Newest arrival

[Robbie Hegwood]

Here's a few pics from a resent show. We had our 100 and the excavator is our newest addition. The RTV is my tractor dealership's I had them bring to it to compete with all the supped up golf carts. It's good we bought the 100 first because the excavator is a BAD BOY. Later Robbie

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Forgot this picture

 

[QwikDraw]

Lookin' good!

I was checking out those Brush Hounds...pretty handy tool. I was also checking out the Brown's Bronto....pricey but cool.

 

[Gamma]

Robbie,

What kind of show was that?

Can you say what the rates are for exhibiting?

Did you get any new business or good leads from the show?

Have you exhibited at any county fairs?

Rory

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

It was the anual Buck-a-rama. It's a buck deer hunting show. It's a good show for us because most everyone there knows what mulching tractors are. Saves alot of small talk. Most of the leads we get pan out down the road abit. But we usually meet a few contractors along the way as well. We enjoy doing the show and it's now kinda a tradition. It also let us feel out what direction we need to proceed.

The rates are 500.00 for 1 10 by 10 booth. We got a deal of 60' for 40' price. Still not cheap but I think its worth it.

There aren't many fairs local that would cater to businesses.

Robbie

 

[QwikDraw]

Robbie how about an EX33 for the 161?

torrenttechnical

 

[QwikDraw]

oops, I meant the EX26

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Ted.
My head can do what the link you sent can do. I do like the fact it has carbide teeth. I would like another head with carbides for maybe the 080. I really like the way the excavator mulches and its manuverability.

What size machine was the bronto for and what was the cost?

Robbie
After further review, that head is pretty cool. They have wider models on another page that have much better video. I talked with my salesman and said they were running FAE carbides on the 080 in California. But if the price is right the one you showed looks pretty tough. Do you have any idea of it's price?

 

[QwikDraw]

My dealer buddy has a really good deal on a used Volvo EC55 (12,000 lb) excavator right now...but I have too many things going right now to make the commitment. I still need to sell the Volvo skid steer but I think this great deal will be long gone. I have had a slow month so..no more purchases until things pick up. I’ve made a lot of good connections lately but no signed deals yet, seems like everyone is tightening up here…a lot of my contractor friends are saying the same thing.

 

[QwikDraw]

No pricing on either....never got that close.

I just found the Canadian site tonight...new to me.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

With your excavator background this route would right up your alley. It has really opened up some good business opertunities. Think, you can now mulch where you couldn't/shouldn't mulch previously. I like my 161, it's a good size and power and is all I can pull right now. Plus it's good on fuel and the visibility is unbeatable. Do you have any pricing on either the bronto otr the torro?

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Never mind, you posted before me. If I get the time I might find out the prices on both. The bronto might be the better choice for a little more locally made. I might call FAE also for there based here in Atlanta and have plan B,C,D, etc.

 

[QwikDraw]

I assume you are charging by the hour and not the acre for the excavator...I just missed a small job that the excavator would have worked perfect. I had to bid it high because of the slope and the rocks but with your machine you could have reached it from above and go around the rocks..
It's all in th future...I hope.

brownbronto

The skid steer model was @ $25,000, I assume the excavator is around that? maybe a little less???

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Yes by the hour. Its tons safer than our skids. You mulch your way down from the top so you see everything. Not like "bulldozing" your way through with the skid. I just did an embankment with alot of rock, very controllable. Id compare it to using an exacto knife verses a steak knife on a model. It's a very good package. I also did a back side of a dam and drainage ditch that was extremely wet and was easy. Just stop about 10' short and reach right out.

 

[QwikDraw]

Robbie,

What size does the flail take down? 4 inch? I just came across a possible opportunity and that excavator and head would be the solution. Of course I also found someone in need of a low ground pressure field mower and I was thinking the 84" Brush Hound might be the ticket for that... looking to expand but not sure which way to go. It does seem the excavator would have more use but the bigger price tag??

What do you think?

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Hey Ted. The head will mulch up to a 5" tree as it sits. While ordering a bolt to replace one a screwed up form the manu. he suggested a switch to a slightly different knife configuration that should increase cut cap to 6" material.
I love my excavator for the places it will go. It will go where our skid could only dream. But back to the original problem of price. The head is very reasonable...the tractor to run it isn't!!! But it's doubled our area we can now cover. We had a very specific use for the excavator and nothing else would do. I am eyeballing the new 080 if the demand for the excavator increases.
Now I have had a few times where a rotary cutter would be usful but you can pickup one of those for 5k or under to complement your 100.
I almost think if I had it to do over I would opt for the excavator only and let the others fight for the skid grinding business and/or sub that portion. With the excvator route being new and us having the only one in Ga. I like my odds for it. I also saw where supertrak has a medium sized excavator now with a smaller head. So that appears to be the new direction for mulching. Lets see if I can stay ahead of the game.
Robbie

 

[QwikDraw]

That sounds very impressive. I'd love to see it in action to get a better idea what it can do. Sounds like it has opened you up to a new market....a very good thing.
Today I met a guy with a 30K excavator and older (96) Brown's Bronto head, the flail type. I really wasn't too impressed with the speed but he has a new fixed tooth on order with a 140hp power pack that should be a beast. He eats up 65+ gallons of fuel per day, ouch.

Are you still thinking of a mulch head for the mini or are you happy with the flail?

Of course as soon as you buy something you always want the bigger one...or at least I do.

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

I talked at length with my head manu and even mentioned the fixed tooth for the 080. It just so happens he'd seen the 080 with the fixed tooth run and came up with the new knife sets and he said he could match the cap of the fixed tooth for half the money. With limited flow even on the 080 he feels and I agree the flail is best suited for them. The fixed tooth sucks up H.P. and would be hard on the smaller excavators. I've looked several times and can't find the actual speed my head runs, I'd say about 3000 rpm. On video you can't see the blades while it's running.
I like where we are right now and feel we can cover a pretty broad span of work with what we have now. If something comes up to big I have several contacts for those.
I have some video where trying to get burned to a cd and I'll send you a copy.
Another good thing about the excavators is the much better access in the engine compartment and related items. It's actually not a pain to work on. I've had a recent problem with water in my fuel drums and the fuel seperator is the first thing you see when you open up the engine hatch.
Oh ya. It will run about 8 hrs on 10-12 gal of fuel. That's a nice change...