Forestry Mowing

[Curbside]

I went to look at a job yesterday that is approximatley 6 acres of dense bush. The stand consists of largely 0-10 inch poplars. Their is tons of debris strewn on the ground. The purpose of the mowing is to allow for a drainage ditch to be made so the material does not have to be chewed into a park like setting but has to be chewed enough to allow the mud to hauled out by truck. The problem I'm seeing is that the area is largely in about 5-6 inches of water. Their is a strong netting of grass on the floor but it is quite spongy. Some areas were at once old pasture ground. We will be using tracked machines but curious what some of you would charge for this mess of a job. Can't say I've priced a job in this much water before. We have had way more rain this year then normal but I don't see this job drying out much over the next 2-3 weeks

 

[redprospector]

I'm still pretty new to this kind of work, but when I'm looking at a job like this I generally price it by the hour.
I just got through with a little job that I thought was way too steep for my machine. I priced it at $125 an hour. I made a little money, the landowner got the property cleared at a reasonable rate, and I found out just how steep a hill can be and still be cleared with my ASV.

Andy

 

[ASD]

Some pic's would help.

What type of equipment will you be using?

How long will it take you?

I would send in our Kobelco 80 to mow the small stuff and then send in our Bandit 1890 on tracks with two workers and fall and chip the larger trees then if the client wanted it to look like a park we send in our Bobcat T-320 and back mow the place. It would take us about 3 days and we would charge about $5k

 

[2dogs]

Some pic's would help.

What type of equipment will you be using?

How long will it take you?

I would send in our Kobelco 80 to mow the small stuff and then send in our Bandit 1890 on tracks with two workers and fall and chip the larger trees then if the client wanted it to look like a park we send in our Bobcat T-320 and back mow the place. It would take us about 3 days and we would charge about $5k

How about some pics. I may even have some of your company on EBRP.

 

[Curbside]

I was planning on using 2 T320 one equipped with a Fecon Head and the other with Gyro Track head.

I was thinking it would take about 7-8 days. What has me really worried was the wet conditions. I've worked in mud before but nothing this extreme. I'm thnking that mud will slow me down huge so it may take longer then 8 days.

Sorry I don't have any pictures but to give you an idea walking throught it even on the deer paths are almost impossible. Partly because the bush is thick but their is also just a ton of dead fall.

 

[ASD]

How about some pics. I may even have some of your company on EBRP.

We have done work for the EBRP and just about every other city/state/fed agency in CA. Almost all of our job are in the public sector or for "land" owners we do very little for home owners.

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=105185

 

[DENISCIMAFsouth]

I'll give a solution here. This is where an excavator mount pay for itself, and the bigger the better.
1. With the wet conditions you can work a 40' swath with only one path in. This would allow the least disturbance and or the use of mats of some sort to walk on. Plus most excavators of decent size can be had with long undercarriage that would help as well.
2. From the size material you mentioned you will work yourself to death with smaller equipment. Not questioning your stuff just 10" and over will take time. An excavator in the 180 size and our head could mulch 20"+ and you have one machine and one operator and the other guys and machine's making money somewhere else.
3. Safety issue. If the material is that thick with a excavator you can see as you mulch and avoid some damage from hidden items and dangerous dips,ditches etc.
4. I'm guessing from the talk this is for a large/good customer so if you impress and have low impact customer very happy and it keeps him compliant with whatever EPD stuff is in effect there.
5. Our head leaves such small chips during normal cutting you will have a desirable look without extra work. I saw not required but a big plus in my book.
Now I know buying a piece of equipment for just this job isn't practicle but it give you an idea of the application. I have several customers working in just such conditions with great results.

Later

 

[Curbside]

I'll give a solution here. This is where an excavator mount pay for itself, and the bigger the better.
1. With the wet conditions you can work a 40' swath with only one path in. This would allow the least disturbance and or the use of mats of some sort to walk on. Plus most excavators of decent size can be had with long undercarriage that would help as well.
2. From the size material you mentioned you will work yourself to death with smaller equipment. Not questioning your stuff just 10" and over will take time. An excavator in the 180 size and our head could mulch 20"+ and you have one machine and one operator and the other guys and machine's making money somewhere else.
3. Safety issue. If the material is that thick with a excavator you can see as you mulch and avoid some damage from hidden items and dangerous dips,ditches etc.
4. I'm guessing from the talk this is for a large/good customer so if you impress and have low impact customer very happy and it keeps him compliant with whatever EPD stuff is in effect there.
5. Our head leaves such small chips during normal cutting you will have a desirable look without extra work. I saw not required but a big plus in my book.
Now I know buying a piece of equipment for just this job isn't practicle but it give you an idea of the application. I have several customers working in just such conditions with great results.

Later

Yes a ex with cutter head would be the ticket but unfortunately it is not in the budget until next year. I've looked up your cutter head in the past and it looks like a real option to buy. It sounds like it cuts similar to the gyro track head. I think your companies at one time were affilated. Is that correct?

 

[DENISCIMAFsouth]

First thanks for looking into our heads. Whenever you are ready let me know and we will find one for you to see running and maybe get you some seat time.
Second Denis Cimaf is the inventors of the planier head and they own the patent. Yes Gyrotrac has been using our technology under agrrement. So if you have ever seen an Gyro run you have seen our technology.
As the agreement currently stands Gyrotrac handles front mount (skid steer, wheeled loader) and we do all excavators mount heads.
So that should cause a few questions so shoot.
For your viewing pleasure checkout You Tube and type in Denis Cimaf, we have all our excavator heads running on there.
Thanks for reading and the reply.