Using tractor and loader as weekend income

MX5000 · Jun 27, 2005

I accidently posted this in the buying forum. I figured I'd repost here, in the correct forum.

Hi,
I've been lurking here for quite awhile and enjoyed reading many of the posts. I traded in a BX1500 in Nov. 04 for a B7610. I traded up to a MX5000 a week ago. I moved from .39 hilly acres to 4.2 wooded acres. I was thinking of doing weekend loader work as a second income. Does anyone on this board do it? I've read some posts on insurance, but I believe most of the posts were residential. I did take the Kubota insurance to cover for fire and theft, but I'd like to hear a little about insurance for the weekend warrior. Also, how did you advertise? I was thinking about having some magnetic signs for my F-350 doors and tailgate made up. How much should I charge? Is it worth buying a brush hog or finish mower and doing that too? I think I remember reading a formula for charging customers that took into account your tractor PTO HP. Obviously, a larger more powerful tractor can pull a bigger implement, to get the job done faster (and in the process burn more gas than a smaller tractor). The MX5000 is 50HP and 44 PTO HP. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Howard

jcollins · Jun 28, 2005

We have had several custoemers do something like what you are wanting to do simply so they did not have to come out of thier own pocket to make the monthly note. They ended up turning down work there was so much of it. I know that several of them put up a flier in thier local feed store and recieved calls from that. We also keep a list of customers who do that type of work to pass on to those who call in looking for light tractor work to be done around theier house.

Egon · Jun 28, 2005

The first is insurance for the tractor, then the truck and trailer, then the truck will need commercial plates. For loader work you may have to have the means to remove or bring in dirt , gravel etc.

Advertize and see what responses and what type of work and how much before buying additional equipment.

And remember insurance. You may also need a license to operate in some areas. It may even be worh while to talk to an accountant knowledgable in this area.

The actual work is probably simple compared to getting ready to meet all the necessary legal requirements required. Also do not forget that some localities may require the home owner to have a permit for the work asked of you.

I would try something like that except for all the paper hazzle.

Best of luck in your endeavor. It's doable - just needs persitance and attention to details.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Highbeam · Jun 28, 2005

It would seem that the guys doing side jobs to pay the note are doing it without any of the commercial insurance, business license, income tax, mumbo jumbo. Sure, they are not protected but what is the worst that can happen? (Famous last words)I would think that the worst case would be during transport since your automotive insurance won't cover you if you were heading to a job.

Egon · Jun 28, 2005

Yep and think of the resulting dollars a court may award.

Buried lines and fixing them, mower throwing a stone, cave in and the list goes on.

Egon : /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

catskillsman · Jun 28, 2005

hay! i just got an l4310 used cpl. months ago came with the f.e.l. brush hog, york rake, grader,and i just got a bradco 509. not even lookin 4 work but every1s comin to me wantin stuff done. MOSTLY brush hogin then the rake u ll make money,i know i will! im lookkin 4 a 5 ton trailer ,and a 1 ton dump truck,used hopin they ll cost me 5 or 6 k. get a dump truck! ins. wise many states, ur trailered load cannot xceed 1 and a half times the weight of the truck ur towin with! i ll adv. in the local paper put my equip. on the front lawn, my friends the 1s that r contractors want me to get started, and want bus.cards.i ve got a dozen jobs waitin but i travel 4 a livin.but when i finally stay home i ll have a good cool fun job waitin 4 me and i ll charge 50 per hour minimum alot more 4 brushoggin. u ll b busy makin good money havin fun workin 4 urself will only open more doors 4 u! go 4 it thats a killer tractor u have my friend keeps tellin me what r u waitin 4 to start makin money good luc!

MX5000 · Jun 29, 2005

Thanks for the replies. It makes for some interesting reading. I'll read them again in the morning when I'm not so tired (18hr work day).

Howard

Egon · Jun 29, 2005

Howard; if you have 18 hour work days on a regular basis consider how much abuse your body will take!

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MX5000 · Jun 29, 2005

Egon,
I don't get the 18hr. work days consistently, but I figure if I can do it for another 10-15 years and pay off my mortgage, new Ford F-350, and ATV, and maybe a backhoe if I can get enough tractor work to pay it off, maybe I can semi retire and do loader work to pay for the property taxes, food, and the other bills. That's why I'm starting to look into the loader work on the side (weekends for now) to see if I'm wasting my time (once you figure in commercial insurance on tractor, truck, health ins., maintenance on the equipment, non paying deadbeats, and all the stuff that goes along with it). Heading back to work, have a good day.

Howard

MX5000 · Jun 29, 2005

Do you guys think I should replace the AG tires that came on the tractor with R4's? I'm concerned I'll do more damage than good. I'm planning on loading the tires and don't want to do it and then have to swap out the tires after. What's your thoughts?

