Renting equipment

RobS · Jan 30, 2002

I've already got my vantage point established for a series of shots throughout construction. Of course, I'll take plenty of others and I'll be sure to share the best /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thomas · Jan 30, 2002

If your planing to rent please do read the fine print.I thought about renting a Case 500 dozer for little stumping and grading,but after reading the deliver&pickup charges,insurance,etc..for 2 days plus the weather to consider also not being all that good w/a dozer,it was way cheaper..better job done by hiring the job out.Don't forget dozer can get stuck,and if they do its extra time and $$$.

Robert_in_NY · Jan 30, 2002

Also clean the machine, especially tracked machines otherwise the rental company will charge you for this. It only takes a little while and if you have a pressure washer it is easy to clean the tracks.

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 30, 2002

Thanks for the pointers, folks. I think I can do what I need to do this Spring with my 4300, but if not then I'll be faced with the rent or hire operator option. A big hill of nice top soil, pushed back down into the garden. I have a front blade on the JD4300, and a dirt scoop. The only problem might be that in the time since the soil was pushed into the hill, small trees and brush have grown in the nice soil. I'm not sure whether to pull this junk out first with chains, or just push them down with the blade. Maybe the tractor can't even do it.. I have so little time with this machine (especially given the lack of snow to push) that I'm not sure what its capabilities really are. My guess is that I can do it with the 4300, and have a lot of fun in the process. But I can imagine needing a dozer to do it. I just don't know yet. I guess I'll find out the fun way! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thanks for explaining how the rental process normally works.

I did hire a guy with a dozer for one job, and man.. this guy was good! He could dig a deep hole, drive out one side of it, pivot 90 degrees at the top of the hole, and do all of this effortlessly. He was great. I probably saved a lot of money by having him do this job. But this hill shouldn't require a lot of skill, just a lot of pushing power and traction.

I'll hopefully have a camera by then! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Anonymous Poster · Feb 3, 2002

BOB, this is very true that they just drop it off and give you the keys. I had never even run a tractor in my life and they didnt even ask. The first dozer was a D4 cat which I soon replaced with a D9, I cleared and logged my place with minimal problems. It is very fun! I started to feel like superman plowing over anything in my path, go slow at first because you will plow over anything in your path. I would recommend others doing their own because you can do the job you want done, my neighbor was very dissapointed in the job the proffesionals did because they didnt want to take the time. I do not want to put down anyone so dont take it wrong , my job took longer but was cheaper and better quality. Just my non proffesional opinion.

Jeff396 · Feb 3, 2002

<font color=blue>my job took longer but was cheaper and better quality</font color=blue>

Unfortunately this seems to be true more often than not. I wouldn't mind so much paying the Buck if the quality was superior to my own./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

Jeff

Jag · Feb 4, 2002

Jeff396, time or money that is the question. Whether tis nobeler to spend the first or the last of these two most precious commidities.. One needs only ask himself which is most precious at the moment....

I have found when start big project like putting up a new barn, I am either out of work with plenty of time to start building, and no money for materials, or working my tail off with plenty of money for supplies and no time to get started. So you either start something and get by with materials on hand or buy the material and let it sit around and get started later... Either way it takes a long time getting the project complete.