Brush Mulchers: How do you handle areas that your machine can't travel on?

[Gamma]

Say you're clearing a two acre lot and there's a gully running through part of it and your machine is incapable of handling the steepness of it. What do you do?

Tell your customer before hand that you won't clear the gully?

Do customers tend to want just the level parts of their land cleared anyway?

Do it manually by hand?

 

[White Shark]

Say you're clearing a two acre lot and there's a gully running through part of it and your machine is incapable of handling the steepness of it. What do you do?

Tell your customer before hand that you won't clear the gully?

Do customers tend to want just the level parts of their land cleared anyway?

Do it manually by hand?

We use Husqvarna gas powered commercial brush cutters. After cutting, we drag the material into a spot where we can run the deck over the stuff to break it down. This works well on small ditches, etc, but you need something else for bigger swales and steep gully terrain. I won't operate my tractors on really steep slopes or slick inclines. It's just too dangerous.

How big is the gully? Can you operate a self propelled one man brush cutter down there? If so, add the rental and delivery rate, along with the operating cost into the job quote.

I find that most people are fine with leaving the gully alone if the cost starts going up. Be sure to walk the job and quote accordingly. I have long term clients that want specific long term work that often requires job specific tools, so making the investment is sometimes worthwhile and usually makes other jobs easier. It also brings more jobs my way when I'm able to do things other guys can't or won't.

Good luck.