company bashing via equipment.....

[ROPECLIMBER]

Really,
Was post worried about bashing from clientel, or these jokers on here?
Old or new maintain it, your mind is a tool too,

 

[mattfr12]

Now that I have gone back and edited my post calmer, How do I get all the copies edited,

you don't its in permanent marker.

 

[ROPECLIMBER]

Oh well,

 

[imagineero]

I tend to judge guys (even guys I sub contract for) at least a little on their gear. Not so much how new or expensive it is, but how they look after it. I don't mind how old your saws are, but do they all run and have sharp chains and straight bars? It's nothing to do with the look of the gear but on basic attention to your stuff. It doesn't cost much to slap a coat of paint on your old rusted chipper, but even if you don't at least make sure the knives are sharp and the anvil properly adjusted. No water in the tank, and that it idles well and revs out to where it ought to.

I make sure all my gear is in good running order. I have some new gear and some old stuff, my grinder is new, my truck is old. My saws are half and half. I look after my ropes and retire them before they get old. Same for rigging.

It's just like boots. Old boots can be worth more to a person than new ones. They're worn in, comfortable and have memories. Dirty dry cracked boots with the laces all cut up and tied together covered in dog crap are never a good thing in anybodies view though.

Shaun

 

[limbwalker54]

Well.....my arsenal is not NEW.....

I run a 1972 International Loadstar 1700, 345 gas V-8, doesn't use a drop of oil and leaks nothing. Has a 5 ton Cascade knuckleboom with MANUAL extensions.....hauls some serious wood......5+2 with manual steering keeps you buff while you drive.

It currently does not look great with its faded paint but when it goes into my shop for its Winter Cleanup/painting we will have it looking beautiful with Mojave Tan cab, forest green bed and CAT yellow boom. At the same time she's gettin her mechanical tune up for the upcoming season.

I run a 1978 Ford F-350 dump with chip box that pulls my 1986 Whisper. This setup is great for pruning in hard to get to areas. I put a new cab on it a few years back and it will be getting a fresh coat of paint soon.

I have a 1990 GMC Topkick with a 366, 5 speed, 14' Southco chip box, and it runs like a top, no oil leaks.....and it holds about 6000 bucks worth of climbing gear and ropes along with about the same in saws with the boxes she has........

Lastly our big chipper is a 2000 Woodsman 2118, 18" capacity chipper with a JD 185 diesel, what a beautiful machine.


I make just as much money for myself running this equipment as the guys who have tons of payments and way newer stuff. I enjoy the classic trucks in my arsenal because I can fix everything myself and the cost of doing so is not very expensive, and generally they are reliable, proven vehicles that have more than paid for themselves. Part of my business plan is to have them all with the new color scheme I picked out and cleaned up. If that Chevy with the flat tire was restored, painted and lettered, it would look VERY sharp pulling up for an estimate.......

I will post pics of the stuff after the nice new paint is on everything.

OH, and I should hopefully have my 1993 F-800 with Altec LRIII (tested last month) to add to all of this soon.......trying to get a bucket before the Winter is out.

People actually comment positively on the older stuff I run because it is unusual to see a 72 International with a huge ass load of wood rolling down the highway at 65 mph around here. I feel that once everything is a little cleaner it will make my business that much more unique.

Sorry for the ramble.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Never despise meager beginnings.

 

[mckeetree]

Some of these post on this thread are quaint little stories but somehow I just don't think some guys on here even know what I am talking about when I say "depreciation schedule" or "expense out". Of course, financially, I have read many post in this forum the last few years that don't make any sense whatsoever.

 

[Bigus Termitius]

Some of these post on this thread are quaint little stories but somehow I just don't think some guys on here even know what I am talking about when I say "depreciation schedule" or "expense out". Of course, financially, I have read many post in this forum the last few years that don't make any sense whatsoever.

Some of us are learning, some just can't/don't think that far into it. It's alot to manage, especially for some, but it's necessary for any hope of progress. I'm gaining some real traction now, and with it comes the greater willingness to take a leap of faith equipment-wise and get into the loop. I want to grow accordingly, there is a fine line between jumping too far and not far enough.

