock down 40 ft. mesquite trees and uproot stumps with its submerged blade. It was 2.5 ft. wider than the standard twin with a 36-inch Hi-Clearance underbelly for heavy brush clearing. |
