Pictures from the last 2 weeks

[QwikDraw]

I'm pretty good with care for my machines. I power wash them between every job and on the weekends.

How about you, is work good down there? Are you full time now? I read you work for Coke, is that right? I used to deliver for Poland Spring.

Ted

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

I just bought a pressure washer for cleaning as well. These tractors are pretty easy to maint. from day to day. Shoot some grease and check for debri and your good.

God is great!! Work is good!! We haven't gone full time yet but getting close. We have a few things we would like to accomplish before mulching fulltime. My father-in-law is working with me and helping me keep up with things for now. He wants to drive the tractor, I don't know about that. Atleast if I tear it up I can only blame myself. If we get another tractor he's the driver for sure. We'll see.

No I work for Kroger's distribution center. I do industrial refrigeration here. we get paid to keep it cold. But nights are wearing on me and my family. I took last week off from both jobs and it would be nice to be mulching fulltime. We intially said we would do both for 1 year and see where we were. That would be May first.

Unfortunately I started into mulching only and do not have the "dirt work and background" to fill in between mulching jobs if it gets slow. To many people doing "bobcat" work around here and will lowball the crap out of ya. They can have that.

I just need to have more faith and get busy doing God's work and go mulching fulltime and never look back!!!!

And talk about this business getting popular. At my tractor place today they said they sold 4 RC-100 with forestry packages last month. I better do my job and stay ahead of the game.

Robbie

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

Fellas, Hope its ok to chime-in on this..

I too work a full time job outside of tractor related stuff...Hard to juggle both the tractor biz and regular jobby...I run the CAT on weekends and tend to pick and choose what and where Ill do it..I started in dirt work with the 72" bucket doing rough and fine grades for 2 new home builders...its ok work but frustrating when you are working in a subdivision where the streets and lots are PACKED full of plumbers,roofers,framers,electricians,etc who park everywhere you need to be doing grading..pallets full of pavers and lumber scattered evrywhere and the Gen Contractor wants it all done yesterday.....Everybody trying to make there jack $$ all at once in these booming neighborhoods...

1 year ago I left my trade (MAZDA Master Tech)to give this tractor dream a go....Its been rocky- 2 months after I got started I broke my ankle in 2 places on the dirt bike ..Just getting established making contacts and connections and poof...I'm in a cast for 6 months...Wife was pregnant and by the time I was able to walk again i had to park the tractor and fall back on my trade/skill...Needed that consistant paycheck with the new baby here...

Ive been easing back into it weekends (also hard on family life)picked up a root rake/grapple and work the heck out of that and the final bang will be this mulcher...They can have all the grade work like robbie said low balling ya to death !! I truly admire you guys doing the mulching thing keep at it your already so far ahead of the pack.Seems like my kinda work without all the hustle and bustle of 25 different subcontractors working all over you...Get in the zone , listening to the machine, and clean cut whatever the customer wants done and feel good about it when you leave the site. I cant tell you how many times I do a grade and wont even have the ramps up on the trailer before some clown drives right up on the lot with his panel van and extension ladders and rut everything up ....

So- with that long story ..I maintain my occ licencse, Gen liabilty Insurance, Got my CDL class A, and drool everytime I see a rubber track loader going down the road..lol...Ahh to be your own boss-someday Ill be there FULLTIME.

Scott-

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

I am blessed by many facts. But my story is neat for a year ago we had the idea to start our business. I told my wife my idea and she said she didn't know what to tell me exactly. She said pray about it and see what happens.

Within two weeks my work decided they needed a night shift person since the place is open 24/7. They thought it was funny to say I was I was unvoluntary
picked as the one with lowest siniority with 9 years. I didn't fight it and they couldn't figure out why. Devine intervention. You can't do two jobs at the same time (during the days atleast). So now I was free to persue our business dream during the day. I work from 7 pm till 330 am sunday night thru thurs night.

Within 2 weeks we had the tractor/trailer/truck and were insured and liscensed. So one day my wife and I stopped by work and just happened to have the tractor with us. The look on there faces was priceless. A few of my coworkers kinda knew but none of the bosses. Only one showed out alittle.

They know it's a matter of time and my boss told me to give as much notice as possible. I think I need to call him!!

If I were a single guy this would be a dream oportunity. You could almost have someone run the tractor for you and still make money.

