So this year has been better to me then I'd planned...
So I can either get me a Simington chisel grinder, a fairly good trailer for moving my equipment, or a used decrepit backhoe.
The grinder saves me time with sharpening chains (theoretically...) still working full time and logging on the side so finding time to sharpen chains and whatnot is tough, I figure the grinder would save me 1 hour a week. Down side its 1k for something I won't use more than an hour a week.
A trailer would allow me to move the skidder and haul some gyppo loads for some of the really small jobs I get from time to time, not to mention opening another revenue stream, albeit not a reliable or lucrative one. Down side... well not really a down side other then finding one thats not junk... and they take up a whole bunch of space. For me the trailer is important, it costs anywhere from $400-$1000 to move the skidder, and finding someone to do it when I want them to move it is a serious pain in the ass. cost around 2-4k
A Backhoe, would allow me to work some of the smaller jobs, load the dump truck with various stuff, build roads a little... well a lot better... Down side is they are expensive for one ready to work, even the old junk I prefer to run, not to mention I'll probably need the trailer before I even think about getting the backhoe. cost 4-8k
And before someone chimes in and says I need a dozer or an excavator... the backhoe does both of those jobs, albeit not as well. And I would rather work with the self loader guys right now being as they don't mind the low production.
P.S. I did find a skagit bu-50 on a kenworth truck for $25,999... notice how its not on the list...
So I can either get me a Simington chisel grinder, a fairly good trailer for moving my equipment, or a used decrepit backhoe.
The grinder saves me time with sharpening chains (theoretically...) still working full time and logging on the side so finding time to sharpen chains and whatnot is tough, I figure the grinder would save me 1 hour a week. Down side its 1k for something I won't use more than an hour a week.
A trailer would allow me to move the skidder and haul some gyppo loads for some of the really small jobs I get from time to time, not to mention opening another revenue stream, albeit not a reliable or lucrative one. Down side... well not really a down side other then finding one thats not junk... and they take up a whole bunch of space. For me the trailer is important, it costs anywhere from $400-$1000 to move the skidder, and finding someone to do it when I want them to move it is a serious pain in the ass. cost around 2-4k
A Backhoe, would allow me to work some of the smaller jobs, load the dump truck with various stuff, build roads a little... well a lot better... Down side is they are expensive for one ready to work, even the old junk I prefer to run, not to mention I'll probably need the trailer before I even think about getting the backhoe. cost 4-8k
And before someone chimes in and says I need a dozer or an excavator... the backhoe does both of those jobs, albeit not as well. And I would rather work with the self loader guys right now being as they don't mind the low production.
P.S. I did find a skagit bu-50 on a kenworth truck for $25,999... notice how its not on the list...