Need help with business decision

[bfdast]

I have a sc252 almost payed for and does well till I get to large stumps or alot on 1 property. I'm considering (when payed off) getting a tow behind used. I know I can get one for say 2000-10000. What's some things I need to consider with them. I've never owned nor used one. I'm sure positioning them can be a pain but what else. Pros and cons please. I'm just trying to plan ahead so when the time comes im ready and no second guessing!

 

[marne]

I write down the size of each stump I grind in an excel sheet.
So I know the average and the count of big ones.

Do this and find out how often you got stumps that require the expense.

 

[bfdast]

I have been but I get called often to do 20 or more and im looking at that aspect, it took me a day to do 61 and been thinking about adding a tow behind (due to price limitation) to the setup so I could possibly do it quicker and get to the large ones at times. Just wondering if this is a smart move.
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[treecutterjr]

It is. I just sold my tow behind but miss it already. We started with a big Machine and then added a small grinder later. I would ask the opposite question: how often so you need a little machine? Unless I had to go inside a small gate I always preferred the big machine. More power, quicker to get done. I had a RayCo 1672. I now have the bandit 2550 and it can fit through a small gate but is rare (maybe once every two weeks) that I have to. Bigger is better in the tree and stump business. IMO of course.

 

[bfdast]

Well I bought my bosses sc252 with 200hrs for 2500 so that's why I started off with a small one. There is, in a few areas, only access with a small machine. You either turn down the big ones or little ones here. Figure best of both worlds and use the big one till I need the small one. That's what im looking for is pros and cons
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[Topbuilder]

Different markets require different machines. Where I'm at a tow behind is useless. As I have said before I consider the Rayco Super 50 the minimum machine. It will go anywhere and will take on the big ones as well. But a good used one will run you 20G or more, I know. If you have the jobs, it will pay for its self though. I'm getting ready to sell my 1642. In three years I have done one job with it, The one in my avatar.

 

[defensiblespace]

You could also retrofit a 35 or 40 hp engine on your 252. There's plenty of info on this site on how to do it and people have had great success. You can also speed up the ground speed by going to a smaller hydraulic pulley. Run a search for "sc252 list of upgrades". You'll spend less money than buying a tow behind and you'll have one bad ass machine.

 

[Brian Holly]

You could also retrofit a 35 or 40 hp engine on your 252. There's plenty of info on this site on how to do it and people have had great success. You can also speed up the ground speed by going to a smaller hydraulic pulley. Run a search for "sc252 list of upgrades". You'll spend less money than buying a tow behind and you'll have one bad ass machine.

I agree we retrofitted a 35HP motor on a machine last year. Huge improvement to cutting speed. The cost of the motor was around $2300 delivered. Fairly simple to swap out as well.

 

[bfdast]

Thanks guys, really looking at adding another machine later do to bigger jobs and being able to have 2 machines running at once

 

[dontbthatguy]

How long is it taking you to do a larger stump? I upgraded from rayco's super teeth to greenteeth and from greenteeth to the greenwheel. That cut down my grind time by atleast half. I always figured upgrading machines, but with my greenwheel I don't think I will be able to justify it unless work really picks up.

I have a 1625 btw.

 

[TRISTATEFORESTRYEQUIPMENT]

why buy a tow behind when you could buy a self propelled with tow behind horse power.

www.TriStateForestryEquipment.com