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Cheers mate, I'll wait until its in use and get some pics. Then you can tell me how to put pics on here from my computer as I don't know how to do that either.

How do you do that?

Sorry matt, I didn't take camera with me yesterday and I won't take delivery until thursday next week, I've tried to paste the link from the autotrader website without much luck. Its on http://www.MHF.uk.com. Long drive yesterday left at 6.30am and got back at 9.15 last night, but at least it was productive, my mate came with me and he got an 18 tonne long reach excavator as well so not a bad day.

I've just bought a hooklift lorry to replace our U1500 mog and trailer. Its on the autotrader website at MHF. I was originally going to go for a 6x4 tipper and grab, but went for this as I can now change bodies from plant, bolster side or high side for carrying chip. Our Fortuna trailer for the mog is getting battered loading large sections of timber into it daily, but the triple dropsides are needed for carrying chip, at least now we can change bodies in minutes for that days job. This is on a 26 tonne 6x4 lorry with a 14t/pm PM crane all piped for grab and rotator so its fairly rare but will be spot on for what we want. I probably should of bought a 7.5 tonne hookloader instead of the tipper I eventually went for. We still move plant with it but have to drive it up saome sara ramps which is not so usefull. If I get another one it'll be a hookloader type for sure.

We ran one for three years towing a botex 11 tonne trailer with 560 crane. or winching. A bit underpowered when trailer is full but otherwise good tractors. Good turning circle, cheap -ish parts (40k & creep Box). Ours had 9500 hours and never really let us down. We did break the front wheels which were then changed for solid ones but otherwise a good bit of kit.

Good luck with bike vduben. Wr's are nice bikes, I raced a WR 250f 2 seasons ago, after getting sick of my KTM 450 getting stuck. and getting cripling arm pump. Now back to the 2 smokes, 'GasGas EC 200' they depreciate faster than a lead baloon but I absolutley love them. Done 16 races this year and it's never let me down, Hare and Hounds and timecard enduros, and one exreme enduro which is better off forgotton about. Get a few hours in on the trails and then have a go at racing its the best way way to spend a sunday afternoon.

I've had a 51 plate (older model) double cab for 3 years, it had 80k on the clock when I bought it, its now got 160k on it, spends mosts days towing chippers and stump grinders, been serviced once a year, got through 2 sets of tyres (cheap ones at that) and one set of brake pads, thats it. its a bit down on power now, it can legally tow 2.5 tonnes. I've recently bought a 54 plate navara, the newer shape, this is much better truck, only 45k on the clock di engine so loads more power (it can legally 3 tonne), but I have heard the same stories of the di engine going bang, but I did get an extended warranty with the option to extend if I want in june. I went for the last of the old shape rather than a new one as they are supposed to be terrible in most respects, poor economy, very unreliable.

Before anyone goes rushing into hiring a crane on CPA conditions or any form of 'hire only' agreement you should really check your insurance, especially 'hired in plant'. As if there is an accident and even the crane operator is at fault, on CPA condtitions its the hirer who will normally be held liable. I know it costs more but unless you are doing a very easy pick its better to go for 'contract lift' and leave the method statement, lift plan to their 'appionted person'. most larger clients will insist on it. I've found costs can vary from £300 for a 50 tonner 'CPA' to £1800 for the same crane and operator for a 'contract lift'. The latter was a sunday with the tree to be dismanlted in Durham train station in proximity to the station platform and overhead lines, alngside the public footpath, I gave them their money on that one as I didn't want any sleepless nights leading up to the job.

We had a tender invitation come through recently for some of their work, I decieded to leave alone as like pete said above, some of the catergories are pretty hard to put a figure on? I didn't knwo getting authorisation was that difficult so I think its probably best I didn't bother.

In yard for 7.30 and hopefully out by 7.45. If a we're travelling any distance its a 6.30 start.

Michael Gray Ex Sunderland and England Footballer (Arse) and Sir Bobby Robson (One of the nicest men I've ever met)

I've cut and stacked on big jobs before but you do need a grab to sort out and present the material to the chipper otherwise it just becomes one big birds nest of back breaking work. Better still get a chipper large enough to grab feed, I was feeding our 9" tracked jensen and schclielsing 440 on the mog last week without any real problems as long as your carefull and have someone with a saw to dress out as required,

Thats right! they're all my bitches lol

Most of my mates are pretty much the ones I employ, so technically have I bought them?

One of the most rewarding parts of running my company is employing people, I think its great. So I would'nt fancy going down that route, plus most of the staff are also good mates so I'd quickly be very unpopular.

I keep my prices consistant to ensure continuity, that way I get loads of repeat business, I also have a few contract which are on schedule of rates so the price remains pretty much the same for 3 or 5 years. I know where your coming from though, but I think we are probably charging more that enyone else in our area.

When I was an employed arborist straight out of college I wanted to do everything and be the best at everything, the best climber the best hi-ab operator the best stumpgrinder operator, the at dismantling etc. Now I run a tree company I want that company to be the best it can be. I want to be the best (manager if you like) I did not take to my post very well at first as I prefered to be out on site with the lads but once you realise what your role within the company is Ie to develop the compay and its staff, kit clients etc its a pretty exiting job. and I now love it. I agree with all the above posts about getting in the work before you splash out on gear. My rule is if I've got enough work for 3 lads i'll employ 2 and if have enough work for 6 I'll employ 4 and keep them busy. I'll hire kit as much as possible until my account tells me stop and but something I also spent a lot of time (and a lot of money) developing the quality side of the business to the point where like mentioned above I can sell the quality aspect to the cumstomer in return for better priced work. I admire anyone who resists expansion and keeps it to one team or even just themselves but I have had to grow to keep up with demand. I do have spent the last 2 days on site driving our big mog with the crane, as we are a little short staffed and it has been like a holiday, soaking wet both days but huge fun and an enjoyable change from writing method statements etc.

Staff PDQ's are carried out in october every year, so that will be a seperate discussion / negotiation with each member of staff.

I've seen and received various different bonuses, some monthly production related where whatever the company makes over and obove its normal monthly turnover the staff each receive a share of the profit, on a sliding scale. Another attendance bonus where if you turn up on time and complete your paperwork etc you'll receive a bonus. Now I'm an employer I prefer to give a good wage and treat staff with respect with no bonus scheme at all. That said we did give everyone double wages at the end of the financial year as a reward because we'd had very good year.

Cool vid, I miss working in Scotland sometimes.

Hi Rich We're based in Peterlee but work all over the North East (and further). We do a lot of work for Boro and Stockton Council.

Yorkshireman Do they need consistant size, or do they take chip from arb style chippers. Cheers,

The loads were going to a landscaper in Tow law, we did a site clearance job in Allensford and were moving the chip off site. (All 40 tonne of it)

Thats a fantastic piece of work mate, so mush detail on asuch a large piece, are they all carved from a single section of timber? Incidentally I drove past you on tuesday on the A68 in our mog. Let me know what timber your after and see if I can sort some out. I have a couple of pallets of Yew cord and one full of cherry burrs and stuff, but its only small diamter, about 10 - 14".

I don't think so mate, I've been dealing with Charlie since he first contacted me, I run Premier Tree Services in the North East