Is there a market for this? Taking a poll

[Steve2910]

I burn wood & sell a little... Have made connections w/ some local tree services... The deal is this: I bring my skid steer w/ attachments & take most of the grunt work (and the firewood) out of their big tree jobs. Seems like a lot of them aren't set up to deal w/ big logs & don't mess w/ firewood as a mainstay. It's worked out great so far & I'm wondering if there's a business here. I know the answers are going to vary based on the kind of jobs you do, just wondering if there's a market for an owner/operator w/ a skid steer, or MTL, mini-ex w/ grapple, or 4wd tractor w/ loader. Thanx

 

[tree md]

I have worked with firewood guys before and still do to from time to time. They have always done it for the wood. Really too many out there who want the wood for me to pay someone to take it... Even with heavy equipment.

Not saying you couldn't make a go of it if you hook up with the right guy. It's just that I would rather pay my own guys to do the grunt work. I am trying to keep men working. If it takes a little extra time so be it. Business has been slow the past couple of years anyway.

Best of luck.

 

[Blakesmaster]

Every area is different and every owner/operator is different so you need to gauge whether it will be profitable for you in your situation. Talk to the guys you've already made connections with. For me, I don't like anyone else on my jobsite. Part of my selling point is that my team and I will be doing all the work from start to finish. I also don't like having to depend on another contractor to ensure that I get paid and I do not like trucks on my jobsite that don't have my company name on them. That's just me and how I operate though.

 

[sgreanbeans]

It's just that I would rather pay my own guys to do the grunt work. I am trying to keep men working. If it takes a little extra time so be it.

WORD! A lot of people dont understand that. I get guys always trying to sub work from me. I try and explain to them that we can do it all and would rather make sure they (my guys) feel secure and are taking care of. Rather pay them.

 

[climberjones]

Liability!! every time i try that the guys tear up the property with there skid steers even the ones with tracks i had a guy tell me oh i can clean that mess up in no time wont mess anything up either well i wasnt buying it but he happened to be friends with the homeowner to so i was not liable and i stood back and watched as he tore the hell out of the place with his nice tracked skid steer and broke the sidewalk make a long story short illll Passsss!!!

 

[ducaticorse]

I have worked with firewood guys before and still do to from time to time. They have always done it for the wood. Really too many out there who want the wood for me to pay someone to take it... Even with heavy equipment.

Not saying you couldn't make a go of it if you hook up with the right guy. It's just that I would rather pay my own guys to do the grunt work. I am trying to keep men working. If it takes a little extra time so be it. Business has been slow the past couple of years anyway.

Best of luck.

+1

 

[ducaticorse]

Every area is different and every owner/operator is different so you need to gauge whether it will be profitable for you in your situation. Talk to the guys you've already made connections with. For me, I don't like anyone else on my jobsite. Part of my selling point is that my team and I will be doing all the work from start to finish. I also don't like having to depend on another contractor to ensure that I get paid and I do not like trucks on my jobsite that don't have my company name on them. That's just me and how I operate though.

+1

 

[pdqdl]

I have been trying to sell the use of my Bobcat A300 with 4 wheel steer and brush grapple to other tree services for those large jobs that they can't get their grapple truck to. So far: no takers.

Good luck; I think previous comments are on target.

 

[Rftreeman]

I think you'd have a hard time getting someone to pay you for picking up wood that they could give to someone else that would take it for free.....

 

[rmihalek]

If you're looking for firewood, maybe you can offer the local tree services a place to dump the wood. If they have to pay dump fees, you're saving them some money, so you might be able to get the wood dumped in your log yard for free.

 

[pdqdl]

True, but you had better be ready to dispose of all the junk wood that the tree services didn't want to turn into firewood for themselves.

Dead & rotten, cottonwood, giant elm that stays wet and is hell to split, the list goes on...

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

There are small guys out there who do not want to sell fire wood. Though the trust issues mentioned above are huge.

What I have done in the past is when people want to bargain a price i tell them I know of a few people who will haul it off for cheap. Then it can be done when I am out of the equation.

The number of times I have been left hanging by a wood-vulture who left stuff on site, didn't clean up saw-dust, broke something, tore up property, or just gleaned the pile and left what he did not want... not for me (Mike you are one in a million)

I had one guy ask me for a cherry I was taking down and got p/o'd with me when I called about him taking his time....my client was getting hot with the pile in her back yard for two weeks.....

 

[stumpjumper83]

If I let someone else get involved t very limited. From instance, I have one guy that will comes and gets logs, I don't get paid for them but I don't have to haul them either. He brings a one ton and a 20' goose and takes it away.

I also have a firewood guy, and he gets everything as well, has an owb and burn everything. He will come and get it or sometimes i load it into the dump with the excavator and deliver it cause he is like a mile from my house and not very picky at all.

As far as equipment, to be in yards alot I like tracks alot better than tires, & mini excavators better than ctls, but all of them can tear a yard all to hang.

You know what I'd like the best, a crane, no yard damage whatsoever that way...

You might be able to get some work, but I wouldn't count on it. Remember, if they need a skidloader for the day, the rental yard has them too & any decent tree company will have a truck and trailer to haul them on.

 

[treeslayer]

As long as you took it all, and followed my jobsite rules, I would work you regularly. I try to sub out all my hauling and cleanup.

pay me to climb and cut, and I'm gone with half the $$ and no back pain.......