 

[tree md]

Some are going to try to sell on the merits of their equipment, some are going to sell their service. Think of the retired plumber, out of work construction worker, fill in the blank _____ who is trying to by a crane or bucket truck. New equipment is always nice and I don't think anyone would be truthful if they were to say they wouldn't like to have it. A savvy service buys when times are good and sheds unneeded or costly equipment (that is costing you too much to operate or let sit) when times are lean. The idea is to be as profitable as you can be.

It's not rocket science.

But that's the business end of it and would be better discussed in the business forum. The topic here is bashing others about their equipment.

Personally, I make my money climbing. I have top notch climbing gear and saws. That's what makes me the most money. I have a stumper and other equipment but that is more ancillary service for me. Nice to be able to do it but I make a heck of a lot more money when I am lean and climbing (storm damage).

 

[mckeetree]

Some are going to try to sell on the merits of their equipment, some are going to sell their service.

You are right, this may belong more in the business section. I don't guess I've ever tried to sell a job based on equipment. All I was pointing out is if a guy is making any money to amount to anything at all being self employed, and, provided you use some sort of equipment in your business you are well served to add in some new stuff from time to time. That doesn't mean you have to keep everything brand new all the time. Not at all. We certainly don't do that. But you can buy enough along to manage your situation. I've seen guys post in these forums that claim they are kicking ass and proudly claim they are running some trucks that are 40 years old and haven't bought ANYTHING large equipment wise new in 12 or 13 years of any kind. Hey, if you can make that work, more power to you. I just never have found the secret to make it work for me.

 

[tree md]

Well, the plan for me is usually always to up size and buy equipment. And you're right, it makes a hell of a lot more sense than giving it to uncle Sam. The market has been in the toilet here since 09. It got to the point where it was cheaper for us to drag a trailer to town for the small jobs we were getting instead of hauling the chipper and the dump. I don't see how some survived. Your buddy that you came down here to visit seems to have come through it very well. He seems to be a really nice guy and does quality work from what I gather. He has a hauling company as well.

The plan this year is to buy more equipment for me. Not necessarily new but decent.

 

[beastmaster]

When the economy tanked a few years ago in my area, and I found my self unemployed, and broke, I put an ad in craigslist offering my services to homeowners. I would show up in my toyota car with a small latter and pole pruners and polesaw on top and my saws in the back trunk. My ad said, "I am not a business, I have no employees or insurance, I don't even own a truck, but if you want to save money and do your own clean up give me a call. I am ISA certified".
That ad saved my home and put my daughter throu 1st year of college. I am sure no one at that time could match my work or prices. People didn't judge me they just want good work and save money.
I don't do that no more. I work for several different company's now and get paid very well and am in demand. But I was called a hack by a lot of people on this board.
I see hack work all around, but its not old or used equipment that make a hack but the quality of the work. I see lots of nice boom and chipper trucks that say right on the side they top, and none of their employees speak English. The best tree man I ever meant pulled a 14ft trailer with an old truck. The man loved trees and would spend hour or days in a tree with loppers , and a hand saw lacing them out, tell they were works of art.
It easy for the haves to past judgment on the have nots. Quality of work is what counts in the end. IMHO

 

[TreeAce]

I know I sure raised an eyebrow or three at first. My first truck was a sight. F350 with a plywood chip box and ,well, the same chipper I have now. I was alittle embaressed at times but no one ever ran me off although I think a couple thought about it. Until they watched us work! I had a couple HO say "well ya gotta start somewhere!" I also heard things like "I gotta admit I wasnt to sure at first but hey, you guys really know what your doing!". I just let proper trimmimg, lack of damage, skilled rigging, a reasonably clean cut crew, and a kick ass clean up job do the talking. My equipment still isnt fancy now but it has sure improved and will continue to I hope. It looks like I will need to spend some money myself by next tax year. Not sure what it will be yet, maybe a bucket.

 

[mattfr12]

Some are going to try to sell on the merits of their equipment, some are going to sell their service. Think of the retired plumber, out of work construction worker, fill in the blank _____ who is trying to by a crane or bucket truck. New equipment is always nice and I don't think anyone would be truthful if they were to say they wouldn't like to have it. A savvy service buys when times are good and sheds unneeded or costly equipment (that is costing you too much to operate or let sit) when times are lean. The idea is to be as profitable as you can be.

