Dirt Moving BX25 How Much Dirt can you move and labor rates?

[RomeK2]

I agree with this. I think around here, I can rent a skid steer for $300 per day (8 hours).

how much faster do you think a skid steer will be? For example 24 hrs on a bx how many on a skid steer? Please see the picture of the side yard at the top of this thread, it is a narrow pathway. I wouldn't want to go to fast through there.

 

[Duffster]

As a rule of thumb figure 1.5 tons per yard.

But really dry loamy soil will be closer to 1 ton per yard.

Crushed stone products 2500#-2800# per yard and damp sand is right on the 1.5 tons per yard.

 

[rjkobbeman]

how much faster do you think a skid steer will be? For example 24 hrs on a bx how many on a skid steer? Please see the picture of the side yard at the top of this thread, it is a narrow pathway. I wouldn't want to go to fast through there.

Disclaimer: I am neither a BX nor am I a skid steer operator. Although I have driven small utility tractors and have used a skid steer before.

My un-scientific guess would be you could cut your time in half. Skid steers are extremely nimble and maneuverable. Their ability to turn around on a dime will make round trips much, much faster. Plus their varying ground speed will really cut the time down.

Add to it that you can probably take bigger bites, I would bet your close to an 8 hour day. A skid steer operator could probably do it a lot sooner AND spread the dirt where you want it.

Skid steer or BX, there is going to be some damage to the path.

 

[coreshot]

Coreshot,

That's good info. Thanks. How long would it take 'you' on your bx to move a truck load....say 150 feet travel distance? at what speeds do you use?

I generally take 45 minutes to an hour to move one 14 ton truckload a distance like that. I'm a little **** about making a mess though, so I take the time to shake off the excess that's going to end up falling out between where I get it from and where I want it. I like a good clean work area, and don't want to take time at the end cleaning up something I'm not getting paid for. I usually try high gear for a run or two to see if it's smooth enough, but usually end up running the loads in low, and switch to high for the return trip. Just depends on the smoothness of the route.

 

[KubieTwo]

Disclaimer: I am neither a BX nor am I a skid steer operator. Although I have driven small utility tractors and have used a skid steer before.

My un-scientific guess would be you could cut your time in half. Skid steers are extremely nimble and maneuverable. Their ability to turn around on a dime will make round trips much, much faster. Plus their varying ground speed will really cut the time down.

Add to it that you can probably take bigger bites, I would bet your close to an 8 hour day. A skid steer operator could probably do it a lot sooner AND spread the dirt where you want it.

Skid steer or BX, there is going to be some damage to the path.

If you can accept a few assumptions, it is easy to calculate. First, assume the 139 yards (40'x40'x27" deep approx), 150 foot travel, 1/5 yard BX bucket, versus 3/4 yard skid steer bucket (60" bucket), 3 mph travel speed, 20sec load, and 10sec unload. It would take roughly 19 hours with the BX and just over 5 hours with the skid steer to move the material. These are fairly conservative load/unload times for even an inexperienced operator, I think, though I must admit not having much time at all on a bx. I know I can do it with a B7510 and they are very easy to accomplish with a skidsteer if all you are doing is loading, transporting, and dumping. Three mph is walk speed so that should be fairly easy to accomplish even slowing for some part of the trip. The hardest question to answer from afar is whether a 60" bucket would clear everywhere. Also be sure the concrete is thick enough to support the skid steer and load. The rental company can tell you the approximate load footprint of the skid steer. If the bx cannot average 3mph, and 30 sec load/unload, the spread gets greater.

Next analysis using the approximate hours for each, would be to determine rental and delivery cost of a skid steer, plus operator cost, then compare that to total cost of operator plus bx for the same job. There is no doubt the job is faster with the skid steer, but rental, plus deliver/pickup, plus operator may make the costs close for the two alternatives. However if the dirt must also be spread, the skid steer choice easily wins because the cost of delivery and daily rental is already covered and the spread task is accomplished within the day.

I hope this helps with your decision.

KubieTwo

 

[Tractor Factor]

Bottom line: It's not the best tool for the job at hand, but if you need the work, and the homeowner will pay your price...go for it. :thumbsup:

 

[CHDinCT]

Interesting debate you have going here. I'll just throw in that with the BX you're going to have to shift to 4WD to get anything close to a full bucket, but since the travel area is concrete or hard surface, you'll need to shift to 2WD for traveling. And you'll need low gear for the loading operation. If you want to shift into high for travel, you've got four shifts at the load end - 2 coming to get back into low, 4WD and 2 more to get back into high, 2WD for travel. We all know the BX shifts are a bit temperamental, so all this may add to your times considerably.

 

[coreshot]

, but since the travel area is concrete or hard surface, you'll need to shift to 2WD for traveling.

Not necessarily, if the route isn't too twisty, the 4wd will be fine. I run mine in 4x whenever I have a load, as curbs and any small will cause you to use traction as a rear wheel is lifted. I suspect that the lifting a wheel under power and dropping back to the pavement while spinning is harder on drive componenets than running in 4x on a hard surface. Of course, if there's a lot of turning involved on the hard surface it's another story.

 

[keyman1808]

Give hime a price per day and roughly how many days you estimate it would take. Go from there. If he accepts then maybe you underbid and if you do it agian try a little higher if he balks at it the chaulk it up to learning and go a little lower next time. Its all a learning adventure. So you win some you loose

 

[rjkobbeman]

If you can accept a few assumptions, it is easy to calculate. First, assume the 139 yards (40'x40'x27" deep approx), 150 foot travel, 1/5 yard BX bucket, versus 3/4 yard skid steer bucket (60" bucket), 3 mph travel speed, 20sec load, and 10sec unload. It would take roughly 19 hours with the BX and just over 5 hours with the skid steer to move the material. These are fairly conservative load/unload times for even an inexperienced operator, I think, though I must admit not having much time at all on a bx. I know I can do it with a B7510 and they are very easy to accomplish with a skidsteer if all you are doing is loading, transporting, and dumping. Three mph is walk speed so that should be fairly easy to accomplish even slowing for some part of the trip. The hardest question to answer from afar is whether a 60" bucket would clear everywhere. Also be sure the concrete is thick enough to support the skid steer and load. The rental company can tell you the approximate load footprint of the skid steer. If the bx cannot average 3mph, and 30 sec load/unload, the spread gets greater.

Next analysis using the approximate hours for each, would be to determine rental and delivery cost of a skid steer, plus operator cost, then compare that to total cost of operator plus bx for the same job. There is no doubt the job is faster with the skid steer, but rental, plus deliver/pickup, plus operator may make the costs close for the two alternatives. However if the dirt must also be spread, the skid steer choice easily wins because the cost of delivery and daily rental is already covered and the spread task is accomplished within the day.

I hope this helps with your decision.

KubieTwo

Good logic.

The only thing I would change is not hire a skid steer operator. Rent the skid steer yourself.