COMANCO Team Trains on New CAT D1 SSLGP Dozers
by COMANCO | Last updated: Aug 1st, 2026
COMANCO operators completed hands-on training on the new CAT D1 SSLGP dozer. This low ground pressure dozer puts only 2.32 PSI on the ground. Ring Power instructor Blake Conwell led the session in July 2026. Each machine runs 39-inch track shoes and a 4-way blade. As a result, crews can cross soft, saturated ground without chewing it up. COMANCO now runs these dozers on the OGS-N project. There, operators push fingers of sand across high-strength geotextile fabric. Below, we cover the specs, the ground pressure numbers, the geosynthetic application, and the training itself.
What is a low ground pressure dozer?
A low ground pressure dozer is a tracked dozer with wider, longer tracks that spread its weight over more surface area. Because the load spreads out, the machine can travel across soft, wet, or unstable ground. A standard dozer would sink, rut, or lose traction in the same conditions.
Caterpillar labels this build SSLGP, short for Super Super Low Ground Pressure. It sits one step beyond the standard LGP configuration. Caterpillar widens the undercarriage and lengthens the track on the ground, so the machine floats rather than digs.
The tradeoff is straightforward. Wider tracks lower ground pressure, but they also widen the machine for transport. On containment and geosynthetic work, however, that tradeoff pays for itself quickly.
How much ground pressure does the CAT D1 SSLGP exert?
The CAT D1 SSLGP exerts 16 kPa, or 2.32 PSI, per Caterpillar’s published specifications. The table below compares every D1 undercarriage option side by side.
| D1 configuration | Track shoe width | Ground pressure |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 406 mm (16 in) | 44.5 kPa (6.45 PSI) |
| LGP | 635 mm (25 in) | 29.9 kPa (4.3 PSI) |
| LGP, 30-inch shoe | 762 mm (30 in) | 25.5 kPa (3.7 PSI) |
| SSLGP | 990 mm (39 in) | 16 kPa (2.32 PSI) |
Source: Caterpillar D1 Specalog AEHQ8304 and Caterpillar D1 SSLGP Specalog AEHQ8390.
Compared with the standard D1, the SSLGP configuration cuts ground pressure by roughly 64 percent. Caterpillar also stretches the track on the ground from 89 inches to 115.7 inches. Meanwhile, the track gauge widens from 59 inches to 81.9 inches.
Those three changes work together. More track length, more track width, and a wider stance all spread the same load farther. Consequently, the machine leaves a much shallower footprint.
What are the specs on COMANCO’s low ground pressure dozers?
COMANCO ordered the dozers in the configuration below.
| Specification | CAT D1 SSLGP |
|---|---|
| Track shoe width | 990 mm (39 in) |
| Ground pressure | 16 kPa (2.32 PSI) |
| Track on ground | 2,940 mm (115.7 in) |
| Track gauge | 2,080 mm (81.9 in) |
| Operating weight | 9,572 kg (21,103 lb) |
| Engine | Cat C3.6, 59.7 kW (80 hp) net |
| Blade | 4-way |
The 4-way blade matters as much as the tracks. Operators can lift, tilt, angle, and pitch the blade, so they can feather a thin lift of sand instead of shoving it. That control protects whatever sits under the material.
Close view of the 39-inch track shoes on a CAT D1 SSLGP dozer, the undercarriage that produces 2.32 PSI ground pressure
Why does ground pressure matter over geosynthetics?
Geotextiles and geomembranes tear, wrinkle, and shift under concentrated load. Heavy equipment can also drag a liner out of position while it turns. For that reason, the first lift of cover soil is the riskiest moment of any liner installation.
A low ground pressure dozer reduces both risks at once. First, it spreads its weight so the fabric never sees a sharp point load. Second, it slips less, so it drags the fabric less.
Caterpillar built a low-slip traction mode into the D1 for exactly this situation. The mode limits track slip on jobs where slip damages the surface underneath, such as spreading cover over a liner. In practice, that feature turns a dozer into a liner-friendly spreading tool.
How is COMANCO using the low ground pressure dozers on the OGS-N project?
On the OGS-N project, operators push fingers of sand onto high-strength geotextile fabric. The crew advances the material out over the fabric in controlled passes. Because the dozers press so lightly, the fabric stays flat and in position.
That approach keeps the geosynthetic system intact while the cover goes down. It also keeps production moving, since crews avoid the rework that a torn panel creates. In short, the right machine removes a bottleneck instead of creating one.
Matching equipment to site conditions is a habit at COMANCO, not a one-off. Every containment and landfill project brings its own soils, slopes, and materials. Therefore, the equipment plan starts with the ground, not the yard.
COMANCO operator in hard hat and hi-vis vest operating a CAT D1 SSLGP dozer during hands-on equipment training
Why does low ground pressure dozer training come first?
New equipment changes how a crew works, even when the machine looks familiar. COMANCO therefore schedules hands-on training before a machine reaches an active work face. Ring Power instructor Blake Conwell walked the field team through controls, blade technique, and the assist features.
On-site training pays off in three ways. Operators learn the machine in a controlled setting first. They practice the specific task ahead of them, not a generic exercise. Finally, they build habits that protect both the liner and the undercarriage.
Training also protects the investment itself. Operators who understand load limits and slip behavior wear out fewer components. Over a machine’s life, that discipline shows up directly in cost per hour. COMANCO applies the same approach across equipment and technology training.
Frequently asked questions
What does SSLGP stand for on a CAT dozer?
SSLGP stands for Super Super Low Ground Pressure. Caterpillar uses the label for a specialty undercarriage that goes wider and longer than the standard LGP build. On the D1, that means 39-inch track shoes and 2.32 PSI of ground pressure.
What is the ground pressure of a CAT D1 SSLGP dozer?
Caterpillar lists the D1 SSLGP at 16 kPa, or 2.32 PSI. The standard D1 sits at 44.5 kPa, or 6.45 PSI. The SSLGP therefore applies roughly one third of the ground pressure of a standard D1.
How wide are the tracks on a CAT D1 SSLGP dozer?
The D1 SSLGP uses 990 mm track shoes, or 39 inches. Track gauge measures 2,080 mm, or 81.9 inches, and track on the ground measures 2,940 mm, or 115.7 inches.
Why do contractors use low ground pressure dozers over geotextile?
Geotextile and geomembrane liners tear or shift under concentrated load. A low ground pressure dozer spreads its weight and slips less, so crews can place cover soil without damaging the installed system.
What is a 4-way blade on a dozer?
A 4-way blade lifts, tilts, angles, and pitches. That range lets an operator cast material sideways or feather a thin lift, which helps on liner cover and fine grading work.
Can a dozer drive directly on a geomembrane liner?
No. Crews place a protective cover layer first, then spread it with low ground pressure equipment. Specifications set the minimum cover thickness before any machine tracks the area.
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COMANCO is an environmental, commercial, and civil construction company specializing in the construction of containment facilities and geosynthetic solutions.
Soft ground and installed geosynthetics demand equipment chosen for the site, not the yard. Explore our services today to learn how COMANCO combines specialized equipment with experienced crews to deliver successful geosynthetic construction projects across the country. Contact COMANCO to talk through the equipment plan for your containment project.
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