It's not rocket science.

But that's the business end of it and would be better discussed in the business forum. The topic here is bashing others about their equipment.

Personally, I make my money climbing. I have top notch climbing gear and saws. That's what makes me the most money. I have a stumper and other equipment but that is more ancillary service for me. Nice to be able to do it but I make a heck of a lot more money when I am lean and climbing (storm damage).

if someone never has dont tree work and is looking into buying a new crane or bucket truck the odds are probably around 5% of you making it.

i had to wait intill my income was capable of sustaining things like this. i really hope no one just says one day time to start a tree service lets go to the bank.

you are gonna be working for a long time to pay it back even after they repo it.

 

[arborpros]

Just for the record, I started with a 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac and a 16' trailer. You ever pulled a load of logs on a 16' trailer with a Sport Trac? This is why I upgraded as soon as I could afford and I continue to do so. I'll never forget where I started and I do not take for granted how far I have come. You have to start somewhere. I now use that Sport Trac to give bids. 92000 miles and drives and looks close to new.

I think a lot of this thread has turned in to your equipment when really half of it is about how you prune the trees that makes you a hack. I know what the title is but if you trim trees unprofessionaly you are a hack and if you show up to a job in crappy equipment and trim tree unprofessionally it makes you an even bigger hack.

 

[tree md]

I know I sure raised an eyebrow or three at first. My first truck was a sight. F350 with a plywood chip box and ,well, the same chipper I have now. I was alittle embaressed at times but no one ever ran me off although I think a couple thought about it. Until they watched us work! I had a couple HO say "well ya gotta start somewhere!" I also heard things like "I gotta admit I wasnt to sure at first but hey, you guys really know what your doing!". I just let proper trimmimg, lack of damage, skilled rigging, a reasonably clean cut crew, and a kick ass clean up job do the talking. My equipment still isnt fancy now but it has sure improved and will continue to I hope. It looks like I will need to spend some money myself by next tax year. Not sure what it will be yet, maybe a bucket.

My next dump will be a one ton. The two ton just costs too much money to run with fuel prices they way they are now.

 

[tree md]

Another thing I noticed when the bottom fell out was a lot of guys who had financed large equipment were working dirt cheap just to make a payment on it. It helped to drive market price down. It would have been better for everyone if they had dumped their #### and cut their losses.

 

[Pelorus]

Interesting thread. Not many truck nuts up this way.
Posting a link that's about a fellow I got to know pretty well and bought many saws from.
Sold saws out of his run down house. Probably many thousands of them.
Didn't use a calculator or a computer; everything was added up by hand.

CottageCountryNow Article: Goodbye to the 'Chainsaw Man'

Being fair & honest brought him more business (with no advertising) than one could have ever imagined.

 

[deevo]

Interesting thread. Not many truck nuts up this way.
Posting a link that's about a fellow I got to know pretty well and bought many saws from.
Sold saws out of his run down house. Probably many thousands of them.
Didn't use a calculator or a computer; everything was added up by hand.

CottageCountryNow Article: Goodbye to the 'Chainsaw Man'

Being fair & honest brought him more business (with no advertising) than one could have ever imagined.

That's too bad about Gib, yep it's quite the place, don't think there is a place like his on the planet! RIP Is his brother still around to run the place? I know he was getting up there.

 

[beastmaster]

Interesting thread. Not many truck nuts up this way.
Posting a link that's about a fellow I got to know pretty well and bought many saws from.
Sold saws out of his run down house. Probably many thousands of them.
Didn't use a calculator or a computer; everything was added up by hand.

CottageCountryNow Article: Goodbye to the 'Chainsaw Man'

Being fair & honest brought him more business (with no advertising) than one could have ever imagined.

It would of been a privileged and an honor to have done business with "the chainsaw man."

"Sometimes a gold nugget is covered in mud"
"If you have a bucket of s_ _t and paint the bucket, polish it up real nice. you just have a pretty bucket of s_ _t" Quotes my Dad use to tell me.