Thanks,
Howard /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

familyman · Jun 29, 2005

If you're working on finished lawns, forget the ags. A couple of passes, even when things are dry, and the lawn is chop suey. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

MX5000 · Jun 30, 2005

I guess I need to swap out to a set of r-4 tires.

Howard

JimMorrissey · Jun 30, 2005

MX,

It depends what kind of work you are doing....You said weekend loader work and brush hogging. The R1s will be great for that. R4s will also work well, but they are going to be expensive...very expensive. I just don't see a time when you'll be driving a MX500 across somebody lawn! But if you happen to need to, then the damage is part of the job. A MX500 with R4s will not be easy on a lawn either.

I think you have a good plan. It will take a bit of time to get established, but once you name gets out and you treat home owners with respect and throw them a bone once in a while, you should do well. Just don't expect anything to happen overnight. Maybe a backhoe is in your future....ever though about getting a L39 for that kind of work /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

frank_f15 · Jun 30, 2005

( I don't get the 18hr. work days consistently, but I figure if I can do it for another 10-15 years and pay off my mortgage, new Ford F-350, and ATV, and maybe a backhoe if I can get enough tractor work to pay it off, maybe I can semi retire and do loader work to pay for the property taxes, food, and the other bills. )

not to be a wet blanket , but if you do too many 18 hr days and then work the weekends, you won't last 15 years.

rswyan · Jun 30, 2005

( not to be a wet blanket , but if you do too many 18 hr days and then work the weekends, you won't last 15 years. )
Oh .... I don't know ..... I guess it all depends on how you view what you do for work (regular and extra curricular)

If you enjoy it, it's not such a burden - long days with lots of production and achievement are rewarding (and in more than financial terms /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif)

Personally, I can't stand to sit or lie around, watch the boob tube .... I'd rather be DOING something (... not that there aren't times when I do lie around /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif)

Egon · Jul 1, 2005

Howard:

Sounds like you have investigated things very well. If you have to switch tires wait till it's necessary or even turn down minor jobs that will not cover cost of tires.

And please - send some of that energy my way. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon

MX5000 · Jul 1, 2005

I stopped by the town hall and registry and picked up my commercial license plate. I didn't get the farm one this time. I was thinking of taking the tractor to a couple of cookouts this weekend...lol. I can see it now, trying to explain to the nice officer why I'm driving my tractor through town at 2am. Moving at a blistering 18mph., wind in my hair, shivering and eyes watering. Good times!!! By the way, I started work at yesterday morning at 8am. and stopped at home last night for about 3.5hrs (1.5 hr nap) and went back. I just got home at 4pm today. I'm pretty sure my brain turned to liquid sometime last night and ran out my ear. I'm trying to do the math, but my cat's licking his backside and it's distracting me. More to come...

Howard /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

MX5000 · Jul 2, 2005

I'm going to finally get to use the tractor today. I'm helping the local ATV club do some work on the trails, digging some shallow holes on the trails for waterbars and moving some good size rocks in front of some of the trails. It would have been nice to have gotten some seat time on the tractor before using it in front of a group of people. I did notice when I took the tractor for a quick spin up the driveway a few days ago, that the much higher seating position on this tractor sort of amplified the steepness of the end of my driveway. When I turned around at the end, I sort of felt like it may tip over. I guess I'll just have to get used to it. Have to run.

Howard /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

RayH · Jul 2, 2005

I bought my tractor with the intention of using it around the house and when that was finished (never really finished) I would do some side jobs. I also got a 1ton dump and trailer to get the tractor around. Ive been doing mostly grading, lot clean up and leveling. Ive also done some backhoe work with it. There is more work than I want. I reached a point this year where I needed to decide if I want get fully established and get a license and commercial insurance or just give up the side jobs. Considering the small amount of work that I was willing to do with the equipment, I wasnt going to profit much once I start paying commercial insurance and if I had any kind of breakage (you know nothing on a tractor cost less than $300) it wasnt worth me even getting up. I also had an issue with sun poison this year that influenced me.
My personal decision was to give up the side jobs. I work an average of 46+ hours a week at my regular job and I appreciate all the time I have off. While operating the equipment is fun, it looses some of its appeal when you have to meet the demands of other people and the weather.
The one thing I do regret about deciding to give up the side work is the freedom of having an established backup income if I get a wild hair and tell the boss to "take this job and shove it".
This is my personal experience with tractoring on the side. Everyones experiences will be different depending on their situation and priorities. The one thing I think is universal is that if you market yourself at all, youll have as much work as you want.

Earthdog · Jul 2, 2005

I've been doing side work for awhile now. No problems yet, but I try not to get in over my head. I get alot of the do it your self people looking for a hand. Spreading loam and gravel. A lot of Rototilling in the spring. Some advise before digging in NH. Call DIG SAFE (even if you plan to dig a couple of inchs the fines are outragous!) and go to there spring contractor class in Concord it kept my butt safe and leagle. I do advertise in the useless leader but only in the spring this keeps me going for the summer. Good Luck. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif