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Benarb

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Posts posted by Benarb

  1. Hi, Just after some advice from mog owners.

     

    We are thinking about buying a mog soon and just wanted to ask a few questions to owners on positives and negatives of them. We are on a farm so would come in handy for this now and again alongside our tree work. 

     

    positives - Has it helped you to win larger jobs, get additional work with other firms, upped efficiency on the bigger jobs? larger capacity pto chippers cheaper than buying an equivalent bandit for example.

     

    negatives? running costs, sat round not doing alot?

     

    Which size mog has a decent capacity and enough power to run equipment and tow? Which mog to avoid?

     

    Thanks!!

  2. On 18/04/2021 at 09:23, swinny said:

    Any of you lot running a different wheel on yours? Was thinking about a wheel set up for green teeth but I highly rate the viewer yellow jackets

     

    I'd only have a budget of 10-12k ISH so would be looking second hand. Do the dealer's keep used stock and advertise on the internet? 

     

     

    I used to run a 28rx with green teeth and it was good but they're are so big and clumsy. Also would advise against buying second hand, i did and was forever checking it over or replacing bits on it. We now run the bandit sg-40 and much prefer it.

     

    lighter, good on fuel, quiet compared to the diesel 28. Specs of the machine are a little less than the predator, cutting depth etc but if its mainly domestic work you're doing i would advise looking at it!

  3. Currently looking for a climber and groundie full time to help with our on going work load.

    Full time positions available but would also consider part time 

     

    NPTC qualifications required for specific roles but also willing to aid with getting tickets. Tend to start at 7:30 am from our yard and usually finished 3:30pm. Majority of work in South Bucks but also cover Rickmansworth, Watford etc

     

    All nice domestic work, tend to stay on 1 job a day and not trying to rush round 6 small jobs a day. Easy going enviroment with a good atmosphere and up to date equipment.

     

    Pay dependant on experience and tickets. Looking for honest, reliable staff that have a passion for tree work! Currently positions are on a self employed basis.

     

    Contact on here or via 07841620442.

     

    Thanks, Ben.

  4. On 03/03/2021 at 22:59, Clutchy said:

    The first question has to be, are you consistently averaging a very profitable daily figure for your current gang/set up. If you're averaging say £1k + VAT per day, can you increase that to £1.5k + VAT by losing more quotes and winning fewer but much more profitable jobs?

     

    If the answer is 100% no, we simply cannot make more a day than what we currently do then I suppose the choice is, stress or more money! 

     

    I thought £1.5k a day was the max, this year is to try and consistently hit £2k + VAT per day for a 3/4 man gang and then and only then will we consider expanding to another gang.

     

    That extra £3-400 profit a day can go directly into your pocket, having another gang is unlikely to be as directly profitable without being a lot more effort/time consuming. 

     

    Honestly this business/industry really doesn't feel like something that will ever make you very well off without being Gristwood and Toms size! We treat our tree company as a good way to generate profit say 10-15k a month which we then set aside for other ventures.

     

    The stress to financial reward ratio in tree work really doesn't feel worth it IMO.

    If you're averaging 1.5k plus VAT a day i'm assuming that the majority of those days you're trying to cram several jobs in a day and not just pricing a days work at 1.5 plus vat on a 1 day job?

  5. 19 hours ago, Khriss said:

    Historically bomb proof design. Like Bandits. Check the usual, oil change, rotor bearings and any electrikery they now fit. K

    Thanks Khriss, just heard mixed reviews from the electronic side of things! 

  6. Potentially looking at a Vermeer BC200 xl this week and wondered if anyone had any experience with them or vermeer chippers in general? build quality, reliability etc

     

    Cant find a great deal online, 8" capacity, 1.4t and that's about it. They have bring out a newer model in the BC200 that looks good.

     

    Any info appreciated!

  7. Currently looking for a competent climber to help with work load and jump on bigger jobs to ease work load when required.

     

    NPTC qualifications CS 30, 31, 38, and 39 required. Start at 7:30 am from our yard and usually finished 3:30pm. Majority of work in South Bucks but also cover Rickmansworth, Watford etc

     

    All nice domestic work, tend to stay on 1 job a day and not trying to rush round 6 small jobs a day. Good bunch of lads to work with, good atmosphere and up to date equipment.

