Pictures from a skid steer mowing contractor

[Lineman North Florida]

Well I jumped on a couple of forestry mowing jobs today, got both of them cleaned up pretty good, both of these were pretty rough with cypress knees, fell logs and wire but I made it, hope everyone has a good week.

 

[Bronco82]

How often do you have to get out of the seat to move something in a job like this? Still absolutely love the before and after photos. The results are incredible.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Some jobs you are in and out every few minutes moving things and piling them where they are visible and out of the way, this job just had lots of hidden stuff, old tarp's fence wire, pipe, concrete, etc but I generally try to look places over before I start but some of these places you just can't hardly even walk thru them , so you just find it as you go. The pictures don't really do a lot of these transformations justice, I wish you guys could see it first hand, thank you though I'm glad that some of you enjoy seeing the results, I will try to keep posting along and along. Charlie.

How often do you have to get out of the seat to move something in a job like this? Still absolutely love the before and after photos. The results are incredible.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

This morning's job was a thick wooded hillside full of bamboo and vines

that was pretty slick in places as well as steep, pictures don't really do it justice, it was pretty challenging but the customer is very happy and I am as well to be done with that thick bamboo.

 

[BackRoad]

Snakes...that's like snake paradise in your "before" photos!

How often do you see them...and how big?

(Ever get one in the cab? Just asking for a friend! )

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Snakes...that's like snake paradise in your "before" photos!

How often do you see them...and how big?

(Ever get one in the cab? Just asking for a friend! )

I run into them occasionally but none on this job that I saw, one place that I mow every year is full of cottonmouth moccasins, you can count on 4 or 5 encounters which is usually bad for them. As far as one getting in the cab, it hasn't happened yet and if it does he can have it, it's way to tight of quarters.

 

[EddieWalker]

Every time I mow over a snake, I look for it on the next pass, and I never see it. Then I start wondering where it's at? Is it on the mower? Is it on the tractor? Is it hiding and waiting for me to get get out of the tractor? Can I ever walk past my tractor and not think there's a snake hiding in there after that? It's almost better to not run them over then avoid worrying about it for the next five years!!!!

 

[Lineman North Florida]

A little Saturday morning job for an out of town customer, clearing for shooting lanes, making roads/trails on his piece of hunting property.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Today's job more forestry mowing to give this customer more accessibility to his property.

 

[EddieWalker]

Once you clear an area like that, do the homeowners ever do anything with it? Or do you come back every year or so and do it again and again?
My neighbor has an area like that by the creek. He's hired people to clear it at least 4 times, and it's grown back as thick as ever right now. He even bought a mower just for that area, but never used it.

 

[Gregster613]

Once you clear an area like that, do the homeowners ever do anything with it? Or do you come back every year or so and do it again and again?
My neighbor has an area like that by the creek. He's hired people to clear it at least 4 times, and it's grown back as thick as ever right now. He even bought a mower just for that area, but never used it.

Good post Eddie, I was thinking/wondering the exact same question! With the humidity down there I'd image it grows back swiftly - unless maintained "often" once cleared. From the before photos, it really gets bushy and thick!

 

[paulsharvey]

Well, not to take over Mr Linemans thread and/or business; the issue is forestry mulching "clears the air, not the ground", as i heard someone say. So, yes, with all the roots and structure remaining, it does come back, and often fast, and thicker. What it does do, it allows you to access the area to do further work; such as routine mowing, spraying, dirt work, ect. It also is Far cheaper and faster to get in the area than root raking. Also, root raking and all that, cause a lot of soil disruption, and Can lead to erosion. Mulching, the roots and all keep the soil together, and the chips/debris actually cover the soil, also helping prevent erosion.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Once you clear an area like that, do the homeowners ever do anything with it? Or do you come back every year or so and do it again and again?
My neighbor has an area like that by the creek. He's hired people to clear it at least 4 times, and it's grown back as thick as ever right now. He even bought a mower just for that area, but never used it.

Some of them keep it cleaned up and some don't, when I leave it can be kept up with a tractor and bush hog, I encourage the people with bamboo to spray it when it comes out after about a month. Some do nothing and stay inside in the A/C and call me to come once or twice a year.

 

[Doorman63]

I religiously mow an area that looked like that when we first bought our place.

Borrowed my neighbors skid steer with front mounted bushhog. I did it in the winter. It’s most grass now after keeping up on it for 4yrs.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I religiously mow an area that looked like that when we first bought our place.

Borrowed my neighbors skid steer with front mounted bushhog. I did it in the winter. It’s most grass now after keeping up on it for 4yrs.

Yes sir that's all it takes once it's been cleaned up and it makes for a really nice area.

 

[Gregster613]

Some of them keep it cleaned up and some don't, when I leave it can be kept up with a tractor and bush hog, I encourage the people with bamboo to spray it when it comes out after about a month. Some do nothing and stay inside in the A/C and call me to come once or twice a year.

Thanks for the answer Lineman, That's about what I expected to hear and I guess it's good for your business if they choose not to maintain it themselves! That's then a repeat call!

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Thanks for the answer Lineman, That's about what I expected to hear and I guess it's good for your business if they choose not to maintain it themselves! That's then a repeat call!

Some customers are like clockwork and I can count on hearing from them yearly and they recommend me to their friends which is new work for me, I also have a friend who drills wells and he meets with new people moving into our area needing a water well drilled and lot's of them want work done and he gives them one of my cards and I get a lot of new customers that way, sometimes I get busier than I want to be and then winter will come and it slows down so I can hunt and enjoy myself for a few months until it seems to start back up, I am truly blessed and a very fortunate man.

 

[Doorman63]

Some customers are like clockwork and I can count on hearing from them yearly and they recommend me to their friends which is new work for me, I also have a friend who drills wells and he meets with new people moving into our area needing a water well drilled and lot's of them want work done and he gives them one of my cards and I get a lot of new customers that way, sometimes I get busier than I want to be and then winter will come and it slows down so I can hunt and enjoy myself for a few months until it seems to start back up, I am truly blessed and a very fortunate man.

As I close in on retirement……..

What would you say the initial investment to get started in this line of work is?

 

[Lineman North Florida]

As I close in on retirement……..

What would you say the initial investment to get started in this line of work is?

I bought a new SS when I got started , new forestry mower and new grapple which ran me about $75k. I already had a 3/4 ton truck, gooseneck and equipment trailer to haul and pull it with, I have since bought a tilt deck trailer and a small mulching head for my business and am currently looking for a used 1 ton diesel flatbed truck. Used equipment prices were insane when I was looking but have since come down and there are lot's of deals to be had right now on low hour skidsteers.

 

[Doorman63]

I bought a new SS when I got started , new forestry mower and new grapple which ran me about $75k. I already had a 3/4 ton truck, gooseneck and equipment trailer to haul and pull it with, I have since bought a tilt deck trailer and a small mulching head for my business and am currently looking for a used 1 ton diesel flatbed truck. Used equipment prices were insane when I was looking but have since come down and there are lot's of deals to be had right now on low hour skidsteers.

Approx 100-150 to start?

Depending on new/used for certain items.

That’d keep me outta trouble for a few years!