OP
cbturf
Gold Member
Robbie,
I have pondered just about everything thing you can think of. Heres what I know I want: ( I am sure there is more I just don't know it yet)
1. I must have at least one machine on tracks, did you see the snow pictures I posted. Terrain out here and rain at home dictates that I have tracks on something.
2. I want dependable durable machines, repairs really cost you double not just the actual cost of the repair but the time spent not running. These machines canearn a lot of money and if they aint turnin they aint earnin.
3. I only want a max of two machines. Right now only my father an I run my machines, since there are only two operators and no non owner employees our liability insurance for $1M is only $1,100 per year. I think it is very important to control costs every chance you get.
4. Portability I want to stick below 40,000lbs so that I can move the machine without a tractor trailer. If you have to hire an equipment moving firm every time you re-mob. you are losing control of costs again. If the machine is under 40k lbs you can get a tag along and pull it behind a dump truck. Tires are better than tracks here since you can drive off in the road if space gets tight. As you know they usually are tight since the job requires a land clearing machine.
5. Low maintenance, this goes back to bullet point no. 2 a little bit but I am thinking more about wear items. All machines need greased every day but how long does that operation take. If you work till dark then it takes an hour to get her ready for the next day you don't get home till 10 the kids are asleep and you miss them. Then the other wear items tike tires over tracks. I don't know how long tires last but we had a Cat skidder and I know how much they cost. We paid $2,000 for used tires off a skidder that caught on fire new ones are over $3,000 each. Cuts and tears happen no matter how careful you are. Tracks are good for 5-6000 hours even if you don't care what you do to them. Other things are items like pins and bushings air filters and routine preventative maintenance intervals.
This was a long anser to a short question but maybe I helped a few of the guys are are growing to consider a few things that may have slipped thier minds.
This was to long to proof read and correct my usual typing errors but I hope you get my point! There is way to much for my little mind to ponder but I try for a while then usually jump in (head first most of the time) and hope I though of most of the important details.
I have pondered just about everything thing you can think of. Heres what I know I want: ( I am sure there is more I just don't know it yet)
1. I must have at least one machine on tracks, did you see the snow pictures I posted. Terrain out here and rain at home dictates that I have tracks on something.
2. I want dependable durable machines, repairs really cost you double not just the actual cost of the repair but the time spent not running. These machines canearn a lot of money and if they aint turnin they aint earnin.
3. I only want a max of two machines. Right now only my father an I run my machines, since there are only two operators and no non owner employees our liability insurance for $1M is only $1,100 per year. I think it is very important to control costs every chance you get.
4. Portability I want to stick below 40,000lbs so that I can move the machine without a tractor trailer. If you have to hire an equipment moving firm every time you re-mob. you are losing control of costs again. If the machine is under 40k lbs you can get a tag along and pull it behind a dump truck. Tires are better than tracks here since you can drive off in the road if space gets tight. As you know they usually are tight since the job requires a land clearing machine.
5. Low maintenance, this goes back to bullet point no. 2 a little bit but I am thinking more about wear items. All machines need greased every day but how long does that operation take. If you work till dark then it takes an hour to get her ready for the next day you don't get home till 10 the kids are asleep and you miss them. Then the other wear items tike tires over tracks. I don't know how long tires last but we had a Cat skidder and I know how much they cost. We paid $2,000 for used tires off a skidder that caught on fire new ones are over $3,000 each. Cuts and tears happen no matter how careful you are. Tracks are good for 5-6000 hours even if you don't care what you do to them. Other things are items like pins and bushings air filters and routine preventative maintenance intervals.
This was a long anser to a short question but maybe I helped a few of the guys are are growing to consider a few things that may have slipped thier minds.
This was to long to proof read and correct my usual typing errors but I hope you get my point! There is way to much for my little mind to ponder but I try for a while then usually jump in (head first most of the time) and hope I though of most of the important details.
Thanks for posting those pics and good luck operating that beast and may your operating skills grow expotentialy ! 
