Dirt Moving BX25 How Much Dirt can you move and labor rates?

[RomeK2]

I have a Kubota BX 25 I use personally around my property. I am doing a landscape design for a client and he asked me if I can move the dirt he will have to order. It will be delivered to his front yard and have to be hauled to his back yard. It's about an average 170 feet travel distance. He has a very narrow side yard which makes the bx a prime candidate for the job. My question are:

1. How much time will it take to move a truck load of fill dirt at this distance (not including grading or anything, just moving the pile)? One truck load is about 12 tons of dirt. I need about 3 truck loads (139 Cu Yards).

2. How much is a fair rate (market price) for labor and equipment wear and tear?

3. Is it beneficial to invest in a bxpanded FEL bucket expander? Can you give me your feed back on this attachment?

Because I use it only at my house, I do not have a big enough truck or trailer for it. My client does and is willing to transport it about 20 miles.

Photos below include front, side and rear yard.

Thank you in advance for your input.

 

[RomeK2]

I should add, I don't normally do landscaping design. It's not what I do for a living so I am not familiar with costs and pricing.

 

[Duffster]

What kind of soil only weights a quarter ton per yard?

 

[art]

Your question is hard to answer! Part of it is your skill effort!
I'd not figure over two hours per load for any operator but some might take longer although I'd say half of that time should be generous enough.

Why not tell him you'd rather do it by the hour?

 

[radioman]

Since this is not what you do for a living, you need to ask yourself a few questions.

1. moving the dirt is not a problem, have you driven 200 ft with your BX, lets say at least 20 times in a row without stopping? The BX is not known for its ground speed efficiency. You noticed I rounded up the footage driven since you will need it for driving around pile, maneuvering obstacles and such. With BX, it will wear you down quick, so this being said a BXpanded bucket extender is GONNA help! Every little bit will make a difference. Do you have a trailer you could use too ? With right setup, you can load trailer, hook up trailer, drive to location, disconnect , lift with bucket to dump, go back to pile and repeat. all of this can be done without getting out tractor with 3 pt hitch.

2. Are you doing this on your vacation time from regular work? will you be able to replace your "lost vacation time" with same rate of wages? This is typically the going rate you charge. OR are you doing this on a weekend for diesel money plus a little extra for your self just to get the job?

3. insurance, breakdowns? If something happens, are you prepared for the risks? Do you have a time line you must complete the work within?

4. I wouldn't worry about the cost of getting BXpanded extender if it something you can use at home too. If it a one time use for your client, and no other jobs lined up in future, just three truckloads? well I'd say its a borderline decision. by the 3rd truck load or so, you will be either be kicking yourself, or be proud of what you done without it.

Usually when people ask me do to things for them that require use of my tractor,fuel for both towing it there and tractor, I give them a few hundred dollars quote just for my time and the work to be done if it can be done in one day they always (99 percent of time) give me a little extra which is nice. Your mileage may vary.

 

[asylum575]

I spread 30 yards of mulch in about 8 hours. 4 on each day.
Very boring. I bought a set of radio/hearing protection earmuffs. Makes the time go quicker.
A full scoop is the key. You will really get a feel for the FEL, just like after
100' od trench will make you and the BH as one.

 

[coreshot]

I generally charge 100-120 per truck load to move it from the street to the back yard. I'm talking 12-14 ton loads, and every job has it's variables. This price does not include spreading, only to get it to the general vicinity of where it's going to end up. The BX hauls around 1/5 yard per scoop I think, so multiply your toatl cubic yard by 5 and you'll get an idea of total trips.

Keep your backhoe on for ballast, especially if you buy the expander, or you'll be tipping at every bump and you don't want to tag the house.

 

[Tractor Factor]

All good answers above. Weight of dirt can really vary with moisture content and other factors...gonna guess you're pretty dry there, though. If your estimate of 139 cubic yards is correct, then your 12 ton figure is not. Probably something more like 50-60 tons!

I have a wheelbarrow that holds as much as my BX25, (5 to 6 cubic feet, and 5 in practice). So, realistically, it's going to take you 750 trips-round trips-to move that much dirt. You'll be an old man by the time it's done with a slow machine like the 25...though going slow in a tight area near a house is a good idea.

Even with the extender it's gonna take a while. If you had a small dump cart and garden tractor even a riding mower you could use your BX just to load the card. My Brinly cart ($300 at Home Depot) holds 17 cubic feet, so that would cut your number of trips to less than a third.

 

[gerford]

Well since you don't know how long it will take, all you can do is charge by the hour. Our neighbor has a large machine and he charges $90 an hour with the operator and he can get a lot done in an hour. I would guess around $50 an hour would be fair in Colorado for a BX. I wouldn't do it for much less. You could see how much a rental backhoe would cost down at the rental store and add a labor rate to that.
Make sure you have an agreement on what will happen if you put a ding in the house. You'd hate to have a $1000 repair bill for a $300 job.

 

[RomeK2]

What kind of soil only weights a quarter ton per yard?

I think I got the wrong conversion factor from the internet. I checked, I am gonna use I cubic yard of dirt = 1 ton, there for I need 139 tons or about 12 truck loads. Is that about right?