15 Year Old Got His First Brush Hogging Job!!

[jenkinsph]

I agree with Wedge on making a pass with the deck set high the first time and then making a second pass lower and faster afterwards, I would agree on a total price for the job and then stick to it. Nothing looks worse than an increase in price after starting a job. Walk the field yourself to determine what obstructions are in it don't take anyone's word for that. Keep you eyes peeled while you are mowing to avoid a missed obstruction. I would consider walking a smaller portion of the field then mowing it down, then walk some more and mow it until you are done. It is easy to miss something in a large field.

 

[clemsonfor]

Around here to hire out tractor work, weather there sprayiing bushhogging , plowing planting, the food plot guys charege $75-85/hour and if your more than an hour away will usually charge 1 hour drive time. Make sure you know the field and if the owner says he does and that there is no obstructions or scrap metal out there see if he will sign a damage clause in the contract. But if he says hes not sure or will not sign a damage clause id walk it well and cut slow. If you have a FEL keep it low. You run over one piece or angle iron in the ground or junk plow and cut your sidewall of your rear tire your out hundres of $$$ to get a new one on some larger tires. Or if you bustup your hog there is several more dollars and days of downtime to repair it.

 

[sweettractors]

Be sure to have your chain guards in place. This will limit a lot of thrown objects from under the cutter and hitting a passing car or damaging someones property. Put up a guard of metal mesh or plywood behind your tractor seat to protect you from flying debris. Good Luck and work safely. Ken Sweet

 

[deere4320]

Do you have insurance?

I'm not sure......I will have to check with my dad when he comes home on saturday.

 

[deere4320]

Making an assumption here based on what you are asking: that you haven't agreed on a price with the landowner.

If you haven't agreed on a price, how do you 'have the job'?

What if you take a look at all the variables like some have astutely pointed out like damage to your equipment or some one elses property, accidents, fuel, oil, wear and tear, etc and decide that to even break even you would need to charge more than the owner would like to pay?

Good on you for wanting to get into business for yourself and I wish you luck.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Thanks for the advice......I have the job because the people that i offered the work to said they would love to have done. I said okay and that i would get back to them with a price.

 

[deere4320]

Not sure why you would want to do that. Care to elaborate?

No its okay, i just thinking to myself and wishing that i had a friend that into tractor that lives near me

 

[deere4320]

As pointed out, walk the fields. If possible, keep a few marker sticks or flaggin'g tape. Mark the rocks and stumps, keep looking around as you mow. Be ready to pick up the mower. I just rebuilt my bush hog, it was about $1500 in parts and time.

Is it all grass, or does the field have small trees/bushes in it. More brush, the higher the price. If there is a clump of brush, it may be hiding a rock also.

How wide is your mower? Wider = more dollars per hour.

How much seat time/experience do you have bush hogging?

I have an old Woods 6ft Heritage Rotary Cutter

I have not brush hogged much on the 4320, but i have gotten about 8 hours of experience on a really on International

It is mostly really high overgrown grass that could easily be hayed

 

[deere4320]

post pictures when your done.

I would pay by the job. last time I did a field that size, I charged around $200, but that's been a few yrs back.

I will try.....I am going on vacation for 2 weeks:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[deere4320]

If it were me I would try to find out what the local rate is for mowing in your area. Where I live the $50-$75 dollar an hour figure mentioned would price you right out of the market. That is not what you want to do if you are trying to get started in a business. If this land owner is a family friend be honest and ask him what he has been paying.

MarkV

Thanks for the advice

 

[clemsonfor]

I have an old Woods 6ft Heritage Rotary Cutter

I have not brush hogged much on the 4320, but i have gotten about 8 hours of experience on a really on International

It is mostly really high overgrown grass that could easily be hayed

You have only bushhogged for a total of 8 hours and now your going to do it for money on someone elses property on a tractor you really dont have much experience on! Seems like you may be jumping the gun a little to me.