Wider Gates

[Jack]

Maybe someone has thought of this already, and has some ideas. I was talking with the local Toro dealer, and we were talking about gates going into a persons backyard, and if you had a 44" or larger mower the problems you encounter. He suggested that maybe if it was a good account to offer to put in a larger gate, or ask the customer if they would be willing to put in a wider gate. I guess the consideration would be if it is a wood or cyclone type gate. Any thoughts.

[BubbaDog]

reply

Jack,

That sounds like a great idea. It would also give you some good experience with fence / gate building.

The concern I would have is that you would be forced to do the gate replacement work really, really cheap. For the most part, I think it would only be worth it for accounts that you want very much to keep, and have bigger back yards where using the "big mower" would be a huge advantage.

Good luck,,,Cliff Cavin
Columbus, Ohio

http://BubbaDogSoftware.dnsalias.net

[Zack.]

reply

So you put in a wider gate. The customer moves or you lose the account. It would have to be a BIG backyard & high paying account to even consider putting in a larger gate at your cost. Too risky.

If you have alot of gates get a 32" Viking hydro or 36" hydro. You can add a flex-deck for 18" added width which would give you 50" or 54" through the gate.

[Wes60]

reply

You can get 32 or 36 but I have one account where the ladys BF put in a fenece and the jacka** didn't even put the top rails on or a gate, he just put in the post and then put up the chain link. I have been trying to talk her into putting a gate in but she to scared that little kids will go in and the dogs will bite them. Well thats hwat they make padlocks for I told her but she is still hesitant. I like the account cause its good money and pretty easy but the back is the biggest part of the yard and im stuck doing it with my 21" and having to go through the back garage door [!], what do you do then. Its these kinda customers that make this job so hard. [V]

[dwwhitten]

reply

Why dont you just unhook the fence and put it back when you finish. I do this on a couple of my accounts and it doesn't take very long.

I love my work...... Wayne

[BRL]

reply

I talked to another LCO around here who would offer to replace the gate for free as long as the customer paid for materials - win\win. He said he & 1 employeee would do 4 or 5 each year and that it would take them an hour tops for each one. These were only for full service accounts with large back yards that made it worth the effort. For 2 man hours of effort he would save 4-6 man hours over the season by being able to get his larger faster equipment into those yards (mowing & leaf clean up season). So in some cases it may be worth the effort. I have done what dwwhitten posts at a couple of locations over the years.

[Wes60]

reply

Hey dwwhitten what do you mean by unhooking the fence like at the end where theres a post but how would u do that with out breaking the clams after a while from bending them on and off or do the ones you have have bolts, and also wouldnt the top rails get in the way of u mower getting under them?

[dwwhitten]

reply

Hey Wes60, most of the chain link fences use bolts, the clamps dont have to be bent and they are 4 ft high, plenty of room for the mowers to pass under. However I think if it was a regular customer with a large yard I have to agree with the above response. It would be worth it to install a larger gate. I do have one customer Im thinking of doing that for.

I Love my Work........Dwwhitten

[alcpi]

reply

Weedeat the whole back!!