Can't you get redi-mix you pick up in a towable trailer and pour yourself? I've seen that mentioned somewhere on TBN and thought it would be a good compromise to getting concrete delivered and having it poured.
Around here, 6-sack redi-mix is $129/ yard in a towable trailer with a small gas engine to keep it turning.
The same material in a concrete truck is $100/yard. If you get less than 2.5 yards, there is a $50 short load charge. The real concrete truck has a chute for concrete placement, and is just much easier to work with.
Essentially, if I need 3/4 yard or less, it is the towable trailer, 1 yard or more, concrete truck.
I only mix it in a mixer if it is less than about 1/4 yard.
Reg:
I don't think anyone is proposing to mix sacks in a FEL or a wheelbarrow with a shovel.
Redi-mix is usually wet, premixed concrete. Getting it into forms and finishing it is still very demanding physical labor.
Ooops, I had misunderstood "towable trailer" - took it to mean just a utility trailer to go and get 80 lb paper sacks of dry mix in.
We DID do a couple of loads in my FEL bucket this year, but only to fill between some ramp slabs at the lake.
(by "We" I mean the "I" was mostly on the tractor seat and the "they" were doin' the mixin' - "I" saw "them" sweat, so I figgered it was hard work)