What to buy next...

[mikewhite85]

Should I get an alpine magnum (found one used for 2500 bucks and I do not currently have a stump grinder) or an estimate truck such as a mid 90's Ranger for about the same price or less?

Right now my only truck is my f350 dump (I also had a Chevy pickup which died a couple months back). I use it to dump chips, drive to estimates, buy groceries, take it on dates, go to church, etc. It's quite a hassle driving it through LA streets and traffic and is expensive on diesel. My life would be a little less stressful driving a small pickup.

On the other hand, I have some jobs I could do with an alpine magnum and could really put that thing to use. It would be awesome just throw it in the truck and do tree removals and stump grinding on the same day.

I can only afford ONE of these right now. What do you guys think would be the best to buy at the moment?

 

[rustyolred]

Nice sig.

 

[mikewhite85]

Nice sig.

Thanks. I am a sinner saved by God's grace! Definitely don't deserve it

 

[Blakesmaster]

Should I get an alpine magnum (found one used for 2500 bucks and I do not currently have a stump grinder) or an estimate truck such as a mid 90's Ranger for about the same price or less?

Right now my only truck is my f350 dump (I also had a Chevy pickup which died a couple months back). I use it to dump chips, drive to estimates, buy groceries, take it on dates, go to church, etc. It's quite a hassle driving it through LA streets and traffic and is expensive on diesel. My life would be a little less stressful driving a small pickup.

On the other hand, I have some jobs I could do with an alpine magnum and could really put that thing to use. It would be awesome just throw it in the truck and do tree removals and stump grinding on the same day.

I can only afford ONE of these right now. What do you guys think would be the best to buy at the moment?

#### stress. The question is, which will make you more money? If you think a nicer estimate truck will do it, buy that. If you think a stumper will do it, buy that. How nice does your dump look? Clean, rust free, and lettered? If so, get the grinder. If it looks like ####, get something more appealing to run bids in.

 

[rwbinbc]

Do you remove alot of stumps? I have a sub-contractor grind all my stumps or I rent the rayco 1625< i think at the u-rent place. They give me better deals from renting it so much like $120 for the day. I had to google it to see what it was, Seen 1 before just didn't know the name of it. It will make money when you cant get a normal grinder into small areas or tight spaces. Grinding larger stump I think shoud be left to a larger machine. It would take you all day on some stumps where the 1102 knocks them out fast. There is alot of subs up here that grind stumps pretty cheap. I'm sure you could find someone to grind stumps for You so cheap, You stop thinking about stump grinding completely

 

[Rftreeman]

Nice sig.

If it were me I'd buy the truck cause I don't get that many request to do stumps, most here just "say cut it low" and if they want the stump included in the bid I'll just rent one or sub it out but you got to decide which would be more beneficial to you, do you get a lot of request for stumps, if you do then the stumper will pay for itself pretty fast....

 

[arborsoldier]

#### stress. The question is, which will make you more money? If you think a nicer estimate truck will do it, buy that. If you think a stumper will do it, buy that. How nice does your dump look? Clean, rust free, and lettered? If so, get the grinder. If it looks like ####, get something more appealing to run bids in.

I agree, appearance is everything. If your dump doesn't look so great, consider the truck, plus it's easier to get around in a small truck.:agree2:

 

[Mikecutstrees]

I was in the exact same situation as you a few years ago. I had my F-450 and drove it for estimates and everything. You would be much better off getting something with better fuel mileage. Also when you start replacing tires (6 at a time) etc you will be much better off with a ranger. I bought a 2008 Ford plain jane 4 cyl. It cost $12K. One heck of a deal for a brand new truck. Gets 25+ MPG. I can tow my SC252 with it too. Great little truck! Only about $220 a month with is small potatoes.....

Mike

 

[AAASTUMPSERVICE]

What did you end up doing? Truck or grinder? I own an ALPINE MAGNUM grinder and love it!

 

[mikewhite85]

What did you end up doing? Truck or grinder? I own an ALPINE MAGNUM grinder and love it!

I JUST bought the alpine last week and used it on some palm stumps on Monday. It was sweet. The stumps barely gave any resistance as the cutter was able to go several inches on each pass. It cuts better than the sc252 I have rented 100 times (albeit its a rental and the teeth are not always great). For some reason though, I could not start it when I wanted to do an ash stump yesterday. I may have flooded then engine when I laid it on its side during transport. Argggg!

Beautiful machine though. I absolutely love it. Hopefully will get a ranger soon too.