Terra the only caution I give you is it would be near impossible to do enough work to make money with a mulching head working only on the weekends. The overhead for mulchers is mind boggling. A few numbers

1. A set of carbide teeth 2k plus
2. A set of timberax blades 1300.00
3. these tractors burn between 4-5 gals. an hour, even offroad diesel is 2.40
4. Hyd hoses to the head not covered under warranty about 400.00
5. Truck pulling said tractor 10mpg at best
6. Insurance

The lady that does some office work for us asked if the figures were right. Couldn't believe the cost!!

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

Robbie,
absolutely agree that weekends only would not cut the mustard.That is the current state I am in. Going back to the wrench is a crutch at this point..My plan is to get away from wrenching (15 years).When I left my trade/skill last year (also due to managerial-owner related situations) I also saw the same jaw dropping- boy was that priceless Boss and I disagreed a few times too many and I said Bye..2 weeks went bye and my property finally sold and I said "NOW" is the time for me to purchase this equipment.4 weeks later found myself with the CAT ,Trailer and Truck....So its been a real rollercoaster of events and would like to get back to where I believe could be a good thing..

If getting the smaller head can get me started slowly(learning curve) and get back to bigger jobs maybe get that 100 hp package down the road and keep the smaller one as backup or hire a helper...I too have a supportive wife that understands my objective ..Even though she has the puzzled look from time to time.lol..

Scott

 

[Robbie Hegwood]

Keeping your smaller tractor is a very good idea. If you bought a timberax for your cat, then a carbide head for the big boy, that would be the ideal setup. That's what I'm going for just with two 100's or a 100 and a 130's hp machine. You will be amazed at the uses you will find for your smaller machine when you start running a bigger one. I have grapple and I sometimes use to cleanup after running the timberax and then mulch the piles. It's proved to be faster that way. That would be a great fit for your cat. Put a helper in it and have him go behind your iniatial pass and when you return mulch the piles on your way out. We use a farm tractor with a landscape rake now and it works well. My father-in-law cleansup tight around trees and make piles as I move on and were done, neat and gone sooner. These machines will break down and a backup is a great idea.

My wife's support has been awsome. SHE knows more about mulchers than some salesmen. Plus there viewpoint is usually 180 degress from ours and comes in handy. She's also a good reality check for some of my crazier ideas. It also helps her feelings because she owns the company! i'm just the operator!

 

[QwikDraw]

You know guys, I can make the machine/head payment in a day or two. One more day and i have the expenses paid. If you have another set income, this is what I figured to pay for the equipment, after that you could make some money. I went through this with a friend who was trying to talk me out of this business when I was thinking part time.

I do spend.

fuel - $100 a day (off Rd is $3.59 here)

$7 per hour for tooth replcement cost add some for a broken tooth($60 for Fecon)
$10 per hour for track wear (this may be high but a safe #)
$150 is the number I use for those two for an 8 hr day.

Machine maintenance(oil changes, filters, hoses, grease) $50 (??)
Ttruck/trailer costs (fuel, reg and ins + maintenance/tires) $50 a day(??)

That's before insurance, property taxes, advertising, business card and the phone bill.

So what's that about $350 a day to show up at a job when you are running, of course when the machine is sitting the cost is much less per day.
I don't think part time is a bad option until the work load is there for full time.

I do see more companies getting these machines here too. I am not sure if it will hurt or help. Most landowners around here don't know these even exsist and some exposure, even by other companies might help.
Ted

 

[MarEng]

Several guys have mentioned renting mulchers. I have yet to find any place locally (East Texas) that rents mulchers/skid steers. I usually rent from Mustang CAT - Dozers. I'm not looking to get into the business but have a ton of fenceline to clear and some other touch up work to do. Hiring somebody might be just as cost effective but will require a lot of upfront work on my part - besides I'd love to drive one for a while.

Any suggestions on where to rent? Who do you rent from?

 

[Terra Firma Scott]

I'm located in North Florida so I couldnt help ya on where to rent. I however rented a CAT 287b XPS High Flow with Cats version HM312 of a carbide mulcher. they will deliver for a FEE..Machine rented for 600 and the mulcher was 350 i think per day and the longer you rent it the cheaper it gets usually.
good luck-