The Life of a Custom Mowing contractor

[sixdogs]

What's your Ram rated total weight capacity? How many miles on it and how does the transmission hold up? Is most of the work that truck doesn't hauling big bales? How many bales do you haul in a typical season?

 

[Hay Dude]

What's your Ram rated total weight capacity?

Factory: 43,000
With MV-41: 48,000

How many miles on it

~68,000

and how does the transmission hold up?

So far so good. I’ve done 2 transmission fluid changes and getting ready to do my 3rd. It’s not the most “refined” transmission in the world, but it’s got great gear holding, very simple/reliable and with 6 gears, doesn’t “gear hunt” at all.

Is most of the work that truck doesn't hauling big bales?

(I assume you mean “does” and not “doesn’t”).

If yes, then yes, the primary jobs are:
1. Hauling large square bales on a 38,500lb trailer weekly from August-February.
2. Hauling (2) zero turns on a 10K trailer about once a week Spring/Summer/Fall
3. Hauling 9 ton excavator on 38,500lb trailer randomly
4. Hauling my ass around to refuel tractors, carry tools/fuel/grease/etc.

How many bales do you haul in a typical season?

1,000 +

Was this a survey for Truck Trend magazine?

 

[civilian]

Was this a survey for Truck Trend magazine?

"Like" that statement. Jo

 

[sixdogs]

Factory: 43,000
With MV-41: 48,000

~68,000


So far so good. I’ve done 2 transmission fluid changes and getting ready to do my 3rd. It’s not the most “refined” transmission in the world, but it’s got great gear holding, very simple/reliable and with 6 gears, doesn’t “gear hunt” at all.


(I assume you mean “does” and not “doesn’t”).

If yes, then yes, the primary jobs are:
1. Hauling large square bales on a 38,500lb trailer weekly from August-February.
2. Hauling (2) zero turns on a 10K trailer about once a week Spring/Summer/Fall
3. Hauling 9 ton excavator on 38,500lb trailer randomly
4. Hauling my ass around to refuel tractors, carry tools/fuel/grease/etc.




1,000 +

Was this a survey for Truck Trend magazine?

Very impressive. No survey and I'm fully retired but tempted to buy a Ram 2500. I just like that truck and admire your work ethic and maintenance standards.

 

[Hay Dude]

Very impressive. No survey and I'm fully retired but tempted to buy a Ram 2500. I just like that truck and admire your work ethic and maintenance standards.

Based on 5.5 years of ownership, I wholeheartedly recommend the Ram Cummins turbo diesel trucks. However, just remember, this is my first Ram. I don’t have a long track record of ownership.
Ignore sales numbers and 0-60 speeds and related “paper trucker” specs. Thats for kids and who has the biggest d*ck contests. If you are a truck racer, HP junkie, etc., I recommend GM or Ford.
I also recommend GM for superior ride comfort and speed. I can’t recommend Ford based on the insane # of recalls and the way they handled their CP-4 pump recall.

I’d grab a 3500 with an Aisin transmission if it’s used truck. The newer (post ‘25) trucks will come with Super ZF-8 transmissions which are probably an upgrade and improvement in fuel economy, but the Aisin is still hard to beat. I’m on my 6th year of heavy hauling. I’m hoping to get another year, then switch to a tandem axle truck.

For grunt torque and towing and engine/transmission/drivetrain life, I recommend Ram/Cummins/Aisin or ZF-8.

Just remember, a 2500/3500 will not have the load or hauling capacity of a 5500, but you will have more HP/TQ and get better fuel economy and a probably a better ride.

 

[Hay Dude]

Back to some field mowing yesterday. Got home 8PM.
Here’s some steep country.

It’s a relief to hit some flat ground…..

Next Customer. You probably recognize this one. I make the lines real straight so customer can drive golf balls and feel like its a fairway lol

Finished off the day with a little Trail Mowing. It’s 7PM and I’m ready for the end of this day.

 

[Hay Dude]

Back at it today. Regular customer 3rd mowing of 4 this year. This is one of 6 fields they have, so I was here for about 7-8 hours.

Then back to another property where I picked up on some hay mowing until about 8pm.

Another long day.

 

[anomad]

Back at it today. Regular customer 3rd mowing of 4 this year. This is one of 6 fields they have, so I was here for about 7-8 hours.


View attachment 3987873



Then back to another property where I picked up on some hay mowing until about 8pm.


View attachment 3987874


Another long day.

4x annual mowing field is puuurty. Must be a pleasure to cut. Is it not worth making hay there?

 

[Hay Dude]

4x annual mowing field is puuurty. Must be a pleasure to cut. Is it not worth making hay there?

No, it would be great to make hay there, but the HOA won’t agree to it. Beautiful, thick wide-bladed grass…
It’s one of those frustrating situations where I have asked like 3 times, but they won’t budge.

 

[IXLR8]

HD- Love your office views.