Cost Per Hour...

[BCBSLICK]

What might a fair price to charge, per hour, for the use of a 33 HP tractor with a brush hog...

I have some fields that need brush hogged and I really don't know what to offer the guy who does it...

Thanks...

BCBSLICK

 

[jeff9366]

It costs $30 per hour to run my L3560, which powers a 60" Rotary Cutter. That is depreciation, tractor insurance, tractor service at the dealer's and fuel. Implements, chainsaws and implement repairs additional.

Anyone working on your property should have liability insurance, which would be a variable cost, depending on how many hours are worked during term of the insurance.

So around $60 per hour for tractor, Bush Hog and operator. One hour charged for transport when the tractor comes off the trailer.

If you have any barbed wire, cable, rope, old septic tanks, car parts or other non-vegetative 'surprises' in the field for the operator, the costs of repairs to the Bush Hog are on you, not the operator. It you notify the operator of potential surprises in writing, before work starts, the designated surprises are on the operator, if he accepts the job. Non-designated, non-vegetative surprises are still on YOU.

This is standard format and basic pricing in my part of Florida.

How long a job takes is variable, with roughness of the fields being a large variable. Rough fields are slow going. Fields with saplings over 1" are slow going.

 

[motownbrowne]

There's variables here. If I'm bush hogging for my neighbor I charge less. I don't have to trailer my tractor, and if I accidentally wrecked his fence I'd help him fix it, but he wouldn't make me pay for it. I happily charge him $35/ hour. Also, I'm running a tractor i paid $5000 for and an bush hog I paid $150 for. Depreciation is less in my circumstances. Also, my farm liability policy covers basic custom work for neighbors.

Now, if I've got to load my tractor on a trailer, drive an hour, bush hog for 8 hours and drive home, my price will be higher. Probably $60/hour.

If I've got to trailer my tractor for an hour mow for 2 hours, and trailer it home, my price will be higher again. Like maybe $100-120/hour.

 

[BCBSLICK]

You both answered my question…

The guy who I will ask to do it borders my property so he simply has to “drive his tractor across a field”…

There will only be about 3.5 acres and it will be easy to mow. I used to keep it mowed with my Kubota 2670 as it was basically a yard. No debris and such, but just a few trees to mow around…

I have too much mowing now and I am going to let it grow up and have it hogged every fall. That will be starting with next year…

Thanks for the info—I now have a ballpark amount to offer him, although he probably will want to do it for nothing—he’s retired also, but he still should get some bucks…

Thanks…BCBSLICK

 

[LD1]

Most people, myself included, dont charge on an hourly rate for this type of work. Because of customers.

IF someone said "I charge $50/hr"......usually the first question asked by the customer is "how long do you think it will take". Which is a tough question to answer. But lets say you take a guess and say "probably about 10 hours". Well.....you for **** sure better not go over $500, because the customer already has that in their mind. If it takes you 11 hours.....they will complain about that extra $50 every time.

Also, if hourly work is done, they will watch you like a hawk. Monitor how long it takes you to stop and get fuel, a drink, a sandwich, etc.

Also cannot really charge by the acre either. Every acre is different. Lots of stuff to mow around or not? Bumpy or smooth? How many acres? location? etc etc.

So that said, most that I know, including myself just charge a flat rate. I will ask important details like how many acres? (then confirm online using Welcome to FindLotSize.com) I will ask when the last time its been mowed. (gives me an idea how fast or slow I will be going). I will look at the total acres. And look at how long its gonna take me to get to and from.

My setup with a 51HP tractor and 8' bushhog......I shoot for $75/hr. Tthough I never let the customer know this as they think $75/hr is just ridiculous as their "day" job only pats them $18/hr. (yes I have hear that before) So after all the info is compiled, I have a pretty good idea +/-10% usually, how long its gonna take me, including my drive time to and from. I take that guess, multiply by $75, and round it to the nearest $25 provided its above my $175 minimum charge.