     

    Contact on here or via 07841620442.

     

     

  8. 7 hours ago, Johny Walker said:

    poss just try & invest in some machinery that can get you on ,mini diggers with grabs on & my grain trailer with crane on are my best 2, investment behind buying my yard ,iv done some big site jobs with just 2, men & a 2.5t digger 

    every body differant what suites 1 doasant suite another , do your own thing 👍

    I agree with this but the majority of the work we're doing is domestic so the diggers wouldn't be effective and grain trailer a bit overkill. The avant tends to cover most of the jobs where we have access to the back garden even if its just bringing the brash/timber to the gate to shorten the drag, saves alot of time and back ache.

     

    Think i'm best waiting a few months and investing in my boys and getting them competent in climbing/rigging then building from there with additional groundsman. In the mean time ill price the work i want and keep an eye out for a larger capacity chipper.

     

    I've only been in the tree game just over a year and going at 100mph so will just hold tight a while and see what the repercussions of covid are before going any bigger and going balls deep with mog, merlo, bandit... Ha.

     

    Appreciate all the feedback, defiantly food for thought! 

    • Like 1
  9. 21 hours ago, Stere said:

    Could have both working at same time on a bigger job?

    Yes would be the plan, would turn 2 day jobs with 3 men into 1. Would definitely up efficiency.

     

    16 hours ago, Con said:

    I think it all hinges on whether you can get the right people.  I've had some cracking fellas work for me (when you're there). Go and take some chip to tip off and nothing seems to get done 🤔

    Be interesting to see how it goes. 

    Yes will take a while to to find the right people!

  10. 35 minutes ago, Dan Maynard said:

    I'd upgrade the TW150, but keep it as a second chipper. Then try finding one more staff member, maybe subby and run two teams some days and see how it goes. Some days a team of four is great. If it's going well then add staff, you have the major equipment already.

    I think in a way the question is one we can't answer, with bigger firm you have more logistics, equipment maintenance, extra paperwork, talking to more customers, etc etc.

    This is either enjoyable and a welcome break for your aching body - or a load more hassle when you'd rather be in a tree.

    I'd probably get another 150 in all honesty. Cheap to buy, easy to fix/service yourself, covers 90% of domestic work and can get most parts next day. Saves spending out on a more expensive new machine or having monthly payments.

     

    But agree with running another subbie and being able to rest from climbing.

  11. 10 minutes ago, skyhuck said:

    I went down this road some years ago. In my experience good staff will soon leave to run their own show, why wouldn't they? So you end up with the dross, who just cause headaches and seem to think they are doing you a favour just turning up.

    That's the problem and 100% fair enough starting their own gig. Currently the team we have is brilliant my brother and a school friend. Both 110% reliable, trustworthy and brilliant with customers. Ideal situation would be myself running 1 team and brother the other so i know that the standard of work is being kept high!

     

    5 minutes ago, 5 shires said:

    I have the same problem at the moment but I won’t deviate from my pricing structure they either say yes to the quotation or they get someone else...as for trying to keep up with work it’s a fine balance..i’am at an age now we’re I don’t want the hassle of employing guys even stubbies so what I have done is a good friend of mine who is a lot younger then me and does a lot of site contract work has 3 lads on the books and another 4 subbies Tuesdays and Fridays so on the bigger jobs I quote for i price accordingly as per guys and equipment needed(we have agreed a day rate for which ever scenario occurs as cost per man/equipment needed and if I get the work I book it in either for a Tuesday or Friday if needed and any other days if slightly smaller jobs and like you say at the moment it’s at least a 3/4 week Waite at moment which obviously means going into nesting season which a Joe public either don’t understand or care this can become an issue in a lot of circumstances.i make good money on all my jobs without 90% of thr hassle,think it’s called work smart and not stupid and don’t be greedy,I know what I need per day/job to cover everything and I make more then enough so my advice to you would be just get a subbie gang in and agree a daily rate for what you need,Price your jobs so you know we’re you are and skim your % of that.its working for me and it means I don’t need to turn work away as I can concentrate on the smaller take downs,felling,hedge Work,Overhanging branches etc etc knowing on the bigger jobs I got it coverd and the man power to deal with it,it also means i’am helping my buddy out by finding work and keep his lads going so it’s a win win for both.

