Customer market surveys indicated a need for a larger rubber-tired loader than that which was currently available. They also showed that a dozer was required of the same tractor size which would perform tasks between the heavy bulldozing done by the tracked bulldozer and light grading done by the motor grader.
Discussed are the features required of the 988, 5-1/2 yd articulated loader and the 824B articulated bulldozer, the similarities between both machines, and the loader design considerations and the components used.
Loader prototypes were built and tested at Caterpillar Proving Grounds and in the field to determine vehicle performance and reliability.
Results indicated that two similar machines can be concepted, designed, and built for different applications.
