Tractors, Mowers, Chippers, Trailers, Chainsaws, Generators, Driveway Erosion Control, ETC.

I thought the previous quote was expensive! $2375 for a 5 man crew that is coming tomorrow. That includes $350 to tarp it up and they come with backup!
EQUIPMENT*
- 2021
Freightliner
M2 75ft Rear
Mount Bucket
Truck
- 2016 Bandit
18in Chipper
- 2020 Ditch
Witch Skid
Steer
- 2011 Ford
F750 16ft Chip
Dump Truck
- 2006 Ford
F250 Pickup
Truck
- 2018 Kaufman
14ft Dump
Trailer
- Chainsaws,
ropes, rigging
blocks, slings,
etc.

 

My Aunt got a quote today for $2600 to remove one tree that's between her deck and tool shed. It is a big tree, but that's more than twice what the same guy charged for the last tree they removed three years ago.

 

i had 13 trees fell 3 months ago. 8 were leaning to fall on power lines. a 4 person. 2 husband 2 wife crew had it done in 1 1/2 hrs. licensed, bonded, done. 1100$ . maybe it differers state to state.
granted i chipped limbs and made the 4' chunks firewood for neighbors. just giving a reference of my doing. not trying to 1up.
they climbed 10. one every 10min was dun. just glad i dont put my neighbors at undo risk of power outages as its on my property easement.

 

price check any legit offer. guys like that want work. if theyre good and fast a lower price to you is possible.

 

It's completely different JOB to JOB. No 2 removal projects are alike and pricing is based on man hours with a big emphasis on complexity and equipment required to safely and efficiently carry out the project. Add an emphasis on NOT increasing the damage to the structure as well as not destroying the existing landscape / hardscape in the target zone. Some complex jobs cannot be completed "efficiently" because of their extreme complexity.

I'm retired from this after about 30 years as an owner/operator, certified arborist/certified consulting arborist with BS in Horticulture/Ag Bus Mgt.

The difference between the 2 quotes above can be broken down into the best price is from a guy that can't keep his equipment in the ready, set, go condition versus what sounds like a legit contractor carrying the proper credentials as required to run such a business. If you indemnify my crew & company from all further potential damage, I'll give you a killer deal on your removal but you might not be terribly happy with what's left after we've gone in there and fucked that tree all up or I could be doing something like a project where I could assure you that you'd never known I was there after my crew went through the site with tweezers and a magnifying glass collecting every leaf and twig. You don't want to pay for the latter but I had a lot of clientele over the years that would!

I'll add, a legitimate tree business deals with pretty much the highest costs for employment. Here in California, after 25 years and no significant injuries or Worker's Comp claims (no "Experience Modifications), my Comp rate was 42%. So, if I paid a guy $25/hr to swing in the trees, EXCLUDING taxes, SDI, Social Security, and all the other bullshit I pay, just wage and comp is costing me $35.50! I had a competitor, a prick that used to rob my climbers all the time, had an experience modification of 100% with WC! He had guys getting hurt and they were breaking shit left and right on most of their big jobs.

 

Thanks for the great post, you added a professional perspective to this conversation.

I have used a local fellow for a few jobs, he falls under "equipment challenged", a lot of his stuff is farmer style repaired. I noticed the throttle on the chipper was a piece of clothesline wrapped around the fuel tank filler...
Hard to find fault with him though, he shows up when promised and does a decent job at a fair price.

 

Sometimes it's worth paying a little more. 13 pine trees, anytime we had a heavy wet snow, I'd be hauling off 6-7 truck loads of limbs. These guys were in and out in less than 2 days. Our neighbor said he "had a guy" that would drop them and cut them up into manageable size pieces for $1,500, but then I would be the one having to remove them.

 

We had a large pecan tree that got struck by lightning and was leaning towards the house. Had a friend take it down. He ground all the limbs and only left firewood, I gave it to another guy then had the stump ground. I can't remember exactly what he charged but it was less than $500

 

Needs more gas engine....











Just sayin'

 

I was looking at the Cub electric riders earlier...

 

I'm struggling to make a decision on a new mower, batteries seems to be the future of home small lawn care. The prices are like cheech and chong.

 

Wait till they tell you not to charge it because the grid can’t handle it.

 

Then I pull out the generator to charge the mower.

 

I made the switch last year to Ryobi 40V, the push mower had a better warranty than any of the gas powered stuff they had (5-year tool warranty, 3-year battery warranty, lifetime warranty on the deck)

 

Years ago I was across the street from a "Sears Neighborhood Store", these were privately owned/operated as opposed to the big stores at the malls.
The owner had a reputation for not honoring the famous Craftsman hand tool lifetime guarantee and generally being a .

An argument could be heard between the store owner and a customer, the customer got in his truck and drove to the end of the parking lot - put it in reverse and roared backwards then planted the brake pedal. The rider mower in the bed launched into the parking lot in front of the entrance (and the store owner).

Long before cell phones and you tube.

 

2-stroke engine would be sweet!