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bck
ArboristSite Operative
Nice truck. How much was everything ?
Truck 8k
Mechanical repairs 3k
Sandblasting 2k
Welding/fabricating 12k
Sineage 1.5k
26.5k total
Didn't quite intend to spend 3x the original truck cost but I'm happy with the results. This is the 3rd truck I've had them completely work over. I'd hope it's worth about 30-35k now?
I saw another 2000 f650 dump listed for 10k and thought it might be a nice project truck to turn around and sell.
It seems to be my experience that every time I've bought and older piece of equipment I end up spending more than twice its original cost fixing and customizing it. Having said that I do not like debt and am happy to pay cash for something, even if it's a little rusty and crusty.
Currently working on a bc1800 project. I think this one will be easier on my wallet. I picked it up for 16k hoping to put about 3k into it to make it look nice and service it.
You have quite the nice chip truck if I recall your pictures correctly.
this is why I bought a sticker plotter and cut my own
machine and vinyl cost less that a single door sticker was going to
and I get to pick any color I want, what type of vinyl, etc
only downside is installing them is a ***** sometimes, like my chip box ones, whole side is 3 massive stickers stuck over eachother
im no expert, but for smaller more insignificant stickers I can cut ones for you, wont be free but MUCH cheaper than a sticker shop will charge, so long as you know how to install them (super easy to do on little ones)
would be understandable if you didnt want to buy anything from "pimples" tho lmao
bck
ArboristSite Operative
That’s not bad at all. A new one would be close to $120k. It’s a balance between new and used in my opinion. Don’t tell MDS that.
Examples of payments long gone…
Just saying. I know some people think payments are the devil, they’ve actually been quite good to me!
Just saying. I know some people think payments are the devil, they’ve actually been quite good to me!
Did they extend your frame/hitch out for you?
Rabid K9
ArboristSite Guru
Bonnetted trucks are less common in Australia.
I appreciate the offer.
The vinyl stickers themselves were around 400-500 bucks from a local graphics company I like to support. The rest of the cost came from the fabricator purchasing, preparing, and mounting the sheet metal backing. Additionally, he's good at the tedious task of meticulously applying the decals. I clearly lack the finesse to do that well. I was happy to pay the money. We have 4 kids and time is precious so I farm out a lot of stuff like that.
MDS, you've got some beautiful paid for equipment that we all like to drool over! Someday I'd like to get a rear mount elevator just like the one you're selling. I mean, it's a 4x4 to boot! The thing's a unicorn.
I asked the guy about moving the hitch but he said it would get in the way of how the end of the dump functions. Ironically, one of my guys had put a longer pintle in the receiver underneath and forgot to pull it out before dumping and busted the whole receiver off the frame on day one. The folly of having 2 crews, hahaha... I ended up extending the tongue on one of the chippers and will probably do the same on the 1800.
Beautiful property. Is that their own personal lake? And is that a converted silo on the mansion?? Looks like a horse property. Litchfield county?
Rabid K9
ArboristSite Guru
Extended chipper drawbar is like when the hot shower was invented, a giant step forward for humankind!!
Over the last several years we have had 4 incidents involving a jackknifed chipper puncturing the radiator against the rear corner of the dump bed. Each time it cost over a grand to rebuild. ONCE it was me! Extending the tongue prevents this from happening altogether.
Sounds like you have all of your trailers extended? I've said this before but I can't help but read all your posts in an Aussie accent!
we took down a burnt red oak today, guys barn burned down and took the tree with, time to pressure wash the chip truck and chipper
went smooth, grinding the stump from it and 5 trees from mondays job on the 12th, got a local stump guy I sub contract, he does amazing work and is super easy to communicate with
my local arb store had a meeting with RBI and a lot of local arborists yesterday, I won a raffle for a edelrid SM clip 3r
met a bunch of local guys, they had a portable winch (honda capstan) and a GRCS on display, I was the only person at the meeting that already owns both, helped a bunch of guys make the decision to buy them, got a few old guys off a blakes and onto the unicender as well
all in all a good week
went smooth, grinding the stump from it and 5 trees from mondays job on the 12th, got a local stump guy I sub contract, he does amazing work and is super easy to communicate with
my local arb store had a meeting with RBI and a lot of local arborists yesterday, I won a raffle for a edelrid SM clip 3r
met a bunch of local guys, they had a portable winch (honda capstan) and a GRCS on display, I was the only person at the meeting that already owns both, helped a bunch of guys make the decision to buy them, got a few old guys off a blakes and onto the unicender as well
all in all a good week
I don’t know. I have been rethinking things and maybe exploring the option of potentially keeping the unicorn bucket and still considering starting a knuckleboom build.
I realized today that that truck is a part of me, a part of what I’ve built. Doesn’t seem right to throw all that progress away for some new dream - even though it may be more progressive. That truck was/is a proud accomplishment for my company. One huge leap to the next tier completed.
I dunno, maybe just go into this new idea without the thought of sacrificing anything that I’ve worked so hard to build. I am just thinking aloud here… more cake, less sacrifice.
I realized today that that truck is a part of me, a part of what I’ve built. Doesn’t seem right to throw all that progress away for some new dream - even though it may be more progressive. That truck was/is a proud accomplishment for my company. One huge leap to the next tier completed.
I dunno, maybe just go into this new idea without the thought of sacrificing anything that I’ve worked so hard to build. I am just thinking aloud here… more cake, less sacrifice.
I would cry to lose that thing. Why not unload one of your tracked lifts instead?
Whatever you do, you have a lot of wisdom in this game.
Yeah, I don’t think it’s worth the 175 - 200k. It’s an ultimate bad ass truck and it can tow anything I have. It’s part of the family.
I can’t see losing one great tool to gain another greater tool, even if it screams sense financially. That truck is a dyed in the wool Casadei Tree green warrior. I have barely started to enjoy the good times with it yet.
There will have to be another way.
I’m not letting go of one of those either. Lol. I need a backup there, those things are so useful!!
I was also dreaming about the crane, and. Setting up each lift at a separate job, having them ready to go when we pull up with the crane. I mean the possibilities are virtually endless! Talk about efficiency!
Getting back on the tree leads hampster wheel again for the winter. Did close to 20 bids yesterday. I'd say close to half were fairly low quality leads but I sold a few pretty good ones.
It's interesting. Sometimes you get people ready to pay big bucks for 30 spruce removals and the next bid will be a grandma wanting you to prune her crab apple for 100 bucks. We have a 400 minimum that scares those kind of jobs away but it's a bit of a bummer to have to pay for those leads.
Paying for leads is not a sustainable business model but it does give you a nice bump when the slow season approaches. We stayed very busy last winter thanks to tree leads. By far the highest grossing winter we've had.
It's interesting. Sometimes you get people ready to pay big bucks for 30 spruce removals and the next bid will be a grandma wanting you to prune her crab apple for 100 bucks. We have a 400 minimum that scares those kind of jobs away but it's a bit of a bummer to have to pay for those leads.
Paying for leads is not a sustainable business model but it does give you a nice bump when the slow season approaches. We stayed very busy last winter thanks to tree leads. By far the highest grossing winter we've had.
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