best time/back saving equipment???

[soutz]

Hey guys been in biz a while now always looking to save time and energy and make the job that little bit easier through better ways of doing the job. Whats been your best peice of equipment that you have bought as a business owner as far as labor saving and money making?

 

[xander9727]

Skid steers and alturna mats. I have a Gehl 6640 hi-flo and a thomas t85. I have 28 alturna mats and I have been able to double my production and reduce my required labor force by 2 persons. Machines don't show up late or have fights with their girlfriends.

 

[JohN Dee]

The best thing to start off with would probably be either a Hiab Truck mounted or a Kanga. Then gradually work your way upto xander9727's level

 

[JayD]

Hi,
The way I see it every piece of equipment you have correctly used is a back saver,we acquire more tools/toys as we go trying not bust our budget you start with the basics and build on that an its supposed to easier as go,just choose wisely...our best time saver...arguably would be our chipper,next our big saws so we can slice and dice the big stuff..but there always seem to more toys to buy..you know really all of our gear saves time and your back..its a good question really That can be answered in so many different ways.

 

[CoreyTMorine]

MS200T, 38 foot ladder, being able to get the chipper to the brush either via a 4wd truck or skidstear and alturna mats. I use a kubota 3130 with hybrid/turf tires and a morbark twister 12. I can get right into the backyard with no matts and easy to fix turf damage. They each run about 25,000 USD. The tractor is as good as 4 brush draggers, and i can move the real heavy wood out roadside for the log truck.
But i have to say ive made alot more money with the ladder and ms200.

 

[soutz]

Thanks for the great replies. we specialise in small space work and our gear represents this good chipper with floatation tires,hsky stumpgrinder,hsky saws small to very large, heaps of rigging gear slim tipper trucks.I am always worried about turf damage so skid steers always make me hesitate in using them. The mats would certainly change that. great stuff keep it coming.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

Off the top of my head..........a Log Dolly and a Port-a-wrap!!!

 

[Treetom]

I've found that my Swinger 200 with bucket grapple attachment replaces 3 ground guys. With turf tires there is zero damage to lawns even with heavy loads. Only 5ft wide. Can move large stump grinder in to tight areas. Moves brush and logs from back yards to road without a break. Bucket is great for stump clean up and dirt delivery to stump. Bought 4-cylinder gas used with homemade grapple, under 5K. Attached pic is after a paint job.

 

[treebogan]

Chipper winch

Kiwi!

Good to see another on the site!Three things I recomend,an "Arbor cart" its a four wheeled trolly with long pins that you can stack small logs on and pull to the chipper.
2) Skid steer
3)Chipper mounted winch.It shaves a load of time off many jobs,pulling logs and brush bundles up hills etc.Also handy for rigging "zip lines" and in big removal situations.You can fit a hydralic winch to an existing chipper without too much drama

 

[JohN Dee]

I've found that my Swinger 200 with bucket grapple attachment replaces 3 ground guys. With turf tires there is zero damage to lawns even with heavy loads. Only 5ft wide. Can move large stump grinder in to tight areas. Moves brush and logs from back yards to road without a break. Bucket is great for stump clean up and dirt delivery to stump. Bought 4-cylinder gas used with homemade grapple, under 5K. Attached pic is after a paint job.

Wow thats sweet! Under 5k too, you yanks have it so better off then us aussies. Where did you pick it up from?

 

[soutz]

thanx guys, love it,awesome getting everyones ideas and how they use them.treebogan you flew a long way for a kiwi.

 

[treebogan]

Yeah,is a long flight!

Skid steer's and articulated loaders are two different things,the picture is of an articulated loader.The devise we use steers by decreasing the speed of the wheels on the side of the desired turn,like a bocat or a bulldozer.Our skid steer is a Vermeer that you stand on the back of,its bloody handy when it comes to moving bigger logs around a back yard but when you turn it it will rip up lawns IF you turn too sharpley.Also its really only designed for flat surfaces and due to having no suspension and high center of gravity it will tip over.So I hope this extra info helps you mate,time for another "Stein-grenade".

 

[M.D. Vaden]

Flat free tire replacements on the hand trucks and wheelbarrows.

 

[B-Edwards]

I purchased a Dingo with a blown engine and replaced the engine (Kubota diesel)
don't know if i would go that route again due to ignorance of a particular machine BUT, I love this thing.As being used the tires were worn out and they are foam filled ,being worn they don't mess up the turf extremely bad . This machine has saved us tons of back breaking labor. Guys keep posting this is a great thread for guys new to the business , and everyone for that matter.

 

[elmnut]

branch manager grapple

 

[JayD]

Elmnut,Elmnut...you got me drooling!!! LOL

 

[elmnut]

If there are no gates...

 

[windthrown]

Back saver...

Simple low tech device: The elastic back brace. Some may think you are wearing a Gut-B-Gone, but jokes aside, your back will last a lot longer and hurt a lot less wearing one of these. They sell (and use them) at Home Depot. Everyone's back goes out at some time or other. Gravity never sleeps.

Biggest time saver here: Kubota tractor with bucket and auger and brush hog. I use it to push trees over with too (lots of flap about it on AS to push trees that do not fall with cuts and wedges, but the locals think I am a genious using it that way).

 

[JayD]

I was drooling so much I forgot about the dam gates! something always brings you back to reality.

Windthrown, we always wear our back braces....didn't even think of it earlier

 

[John464]

I was drooling so much I forgot about the dam gates! something always brings you back to reality.

Im pretty sure that toro dingo w/ grapple goes right through a standard gate