Theocus

Thanks Tony, your compliment is much appreciated. As for the cost of becoming AA approved, we were recomended by our local tree officer and eventually got our assessment for free. The AA run this scheme constantly so if your already working to a high standard and on friendly terms with the local TO, get them to reccomend you and you never know.

Actually becoming AA approved isnt as hard as people make out, and its not really a club as people speak of. If your already thinking how do we make this safer, could i do it a different way, is this best practice and also open to new ideas and constantly pushing to be the best you can be then it not a hard step to take. Yes there are forms to fill out but they are not extensive or that confusing. It just takes good time managment and a bit of preparation. AS for the tree work aspect of it, if you are already pruning and working to industry standards and expectations then it should be an easy step. As for the stickers and showing it off the the domestic markets then it will only impress a few. I have explained to our clients what it means and they appreciate that it shows commitment to try and provide them with the best services and tree care that is expected from the industry. In larger companies this sometimes does not filter through but in smaller ones it does. My experience of becoming AA has definetly allowed me to persue contracts and win even when i have been more expensive than non AA companies becvause of our mind set and commitment etc. We get good support from the AA, and upto date info literally every day. For a small amount of effort and i agree not everyone is in the mind set to meet the standards and seriously test their company but the results from it are rewarding. I used to think it was a club and a fad but i get bored of just working and i need to push my business and myself. I have never found it to be a restriction on adaptation to changes and would be the first to tell the AA if it was.

To become an AA approved contractor requires a high standard of work practice, high standards and knowledge not to mention total compliance with industry best practice and HSE. Some people do some people dont.

You can also (not trying to teach anyone to suck eggs here) set the location of your advertising to a geographic area. Use googles keyword finder to see how terms are searched and also remember that it is no longer just one word but can be a sentence, ie "looking for stump grinding in John o groats"! They should work but again depends on how you want to spend the money. Make it catchy and have a website that keeps people there and want to use you. (dont look at mine, its being changed!). Use analytics and as Scraggs said, keep a track on the clicks, are they organic or coming from a regular ip address. I spent £10 last month advertising only locally and got a good amount of work from it. Its tricky, needs plenty of tweeking but can work well.

They are not cheap thats for sure, i did a trade in off a Binderberger saw in the deal so i am not too sure. Give Allan a call and ask.

Try either the Dalen 2052 or the 2054, i have the 2052 and its awesome. No belts to muck about with, no funny loading systems, just strong construction, powerful hydraulics and can take 20" pieces of wood. If your in gloucestershire and want to try our then feel free! Try Marshall engineering

Its could be a future that i have not seen yet!!!! excellent! Didnt think about the Rayco to be honest, will make a few calls and see what happens.

Well, so far i have tried the Vermeer SC252, The Predator 38x and a Carlton 4012. The new little Bandit is still to come, hopefully over the next week or so. Each one has had good and not so good aspects to each machine, i think if i could pick and mix a part or two off each there could be a great machine to be had!!! I had though forgotten the camera for the last two machines but hopefully get a vid of the bandit working when it comes!

not me by the way, borrowed from another site with more equally impressive images.

Not me but try a John Hartland in corselawn, 01684 275859 OR 07811 340975 He may be able to help. I have a skid steer and a Riko trailer but its small fry compared to Johns Valtra!

I couldnt find another thread to stick this picture in but i am sure there must be one, Found this pic and though i would share.

The FSI D30/470 is a very different looking machine, interesting though.

Not a forwarder but i know a man with a shiney valtra and a botex 570tl trailer. if thats of any use to you.

I run the Multi tip on my little predator and i reckon the 252 would be great with that system. The teeth on Vermeers machine were not brand new but not blunt by any means. that yew stump was rock hard and it was definitely easier than swinging a pedestrian one about. I was impressed. Other ones now to try are: Bandit 2250 Predator 28/38m Carlton 4012 NP

We had a demo of this machine today. We had made it a little tricky with a muddy slope and a very cold and hard Yew stump to remove. I think for a little 27hp machine it did a good job. The autosweep system works very well reducing the head speed dependant on the pressure and resistance at the cutting wheel. Overall not a bad machine and only weighs 470kg. Thought i would share. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVSSc9VBUHg]Vermeer Sc252, Demo by Paul Doyle - YouTube[/ame]

I have tried the Bandit and it is a good grinder, its heavy but being able to pivot without moving the wheels is a great advantage. I have the Predator 450 with the multitip head and can fault it, it should tick all the box's you need, its 25hp, cheap enough, fits 99% of places and thin enough for every gate i have found. Give them both a go, Dean at Global will sort you out a demo on the bandit then you can make your own mind up.

Ive got this welder from R Tech Welding in Gloucestershire. i havent bought the accessory but you can get a dedicated ally welding spool for my mig. These guys are really really good with welding kit and worth a call also. here is a link to my welder and the spool, might get one just to try out! MIG Welder | 240v Industrial Inverter MIG Welding Equipment I-MIG160

do a few youtube searches for firewood processors and you will find the answer there. Its all to do with how much you want to spend and how much of your business firewood is?

You really could sell sandwiches out the side of that thing!!! Just need an annoying siren now that lets people know youve arrived!!! Here is a couple of landies ive seen but still reckon they are let down by carrying space as standard. Nene Overland 4x4 Land Rover Defender 110 new and used for sale Nene Overland 4x4 Land Rover Defender 110 new and used for sale

Think i might borrow one from the local dealer and try loading it on a test drive!!! Rangers look nice but i would cry if i scratched a new one!

I currently have a d22 which is brilliant, great engine, good off road and more importantly will hold a log bag in the bag and my predator stump grinder also it passes what i call the MS880 test. This means being able to get my 880 in the back with a 36 inch bar on. Now the question i have is, will a double cab defender pass these tests? Regardless of the other differentiating attributes it may have, i need to know if i has the room in the back . My wife prefers the defenders over my navara (horsey girl!), but if it doesnt carry the kit then i will not look any further! I have a sneaky suspician that it will not looking at pictures.

I destroyed 3 pairs within months of each other but i did not wear the braces and only used a belt. I now have a pair of gladiator 2 which came with braces. These have not gone nor do they shoy signs of doing so. If they sit too low on your hips you will rip the crotch out. Get some braces on them and that will help the issue. This was also the case on my, hi flex, oregon grey things, stihl xfit and a pair of sips, crotchs blew out on all of them.

Ive had one day this year, was an 80 bird day, we shot 107 and i shot 5 birds which i considered to be sporting!!! the other guns were murdering so and so's!!!! lol No more days for me!

Here is my old girl. Could not be without it to be honest, not that i am lazy and wont climb but for roadside crown lifts for local estates, big hedges, take downs and as you can see pruning the very tips back on a Cedar so people can see the church on there way in!!! Brilliant machine, but out shown by the tracked machines we sometimes hire.

Its good to see Vermeer being a little more social media pro active, i did mention it to Mr Doyle once upon a time but i think the idea put the fear into him!!!