IE: job is an hour away, and its 6 acres that was just done 3 months ago, and nothing to mow around. Pretty easy going and counting unloading/loading when there....I am figuring 2 hrs. Add that to the 2 hours round trip Im at 4 hours. 4 x $75 is $300. And if Im into the job for 4.5 hours, or 3.5 hours, it dont matter. Flat rate of $300.

But to answer your question.....I'll say it depends. Is this guy running an old ford, with trans driven PTO, and having to mow around alot of stuff? (slow going but cheap equipment overhead). Or is he running a modern tractor with HST and properly sized cutter that will be pretty efficient? (faster but higher overhead). Guys running old cheap equipment are typically slower and cheaper, working for beer money. But someone with more modern equimpent may charge more per hour (if thats how they choose to charge), but in the end charging $50/hr with modern equip may be cheaper in the long run than someone with old equipment charging $30/hr. And operator experience also comes into play.

I'd say that a modern tractor with 33HP, 5' cutter, and a good operator should be worth $50/hr at a minimum from the time he pulls out of his drive, till the time he returns to his house. And under average conditions, I'd say he should be able to do 2 acres per hour.

 

[LD1]

You both answered my question…

The guy who I will ask to do it borders my property so he simply has to “drive his tractor across a field”…

There will only be about 3.5 acres and it will be easy to mow. I used to keep it mowed with my Kubota 2670 as it was basically a yard. No debris and such, but just a few trees to mow around…

I have too much mowing now and I am going to let it grow up and have it hogged every fall. That will be starting with next year…

Thanks for the info—I now have a ballpark amount to offer him, although he probably will want to do it for nothing—he’s retired also, but he still should get some bucks…

Thanks…BCBSLICK

I was replying when you wrote this.

In light of the new information and the situation....3.5 acres is likely to take him a few hours.

To keep relations neighborly, first ask if he has any interest in doing it, and if so, what he would charge. If he insists on not being paid, or leaves it up to you, or says just buy the fuel, etc. I'd throw him $100 for mowing it.

If I worked for a couple hours for a neighbor....I'd likely not charge.....just depending on which neighbor. But if they absolutely insisted on paying, I wouldnt accept more than $100

 

[motownbrowne]

You both answered my question…

The guy who I will ask to do it borders my property so he simply has to “drive his tractor across a field”…

There will only be about 3.5 acres and it will be easy to mow. I used to keep it mowed with my Kubota 2670 as it was basically a yard. No debris and such, but just a few trees to mow around…

I have too much mowing now and I am going to let it grow up and have it hogged every fall. That will be starting with next year…

Thanks for the info—I now have a ballpark amount to offer him, although he probably will want to do it for nothing—he’s retired also, but he still should get some bucks…

Thanks…BCBSLICK

Seems like a win win. Only thing I'd recommend (assuming he's happy with your rate) is perhaps mowing twice per year. Mowing in the early summer will encourage the grasses to out compete the weeds and shrubs. Just a thought. Even mowing once a year keeps things pretty nice.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I get 50-60 per for tractor and 5 foot cutter. I never lose a job due to price,so I may well be too cheap.

 

[EddieWalker]

I was doing it for some realtors I know on the weekends at $50 an hour and after a few jobs I felt it wasn't worth it at that price. Then some other guy came along charging less, and I gladly gave up doing that anymore.

I have a 35hp 4x4 tractor with a 6 foot rotary cutter.

 

[PILOON]

While my tractor use on a job site was mainly because other equipment was too big and or bulky (and I was too lazy) I'd charge $50/hr and never had a complaint.
Generally it was clean up or spreading topsoil after a major re model job or new construction on a project site.
Being compact I could out perform and out maneuver everything but a skid loader.
With my tooth bar I also cleared up lots of vegetation that otherwise would have been very labor intensive.
However I doubt if I actually billed out even 75 hours/yr at best as it was merely an accommodation but did help with expenses.