    Exactly what i was thinking of doing, finding a 2/3 man team that want extra work or can jump on bigger jobs with us. Only problem is most of them think they're worth £1200 a day. It's just like finding good staff, few and far between.

  12. 5 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:


     Interesting post.

    What equipment are you running atm?

    2 transits, 1 ranger tipper, tipping trailer, tw 150, bandit sg40 and avant 4 series. Would like to think with 1 more chipper and booking jobs in correctly the equipment will cover 2 teams.

     

    5 minutes ago, Stubby said:

    How can you run 3-4 weeks ahead ? Do you do jobs before they come in ?

    Booked 3-4 weeks in advance 😴

    • Like 1
  13. As per title thinking about putting another 2/3 man team together to keep up with work coming in and just wondered on peoples experiences with this.

     

    We're currently a 3 man team and tend to run around 3-4 weeks ahead of ourselves and find people don't want to wait longer than this so we either lose the work or i just don't quote smaller jobs that i know we wont get round to or want to do, fruit trees, small hedging jobs, overhanging branches etc. I know all these jobs add up but we never seem to get a day/afternoon free to get through the little jobs that come in.

     

    We do spend a fair bit on advertising to ensure the work is there and get enough enquiries to cover 2 teams, would just need to be more competitive on the pricing to win more of the work and not price what we want and over price what we don't.

     

    So the question is, is it worth the hassle? finding decent staff that are reliable, polite and most importantly do a good job etc. Extra kit, chipper, saws, climbing, rigging kit, uniform, ppe.

     

    All opinions welcome!

     

     

  14. Hi guys/girls,

     

    -As per title, Bandit sg-40 for operated hire. Stumps can be done on a day rate or per stump, guards always used, can bring boards to protect customers lawn also.

    -Avant 420 with KLOU log grab. Just over a metre wide so brilliant for the larger domestic jobs, lifts around 350-400kg with the grab fitted. Really speeds jobs up saving ringing up and dragging brash to the chipper. We also have around 80 - 86m of boarding to protect lawns.

     

    Will be operated by myself or one of the boys, all very polite and well presented. Any questions drop me a message or text/call 07841620442

     

    Thanks, Ben.

  15. hi,

     

     Just wondered what people are using for ground protection from avants, tracked grinders etc. Don't really want to use ply and have to replace soon.

     

    Have seen 9mm stokboards that look okay but may be a bit flexible? Any recommendations would be great! would need to be over 4 foot wide as don't want to be within a few mm each side of the machine.

     

    thanks.

  16. hello mate, these aren't to bad of a job. passenger side is a bit more of a fiddle than the drivers from memory, used to get them done in 3/4 hours. if you can get your hands on an electric ratchet it will save you hours! you can get away with leaving the front timing cover on and just releasing the area of the rocker cover but it is a bit of squeeze.

     

    Injectors don't normally seize up on those so should be okay, will just need a bit of levering. i would get some new injector bolts though as they're stretch bolts so one use only and only tighten up to 8/10NM from memory.

     

    good luck, just remember to check nothing has dropped in the head before fitting new gasket and that the new gasket is sat flat!

  17. Looking to buy an msa 161 T soon and wondered if anyone knew if there will be a new model soon? Seems to have been out for a while and with husqvarna putting new ones out didn't know if stihl will also!

     

    Don't want to buy the 161 to have a newer version out in a month or two! 

     

    Any feedback on the electric top handle saws appreciated!

     

    Thanks.

  18. Just now, Ian C said:

     


    The D4 were 3lt not 2.7 but they still have crank issues, seems to be look of the draw which is a shame as they look so good and perform v well, they just ain’t reliable as a second hand car.

     

    You can get some very early d4's with the 2.7 and i believe they changed the oil pump to try and rectify the crank issue on the later 3l But yes they definitely still go bang! 

    • Like 1

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