Bigger kit!!! bigger proffits ???

[ROLLACOSTA]

had a largish job today section felled 5 sycamores ,the tree's were in the front yard access was great..but phew did the job drag out ,each lowered trunk section had to be cut into 3-4 sections to make them manageable [thrown on the truck] ,the trees weren't huge by any means 60' and lean ,i have to grind the stumps out tom morrow ..we had 2 loads away so far of log and chips 1 left

i can't stop my human instincts and i churn over in my mind much easier and efficient ways of dealing with this job and others,also i cant help but think that with bigger and specialist kit we could of had this job finished today ie i could of had a bigger payday [admittedly with more mechanical expense]...i would have liked a truck mounted crane on the job used to snatch off trunk sections this would have been nice ,i would have liked a bigger truck on the job ,with a bigger truck i could have got the whole job away in one [6-8 tons of chip and logs] ,a bigger stumper would be much quicker on the stumps , and because the trees had been de-limbed on one side this made the job that bit longer time wise and frustrating.so a bucket would/could have been nice also 'either crane or bucket would have been sufficient but you get my point

im starting to think big kit is the only way to go to be really profitable in the TD market,with the additions of truck cranes and bigger stump grinders etc ,we have in my area several company's investing big money in kit £200,000+ i think in time these company's will be the really profitable ones..you guy's got any views on the subject ??

 

[alanarbor]

Yeah but you can only remove a tree once.

If you focus on removal as your main source of income, you've always got to be chasing the next job. Do the tree maitenance work, it keeps on coming back to you.

 

[MasterBlaster]

There ain't nothing wrong with removals, and ya gotta have something to pick up the heavy stuff.

:angel:

 

[TimberMcPherson]

It comes down to this.

Will the market your in support the purchase? Do you have enough work on and does enough of it require this kind of kit?

How much money will it bring in and save in man hours vs how much buying, maintaining,insuring, operating cost? Do the math, worse case senarios etc.

And very importantly, if the market changes, can you keep your head above water? Can you rent, lease or borrow this gear?

Will your crew work better with it, will it make your life easier or just shift problems elsewhere?

I dont own big gear but I have worked around heavy machines most of my life, big gear can be a lifeline or a noose, its your market and how you stratigise that will decide which it will be to you.

 

[TheSurgeon]

Santa

...and i would like a 5000sq.ft. workshop and three 088's and

 

[teressa green]

we find farmers are often keen to move logs for free,or firewood suppliers,tractor trailer and all terrain fork truck ,makes life easier for just a bit of leg work ,

 

[luke montelius]

I'm buying more stuff this year... but its what the market will bear. bigger $/lbs(uk) will follow higher prices, or volume. If there is more work to be had you need the "kit" to keep up. My comunity is tight knit, if want to expand I need publicity with a reputation. If you can fined enugh road work to merit loaders and insurence for them do it! http://www.southcoindustries.com/sco/Data/Backend/PhotoPictures/79.jpg

 

[luke montelius]

these babies are the sh!t for medium chop jobs W/ truck access.chip it up and then laod in the big stuff no sweat!

 

[SteveBullman]

its nice to have a lorry and hi-ab rolla, certainly savessome work, but it will be sitting in the truck half the time like anything else, i guess it all has to be subsidised on other jobs.

 

[jamie]

mogs

back to the unimogs, we have a u1650 with a crane and timber boogie, and a MBtrac 800 with crane and boogie, helps a lot, why bust a gut shifting rings when the crane can lift in out in a one-er. process the firewood at the yard later. apparently my boss was one of teh first in teh country to get a mog with timber crane.....

i'll get a pic of my prized mogs on monday

jamie

 

[TimberMcPherson]

I think mogs are fantastic, we used them alot in the army but as much as I like them they wouldnt be able to half the jobs I do in this city which is a big shame. Looking forward to seeing those pics!

 

[jamie]

wee mog

here is our wee mog

,

there is a 357 and fuel can on the front. its parked up in dundee in the photo. its my baby, ive named her monica... monica the mog

jamie

 

[Can-Do-It]

Tree Maitenance

Yeah but you can only remove a tree once.

If you focus on removal as your main source of income, you've always got to be chasing the next job. Do the tree maintenance work, it keeps on coming back to you.

I have to agree with Alanarbor. I do a lot of take downs but the repeat business(growing your business) is in trimming. In the long run you will make more money. That why I'm looking at a chip/bucket truck, 60' combo used( lower insurance cost). As has already been stated .... know your market.

Right now I do all the climbing, but I need to get my crew involved more other than the normal day to day of rope person and groundies.

I have a excellent three man crew and could send two of them with the combo unit on trims that didn't require climbing.

So ... is there money in trimming ... I think so.

Not as much as TD's but in the long haul you will make more money.

 

[SteveBullman]

So ... is there money in trimming ... I think so.

Not as much as TD's but in the long haul you will make more money.

plus its nice easy work, not back breaking like a take down, everyone works at a nice pace leaving behind a nice piece of work.
i once took down a largish tree....did it very well, the customer was happy with the job, but she did comment in a joking manner "you're nothing more than a professional vandal really" i'll never forget that

 

[Can-Do-It]

plus its nice easy work, not back breaking like a take down, everyone works at a nice pace leaving behind a nice piece of work.
i once took down a largish tree....did it very well, the customer was happy with the job, but she did comment in a joking manner "you're nothing more than a professional vandal really" i'll never forget that

I know what you mean Bullman.

I always try and talk the customer out of TD's, that is if the tree is not dangous to person or property. I also offer the customer a 50% credit of the trim price if they decide within 6-12 months to take the tree down. This garenties me the TD ...... I'm in it for the long haul .... I think it's good busniess since.