vermeer 352 and rg50

[juststumps]

10k aint nothing when it comes to getting the right equipent. Spend now and be happy later.

lumberjack, send me a check... if 10k is'nt nothing to you,,,write me a check,,throw a couple more zeros in for laughs!!!!

 

[Lumberjack]

10k aint nothing when it comes to getting the right equipent. Spend now and be happy later.

lumberjack, send me a check... if 10k is'nt nothing to you,,,write me a check,,throw a couple more zeros in for laughs!!!!

If your job is going to be just stumps, like your handle, then 10k is nothing. We have done stumps part time for going on 7 years and we have a RG50 and an RG85.

If it doesnt make sense to go with the best, most effecient (for us) equipment, then you arent goint to be in buisness very long.

10k isnt much when conservatively we have done at least 250k worth of stumps in the last 7 years. There is a reason we have been in the stump grinding buisness longer than anyone else in our area. Part of that is from having great equipment.

I recently did a job clearing a vine infested hedge row. I could have done the whole job with my regular saws but I decided it would be smarter to buy a power pruner. At only 600 bucks its a far cry from 10 grand but the idea remains, I spent the money on that job (only a portion of the total job price) and since then the power pruner has made me around 1 grand in work savings alone, excluding the hedge row I bought it for.

Buying quality equipment that you will use as your PRIMARY source of income is a no brainer. 10k is piss in a pot, money doesnt go near as far as it used to. If all goes well tomorrow, me and my little 2 man crew (we are a man short) will bring home around 1.6k tomorrow night. 1/3 of which will come from the RG85 because the doctor had to have his stuff ground tomorrow.

And I am sorry but no check will be written, we have spent around 30 grand in the last month, and we are about at our limit for now.

Buy the best, work hard, be the best. Its a circle, for us at least.

 

[stumpy66]

i Think you are not judging like with like, the 352 is aimed, i think, at the likes of the 1625/1631, they have similar sweep etc. The 352 is really an very good entry level desiel machine aimed at those who want the advantages of desiel over thirsty throwaway petrol units at a reasonable price. The RG 50 is a step up...no comparison.

 

[Lumberjack]

And if your going to be doing this as a professional wouldnt you want a professional machine?

I made 500 this morning so far from 2.25 hours of grinding. High price because the guy didnt clean up the stuff before asking for a bid, woulda came down on the price but then he didnt move the construction items from around some of the stumps.

Professional grade for professional work.

 

[Lumberjack]

Mek, what vemeer grinder do you have?

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Lumberjack have you got 'command control' on your Rayco stump cutter's ,i have been on the phone today to our one and only rayco dealer in the UK .He tells me the RG50 now doe's not come with this option 'command control' the reason for this he said is because 'command control' slows the operation of stump grinding down too much

 

[juststumps]

groundie on the side,, grinder on the side... got a 5x8 job...i get 75 to 100 per hour..kinda shoting myself in the foot getting a machine that is more costly. and will do it faster...as a part timer.....if your running every day,and can pay for the machine...go for the biggest...that doesn't fit my need right now.....or budget...i have three 48" at 1 foot stumps coming up...i'd love to have a rg50/rgsuper50/rg85/or a sc60tx, to do this job....but i don't.. so it might take me six hours to do the job....it's just a something to do thing..got paid to help take the trees down, and i'll get $500 to take stumps out....i;m happy with that..

 

[Lumberjack]

Rolla, sorry for delaying, i responded somewhere??

Anyways, the RG85 has it. It has to be adjusted to make it work properly from what I understand. We have never used it, a good operator is better than any computer or hydraulic machine.


So yes we have it, no we dont use it. Never have or wanted too either.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

thank's Lumber you have answered my question ,now for one other lol why do you say you would only ever have huydraulic and not belt's like a carlton ??

 

[Lumberjack]

No problem with the questions rolla. It may be easier for us to talk on IM rather than here, answer them faster and more completely. The phone would be the best (other than in person) but I dont have worldwide free (free, haha) long distance (only in North America).

