Earning money with a 4' bucket?

[wcampbell47]

In your experience, what are the pitfalls in doing this kind of work? ie jobs/customers/situations to avoid and typical problems encountered.

Over the course of the years I have discovered there are people you want to work for and those you don't. It will not take long to discover for your self. Examples - those that think you are too pricey, those that want something for nothing, those that keep "adding on" to the original project without due compensation. And those that are just plain too picky. That doesn't mean you do a slip shod job, just that you can never get things done to their satisfaction. Go look at the project before you commit. Ask about obstacles that might be present. You can't see a two foot high obstacle in four foot tall grass. Run with your front end loader down low to protect your tractor and shredder when mowing a field the first time. Learn that you don't have to take a job just because you have been asked. You might refuse because it is too dangerous for you or your equipment (mowing on a slope or near water). There is a project I am probably not going to do because the neighbor is a trouble maker. Same project the utility district is quick to lay blame if a water pipe breaks and you are near the break. Stay away from known or suspected alcoholics. Don't take on more than you can do unless you have backup or a partner willing to step in to help. My best uncontested sources of revenue are local contractors that like my work. I will put them at the top of the list when they call. Don't take a job for cheap just to have work. You will regret it from the moment you unload the tractor. Stay away from "bitchy" women. If they hate their husband or men in general they will not like you and think that you owe them. I live in what is a fishing village that is becoming more of a 2nd home resort area. The old timers are stingy but the new comers seem to be better "heeled" and are willing to pay for services. Don't try to get rich in one afternoon. Do good work!! Even if some think you are pricey they know you do good work and will pay. Most of this is just good common sense. You will have a few missed steps, but just take your licks, learn and move on to the next adventure. Cheers!

 

[stan33]

Thanks wcampbell47...sounds like good advice. And I enjoyed the read too.

 

[Texas Dawg]

I have never done any of this kind of work for pay (just helping myself, friends, and family) BUT I have been in business dealing with the public for >30 years. As Wcampbell47 said, there are some jobs that just are not worth taking at ANY price. After a while, you develop a little inner voice that says "WALK AWAY" when you hear that voice listen. The times I have ignored that, I have regretted it. Sometimes peace of mind is worth just as much as money in the bank.

 

[Leejohn]

I went on utube and watched a total of 5 hours of people doing loader work with there tractors. You know what I could only find 2 guys that new how to use there loaders good. I can't understand why a guy gets a new tractor then right away makes a utube showing how he can do loader work. I would say about 80% didn't even have the paint off the bucket. Go make a utube of you doing loader work, then set back and watch it. Better yet post it and there well be a few guys that can watch 2 mins and tell you more what jobs you should be looking for.

 

[stan33]

You know what I could only find 2 guys that new how to use there loaders good.

Can you let me know what were the things you thought people were doing right that was good and what they were doing wrong?

 

[wcampbell47]

Can you let me know what were the things you thought people were doing right that was good and what they were doing wrong?

I have not watched the videos but here are a couple of thoughts. Speed driving into a pile of loose material does not always equal a full bucket. There is a skill in getting a full bucket of material without ramming into the pile. Approach the material with the bucket at a slight downward angle as if digging, ease into the material curling the bucket up slowly as you go forward. Lift the bucket at the same time. Now you are not going to get the hang of it the first time. Practice makes perfect. This is where HST comes in handy (or be really good with the clutch) and your hydraulics will let you curl and lift at the same time. When leveling learn to back drag. On my Kubota's with the bucket curled all the way back in the carry position and fully down on the ground there is just enough downward pressure to not just float over the high spots and maintain steering on the front wheels. I prefer a land plane to a box blade or grader. Recently I have been distributing my delivered material to the area to be leveled in small piles (a bucket load). Once I have all the material placed I lower the land plane and back into the piles. A bucket load of material helps my front wheels have more traction. Several back and forth passes and some back dragging will have the material nice and smooth.

 

[bigtiller]

I think if a contractor had the kind of work you are looking for, he would give a shovel to the new guy and not worry about any damage from your equipment.

 

[stan33]

I think if a contractor had the kind of work you are looking for, he would give a shovel to the new guy and not worry about any damage from your equipment.

If a man could do anything near the same amount of work with a shovel as he could with a tractor, Massey Ferguson would have gone out of business years ago.

 

[stan33]

Large construction sites with proper equipment aint gonna want someone someone there with a SCUT spending all day doing something they can do in 15min.

The MF240 isn't a SCUT.

 

[Sprinklerman]

What I have learned over the years is bid jobs , dont go out and do work with a tractor. If someone needs a yard graded , you bid the seed and straw also . Bidding by the hour , if fine when there are too many variables , bid bidding the job , especially when your good on a machine makes the money. Put EVERYTHING in writing , cover yourself . Smaller jobs are the best , if someone does stiff you , it stings .The BIG jobs sound good but if you get stiffed it really hurts . Have attachments that save YOU time , thats to your benefit , not the customers .