Getting Philosophical: The paradox of the one-person business

[Dougster]

My final vote hinges on "IF". If you are determined to buy another piece of equipment and remain within your business parameters, then I vote for the zero tail swing mini-excavator. You already know all the benefits and abilities of this machine so I don't need to sell you on the concept. I believe this will increase your versatility and possibly line up post excavation gradework for your 4110. At this point, an additional TLB would be redundant. I have no idea what kind of price a mini excavator commands back there, but you did ask my opinion. If we had some ham, we could have ham and eggs...............if we had some eggs.

Hey Pete - Now is this a vote change? I can't remember. I'll have to look back.

But your "Big If" may, in fact, be a false assumption. Believe me when I say that I have no agenda whatsoever other than economic survival and if my best chance at survival means saving my money and buying nothing right now, that's exactly what I'm gonna do. My only qualifier on that is that if a deal comes along that is so good that it would be sheer insanity not to take it... I will likely take it. It's just the way I am mentally wired for genuine bargains.

I will further comment that another TLB, if significantly stronger, would be more than redundant in the sense that it could expand my job range exactly as I am seeking to do. It also has the added benefit of converting the 4110 into an FEL and 3-point specific machine (with the 509 becoming ready BH back-up). While the latter point does not actually expand my range, it certainly could help with speed and logistics in certain situations.

But back to your main point. Yes, a slightly used 7,000 lb class mini-excavator could be a VERY nice and productive second machine! I agree!

Dougster

 

[motepoc]

Dougster, 2 cents (or maybe a couple more) one more time.

It appears that you are going to do something, one way or the other. If you go for the bigger 1/3 of the clients that calls you then you are going to have to invest a lot more money (new truck, new trailer, new tractor or whatever, higher insurance, and possibly more cost not thought of. But if you go with the smaller 1/3 , there will be a lot less invested to start. And if you can corral that bottom 1/3 and it's successful, you can move on up and try to capture that top 1/3 at a later time, and probably be more secure financially to do it. Not sure which kind of tractor that you need to proceed, but you should proceed and start picking up that business.

 

[Pete Milley]

Hey Pete - Now is this a vote change? I can't remember. I'll have to look back.

But your "Big If" may, in fact, be a false assumption. Believe me when I say that I have no agenda whatsoever other than economic survival and if my best chance at survival means saving my money and buying nothing right now, that's exactly what I'm gonna do. My only qualifier on that is that if a deal comes along that is so good that it would be sheer insanity not to take it... I will likely take it. It's just the way I am mentally wired for genuine bargains.

I will further comment that another TLB, if significantly stronger, would be more than redundant in the sense that it could expand my job range exactly as I am seeking to do. It also has the added benefit of converting the 4110 into an FEL and 3-point specific machine (with the 509 becoming ready BH back-up). While the latter point does not actually expand my range, it certainly could help with speed and logistics in certain situations.

But back to your main point. Yes, a slightly used 7,000 lb class mini-excavator could be a VERY nice and productive second machine! I agree!

Dougster

No, Doug. Not a change in vote. I still maintain the "wait and see" discipline. You have alluded to a 7000-7500# machine on a number of occasions and I was thinking, for my purposes as a one man operation(which is how you started this thread) that a mini excavator would be the right fit. When digging a trench, there are so many places you just can't jockey a TLB into. Enter, the zeo tail swing mini ex. Your 4110 would then be relegated to 3 pt duty and BH backup with the ability to work in the confines of the traditional New England postage stamp size residential yard and maintain a lighter footprint. Everything is a trade off in this business. As far as bargains, this thread would not be necessary.

 

[Dougster]

Dougster, 2 cents (or maybe a couple more) one more time. It appears that you are going to do something, one way or the other.

Well, I certainly wouldn't bet my life on that. There is a lot to be said for keeping my powder secure and dry for right now... and that's still how most serious people voted.

If you go for the bigger 1/3 of the clients that calls you then you are going to have to invest a lot more money (new truck, new trailer, new tractor or whatever, higher insurance, and possibly more cost not thought of. But if you go with the smaller 1/3 , there will be a lot less invested to start. And if you can corral that bottom 1/3 and it's successful, you can move on up and try to capture that top 1/3 at a later time, and probably be more secure financially to do it. Not sure which kind of tractor that you need to proceed, but you should proceed and start picking up that business.

I don't think the money outlay and general operating costs (such as business insurance) are going to change much at all. And any second machine for right now (i.e., pre-New Hampshire) would pretty much have to be compatible with my current truck and trailers... allowing that a possible trailer upgrade to 12K might be required.

The simple fact is that there is only so much money that I can beg, borrow or steal at this point... and all of that remaining money... what I call my "last gasp" investment cache... would likely all end up going to the cause one way or another. For example, if I go smaller... the equipment I'd buy would likely cost about the same... but it might be a little newer and/or have fewer hours on it.