If you can download AIM from www.aim.com and get a screen name, we can setup a time to talk more in person. My screen name on AIM is ctrarborist.

I am certain that the rayco is the best option out there at this point. Its not as much a brand thing as its a spec and performance thing. Hydraulics are better than a belt for many reasons, some are my opinion, others are facts. I will list them here, you can ask about them here (but AIM would be easier for me).

1: Less stress on the motor due to pressure release valves in the system.
2: Speed of cutter wheel is variable to the motor RPM due to the variable displacement pump, good when grinding roots or gravel (high motor RPM, slower cutter speed)
3: Less overall mantience. The polychain lasts for MANY hours, and change the fluid every 250 hours.
4: You can see what your grinding better because you dont have the motor and belts in the way
5: You can stall the motor, but with hydraulics you have a second or two to pull out and let the RPM's build back up
6: The V belts are annoying and either the clutch will wear out or the belts will sooner (if the engine slides)
7: The engine doesnt move with the cutterhead, and there is no clutches to wear out
8: Hydraulic pump and motor life its very long.


Probably some more I am leaving out.

Another question rolla. Whats your buisness plan? Another 5 and retire or keep working as long as you can?

 

[mtcates]

I have used the 4400-4 Carlton for over 3 years now and I don't see a problem with the belt drive. I got over 500 hours on the first belt and I may have adjusted it 10 or so times over that 500 hour life. I tend to think that this is very reliable and maintenance free. It takes like one minute of my time to tighten the belt and even to replace it took all of 15 minutes. Whats the big deal???????? I do about 100 grand a year with this machine and it has performed wonderful. By the way, Carlton uses a polychain to drive the wheel. The v-belt drives the poly chain. On the 4400-4, the motor doesn't tilt as you raise and lower the cutter wheel. A friend of mine has a vermeer 50tx with a direct shaft drive and my Carlton will easily out perform his machine. There are many people that are biased towards there machine brand and have never really tried any other machine. I think all machines will get the job done. Some machines have more or different options but if the end result is the same then thats what it's all about. A wise Business man in the tree industry that I know told me that having the biggest and the best equipment is not where its at, but rather having the tools to get the job done and if its paid for that makes it all the better.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Thank's Lumber for your in depth post

 

[Lumberjack]

No problemo. Got any more questions? We changed the fluids in the RG85 last weekend as per regular maint.

What kind of teeth does the carlton use? We are very pleased with the super tooth from Rayco. We also retip them once or twice, saving money.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

CARLTON comes with a choice ,green teeth,rayco super teeth [lol] ,or the old finger bar teeth as i call them...must admit i do like the super teeth myself

 

[juststumps]

reason i got a 352.....local tree company trashed their old grinder...(was a gas 252)..... they got a vemeer 352... if it's good for a company with five 3 man crews.. it's good enough for me!!! just saw on the news,, my regular jobs is working for amtrak,,a bridge is on fire,,,, no trains running..might have to railroad this weekend,, instead of making wood chips!!

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

juststumps ,by late friday afternoon or monday morning i will be the proud owner of a 352..I got a great trade in price for my 252, plus an all in all great deal .

I had another demo and i liked the machine a lot better second time around , i also think like you the price differance is lot to consider [compared to other machines].

can't wait to give her a go on a few big stumps booked in for next week 4x36'' oak stumps...

 

[Liston]

If you want good deal on 352 then give us a call as I have 2004 machine coming in on trade in for a Carlton 4012 Diesel.

Sold 4012 to this guys brother this year and he said it was night and day differance when they used machines on same site contract so he's ordered a Carlton diesel.

 

[a_lopa]

personally id prefer belts over hydraulic,there cheaper in the long run.

 

[Liston]

Belts vs hydro

Hydraulic hp always depends on flow so as the hydraulics get worn then power drops over time.
Belts work or slip thats simple and whats the cost of a belt compared to a pumps & motor.

 

[a_lopa]

4k for a pump and splines or $200 for belts i know what id have.