3 hours ago
The Story
A construction enthusiast nicknamed “King of Obsolete” shared a post about modifying his Caterpillar TD‑9 dozer (called “Bad Business”) to add additional seats—turning it into a three-seater. He joked about teaching his young child welding, and how they installed the extra seat in the shop while doing big maintenance stuff.
Why Extra Seats Can Be a Really Bad Idea
Why People Do It Anyway
Real‑World Insights & Cautions
Safer Alternatives
Bottom Line
Adding extra seats to a heavy machine like a dozer may seem like a fun or practical upgrade, but it’s “bad business” from a safety, regulatory, and liability standpoint. Unless the seat is designed and certified by the manufacturer, it’s safer (and smarter) to stick with the machine as designed and transport people separately.
A construction enthusiast nicknamed “King of Obsolete” shared a post about modifying his Caterpillar TD‑9 dozer (called “Bad Business”) to add additional seats—turning it into a three-seater. He joked about teaching his young child welding, and how they installed the extra seat in the shop while doing big maintenance stuff.
Why Extra Seats Can Be a Really Bad Idea
- Safety Risks: Heavy machinery is not designed for additional passengers. According to safety‑training guides, extra riders can block visibility, distract the operator, or even interfere with controls.
- Regulatory Issues: Under OSHA rules, modifications to machinery that affect safe operation (like adding seats) require the manufacturer’s written approval.
- Lack of Proper Restraints: Many machines don't have certified extra seats with seatbelts or ROPS (roll‑over protective structure) for non‑operators. Insurance‑industry safety policies warn against “makeshift seats.”
- Cab Design Problems: Cabs are built to hold the operator plus maybe one trainer/rider, depending on the design. Adding seats may violate cab design standards or block exits.
- Liability and Risk Management: Allowing extra riders can increase liability. If there is a rollover or other incident, companies can be held responsible for injuries. (This is especially risky if the extra seat wasn’t part of the original equipment design.)
Why People Do It Anyway
- Some see it as “fun” or a way to bring a family member (like a kid) into the worksite.
- Others do it out of convenience, to carry extra hands or passengers around when working remotely.
- In certain agricultural or utility machines, extra “instructional seats” are factory‑approved—but only when designed with proper safety features.
Real‑World Insights & Cautions
- An extra seat welded into a dozer might look cool and very “DIY,” but it exposes the company or owner to regulatory and insurance risks.
- Heavy‑equipment insurers often enforce strict “no extra riders” policies unless seats and belts are OEM-certified.
- Even if the extra seat is physically welded in, in a rollover or crash there may be no proper seatbelt or structural support—so the risk of serious injury is real.
Safer Alternatives
- Use a proper authorized training seat (if the manufacturer offers one) instead of improvising.
- Transport additional people separately: use a pickup truck or van instead of modifying the machine’s cab.
- If someone absolutely must ride in the machine, check if there’s a factory‑approved seat and restraint system and ensure it's certified and insured.
Bottom Line
Adding extra seats to a heavy machine like a dozer may seem like a fun or practical upgrade, but it’s “bad business” from a safety, regulatory, and liability standpoint. Unless the seat is designed and certified by the manufacturer, it’s safer (and smarter) to stick with the machine as designed and transport people separately.