That being said, there are plenty of other good reasons and evidence to support the notion of expanding on the downside rather than the upside... and I will duly register your vote for a downside expansion!

Dougster

 

[Dougster]

No, Doug. Not a change in vote. I still maintain the "wait and see" discipline. You have alluded to a 7000-7500# machine on a number of occasions and I was thinking, for my purposes as a one man operation(which is how you started this thread) that a mini excavator would be the right fit. When digging a trench, there are so many places you just can't jockey a TLB into. Enter, the zero tail swing mini ex. Your 4110 would then be relegated to 3 pt duty and BH backup with the ability to work in the confines of the traditional New England postage stamp size residential yard and maintain a lighter footprint.

Well, your logic is right on the money. And I am sick of reminding people once I visit their jobsite in person that my Red Beast is something over 21 feet long head to toes with the BH attached and the root/rock grapple or the new CAT toothed skidsteer bucket on the FEL. You wonder what they had in mind when they told you in no uncertain terms that "access would not be a problem" and never bothered to mention that there was exactly 7 feet clear from the house before you encountered your first temporary or permanent unmovable obstacle.

And then, of course, you spot the septic tank manhole cover just under the turf right where they wanted the drainage pipe to go.

Dougster

 

[JerryG]

Doug,
You have mentioned many times that you are planing to move in the not so distant future. If you don't' know what the equipment landscape will be like in the area which you are moving to, I think that I would wait until then to add more equipment. If you make a major investment in equipment at the location you are at now and then move, will that piece of equipment be what you will need there? If that area has the same type of playing field as the area you live in now, this would of course be not make any difference.

 

[Dougster]

Doug, You have mentioned many times that you are planing to move in the not so distant future. If you don't' know what the equipment landscape will be like in the area which you are moving to, I think that I would wait until then to add more equipment. If you make a major investment in equipment at the location you are at now and then move, will that piece of equipment be what you will need there? If that area has the same type of playing field as the area you live in now, this would of course be not make any difference.

Hi Jerry - I do expect the New Hampshire market for ditch digging and related services will be MUCHO different from suburban Boston/Eastern Taxachusetts. I will probably keep my pickup truck for general use and snowplowing, but I expect to buy a diesel dump truck of sufficient size to haul around a full-size (15Klb to 18Klb) backhoe, both of which I will buy out of the proceeds from the sale of my current home and certain other assets. The 4110+509 will probably stick around as well... but may be a bit too small for some of the aggie functions I expect to encounter up North. A larger cab tractor WITH HEAT might make a lot more sense... and if so, I will swallow hard and trade up.

The verdict is still out on any other item of equipment I might have at the time of the move. I intend to focus mainly on larger-scale jobs up North. There will likely have to be some equipment changes... but that does not change the fact that I've got to survive right here right now for the next 18 to 24 months... and possibly (God help me) even longer.

Dougster

 

[tlbuser]

I have mounted and dismounted the Bradco 509 fifty-three times so far
Dougster

I'm not sure if your bragging or ??

Hmmmmm... You never mentioned that before. If there is anything I should know that I don't already know, please spit it out! Other than an L48, which I could never possibly afford new or used... a used JD110 is still the best I could ever personally hope to do in a reasonably trailerable TLB. Dougster

OH, there's quite a few things I don't like about it. IMO, forward visibility - not so hot, the flippity floppity seat - flop, backhoe linkage - tinker toyish. For the price of one, IMO, it's a so-so machine and not worth the asking price. I gave serious consideration to buying a 110 or the CBL40, but decided on a new ASV instead. The CBL 40, IMO, had quite a few "convenience advantages" over the 110. There was a poster named Tags that had a 110.
Might look up some of his threads.

 

[jmfox]

I gave serious consideration to buying a 110 or the CBL40, but decided on a new ASV instead. The CBL 40, IMO, had quite a few "convenience advantages" over the 110. There was a poster named Tags that had a 110.
Might look up some of his threads.

Which ASV?

jmf

 

[Dougster]

I'm not sure if your bragging or ??

Nothing to brag about there. You'd think after 53 swaps that I'd have it down to a 3-minute job by now... blindfolded!!! Well, it can STILL take up to 45 minutes on a client's site so long as the client is watching me and his watch!!!

OH, there's quite a few things I don't like about it. IMO, forward visibility - not so hot, the flippity floppity seat - flop, backhoe linkage - tinker toyish. For the price of one, IMO, it's a so-so machine and not worth the asking price. I gave serious consideration to buying a 110 or the CBL40, but decided on a new ASV instead. The CBL 40, IMO, had quite a few "convenience advantages" over the 110. There was a poster named Tags that had a 110. Might look up some of his threads.

The bottom line question is: Can it dig??? 'Cause I already know it will fit on my equipment trailer even if not in my garage! We all know that no compact 7,500 pound machine is gonna compete head-to-head with a 15-18K Beast. But right now it's all about what I can tow... and, for better or worse, the JD110 is as good as it gets in a semi-affordable used machine.

Dougster