Help this newbie make a big decision...

[MortNuke]

Well, glassjoe, I looked it over closely one last time and gave a quote of $45 (reliably ). It will give me plenty of opportunity to practice on the W/B if I get the job. (I can walk to this site, just a block from my house).

I shopped new trailers today. The minimum I can work with is the 6' x 10' but wonder if the mower will scrape when loading. Won't know until I try it I guess. It should fit in the garage, too. Cost: $700 with only rails and 13" single axle tires. I wonder if I can put that off until I get a couple yards that I NEED to drive to...

Mort

[Scott]

Price a tandem first w/brakes then find some extra cash and get that one if at all possible.

Your best bet is to flood your neighborhood w/flyers. Once you get 10 customers you should easily be able to afford a good trailer.

[Alpine Naturescapes]

Scott gives good advice, but I think it is more important to fork any extra cash for a hydro exmark rather than the gear drive. It will give you much easier good mowing results. You can always sell a utility trailer without much loss. The mower is a different story, and to resell it, most commercial LCOs want a hydro.

I have a 6x12 trailer I just leave out in the weather. Like the extra room. If you grow, you will want the two extra feet for another W/B or ZTR.
Also just me, but I think hydro is much more useful than a floating deck on a 48". I rarely shave with my 50, but if you're talking 60" you would want a floating deck. My two cents.

[MortNuke]

This was my first look at trailers and and continue to be wide open for feedback.

Scott: There was a used 6 x 12 available with 4 wheels and heavier duty construction. The previous owner had bent the tongue vertically, which was mostly straightened by the dealer. The axles are straight and its titled. But, it would have to sit outside - I wanted to keep a trailer in the garage (with equipment loaded). Perhaps it is better to just leave the trailer outside?

The hydro you've suggested, Alpine Naturescapes, is the ideal way to go - I agree. But I have concluded that it is just too much additional money at this time (I'd be more comfortable with it if I already had 10 non-scrub yards...ya know?). Actually, it makes me a bit "fluttery" just upgrading to the 48" HP...but I think this will pay off immediately. I value your input, but on this one I think there is a value-added limitation. The Business Plan includes adding a ZTR at appropriate time (~18 months?).

Today's Status: I'll be mowing one client today, and she asked me to trim her shrubs. I have some Round Up to put out at the second client and 2 Hibiscus to plant for her. I'll put out more fliers, look more at trailers, and watch this forum.

Mort

[glassjoe]

go hydro even if you have to go with a smaller deck. you can go a lot faster with a hydro. i wasnt convinced until i bought one, but it took me about 10 seconds to be convinced i have a scag 36" belt driven that i basically built my business with. i have so many yards with gates that personally for me (and this is defineately not true in all cases) when i went to a hydro i went with a 36" wright stander, literally cut my mowing time in half. its perfect for me, but if i expand i will be looking at a scag turf tiger or possibly a larger wright stander. go hydro if at all possible and get a trailer as soon as possible, the trailer is a must. word spreads fast after you do a few account and you dont want to tell people you would like to mow their lawn, but you have no way of getting your mower there. be sure and buy a trailer you can fit 2 mowers on and a 21" inch mower just in case you need it. i made the mistake of not doing that right away.
also dont sell yourself short on any landscaping jobs you do. less competition on that, easier to name your price. i learned that the hard way as well.

[MortNuke]

What is the appeal of a hydro over belt? I've not given the hydro much consideration after looking at teh price tag.

Mort

[jrservices]

Originally posted by MortNuke
What is the appeal of a hydro over belt? I've not given the hydro much consideration after looking at teh price tag.

Mort

Hydro is much nicer than gear drive. No gears to shift, faster, infinite speed control, true reverse, and no belts to get wet and slip. I almost bought the 48'' metro, but fortunately, was convinced to go a little farther and buy the turf tracer hp. No regrets whatsoever. Top quality machine.

[MortNuke]

Uh, now that's some pretty good appeal...I'll have to check with my exmark dealer - see how much $$. I don't wanna be completely buried in debt with only 2 yards locked in. I KNOW this is good solid advice...but it's tough to make that monetary leap.

Mort

Lotsa enthusiasm, but cold feet.

[glassjoe]

belt drive is ok, i started with one while i still had my fulltime job.
i still have it, its paid for i might as well keep it.
when i go to the point where i was so busy there was sometimes where i had to cut in the rain. forget about it with a belt drive, i live in florida and cut st augustine grass which is not easy to do when its wet with a belt driven mower. in other parts of the country you may be able to get away with it. the advice we are giving you is what we think would be ideal to start out with. i didnt go hydro at first for the same reason, money. sometimes you just cant do it, but a hydro mower will pay for itself. you cut so much time off each cut. switching from a scag belt drive to wright stander cut 50% of my cutting time. not exagerating. now going with a hydro walk behind may not cut 50% off but it will help a lot.
thats one thing about this advice, its what we think is ideal for out situations, but for a lot of reasons might not be for you.

[MortNuke]

Unfortunately for my pocketbook, I think the hydro advice applies perfectly to my situation: I want to grow, and need equipment that suits that plan. Being able to do all my own yards for now makes the ease and time-saving benefits of a hydro very appealing. Rain-cutting comes into play since I work full time, and may not be able to dictate the schedule all the time.

I will give it heavy consideration...I would not have without the guidance of you fine folks here. Thank you!

Mort

[MortNuke]

Thank you all for the advice, here is the final order:

Exmark 48" Turf Tracer HP
Echo: 26cc Trimmer, Stick Edger and Backpack Blower.


I think the advice you all have given is superb, and will really reap benefit for me down the road by getting the right equipment at the start. Despite the cost, I am sure it will set me up nice for the path I have chosen.

Mort

[Yard Boy]

Before you finalize that deal you might want to check out financing your equipment thru John Deere credit. One option is set up so that you can defer larger payments for the first 12 months then make larger payments until you pay it off.
Example: I purchased a 48 in. Great Dane Super Surfer, a Stihl trimmer and edger. Total cost about $6100. Payments for the first 12 months are about $60 then they go to about $160. The good thing about this is that you can build your business without having to sweat a big payment every month for the first year. After 12 months you have built your clientele enough to handle the payoff in short order.
BTW a Surfer is a good alternative to a walk behind. Has most of the advantages of a walk behind plus a floating deck, hydro drive and you don't have to chase it all day. Check it out on www.greatdanemowers.com

[MortNuke]

Thanks Yardboy, but I used eXmark 12 month no payments. Good deal to get started.

I forgot, I also got some hedge clippers at the last minute...

Mort