My Competition: Tree fo' Less

[No_Bivy]

Well they aren't really but I have been seeing thier trucks more. Very nice fingerpainted signs. I dub this the Low Ballers Thread!!!!:D Tree fo Meth????

[MasterBlaster]

They look like seasoned pros... NOT!

[Webby]

Got to wonder if the quality of their workmanship matches their advertising!

[Skwerl]

I bet their firewood is cheap! :lol:

I wonder what the deal is with the 2x4s ramped up over the cab?

[vharrison]

:lol:

[No_Bivy]

I wonder if the big guy is the climber, it looks like he's pushing 3 bills!!:lol:

[Skwerl]

I wonder if the big guy is the climber, it looks like he's pushing 3 bills!!:lol:

nah, he's in charge of the letdown line.

[wiltingoak]

What's their area code? I wanna give 'em a call (wonder if that's a '2' or a speedfreak '6'?)

Got a heritage tree I'd like a bid on.

[No_Bivy]

828

[Newfie]

I wonder what the deal is with the 2x4s ramped up over the cab?

That's for the General Lee to jump over the truck when they need to make a quick get away.:D

[pantheraba]

NoB, you must be a PI (pvt. investigator)...good picts of the comp.

"Trees for Meth"...that's a good one. :lol:

[No_Bivy]

Heck I couldn't resist, I was dumping a load of wood/chips and there they were. I figured y'all would get a kick out of it. They have been leaving a truck parked in front of our local grocery store. They're moving in on my turf!:X :lol: :X :lol: :X :lol: :roll: (Faces of Meth:P )

[Rborist1]

I wonder what the deal is with the 2x4s ramped up over the cab?


My guess is that the boards are there to measure a cord.

[JamesTX]

What does a cord weigh? A little more than that S-10's load limit I'd guess.

[JamesTX]

They have been leaving a truck parked in front of our local grocery store.

Take one of your nice looking trucks with your logo and phone number on it and park it right next to their truck. Best advertising you'll ever get.

[SteveBullman]

heres another arboists truck i found when searching the net

[pete mctree]

:lol:

[GASoline71]

Well, I know when I was deliverin' firewood for a short spell, that a full cord would not fit in the 4X8 foot bed of my 3/4 ton truck. Always hadta make 2 trips on deliveries.

Anybody sells you a "cord" of wood, and shows up with a standard pickup load is full of crap.

Gary

[Newfie]

What does a cord weigh? A little more than that S-10's load limit I'd guess.

Seasoned mixed hardwoods weighs around 4000 lbs, sometimes a little more or less, depending on the mix and the seasoning.

[No_Bivy]

:lol:
:lol: :lol: :D :whine:

[stehansen]

My 2500 has the 7 foot bed and I believe that about level full is 1/2 of a cord.

[Stumper]

The Goobers are scary!

Gary, It is possible to get a full cord on a fullsize pickup. I don't have a pic but I'll explain how. Toss the bed almost full. With the bed filled just under the level of the rails start stacking around the edge of the bed with the chunks resting on the tossed wood and the rail and extending several inches over the side.having the bed less than completely filled lets you get a little angle inward so that the stacks don't fall off on the first turn. (It is pretty easy to stack 20-24 inch wood in a stable formation with plenty of overhang-16inch stove wood is a pain in the behind). Stack wood to the level of the top of the cab, toss the center full and slightly mounded above the stacked wood. If you stack carefully and really push it you can get a cord and a quarter on---- but a cord is a big load and any more starts getting less stable. A 1/2 ton will be grossly overloaded with any decent variety of wood. a 3/4 ton overloaded but steering okay and a 1 ton will be happy. I put measured cords on pickups many times. It is entirely doable without high sideboards.

[GASoline71]

I've actually done it before my self Justin. But I used side boards. That sounds like a good way to get wood into the truck without side boards.

We have guys selling "cords" of wood here on my Island, and showing up with a pickup truck loaded with a rounded pile of wood in it. People are buyin' it too... and gettin' cheated out of a lot of wood.

The last customer i sold wood to was shocked at the amount of wood I dropped off to her. She had been using a different dude that was sellin' her pickup truck loads as cords. Then I explained how a cord is measured and she was instantly pissed (not at me). I guess she had been buyin' wood from this guy for about 5 years. She paid less for the wood I sold her, and got more wood in the deal.

Gary

[No_Bivy]

AH yes, under bid again. High bid was 7k, 3 others at 5k, including me. LOW BALL = 1800:O Large Oak 60" plus in diameter. I bid with a crane as well as most others did. Two days, here is thier progress. The real estate co. asked for speedy removal, I told them one day. These dudes will be there for five days at this rate. Oh well, I guess it takes em outta' the loop for awhile at least. Hope no one gets hurt.

[darkstar]

I cant believe it. What the heck are they planning to do with the root ball. lordy.
RE agents suc .

[No_Bivy]

Oh well, I got a 2k job around the corner.......easy none the less.........8) I get frustrated when folks want quality and then buy BS.

[No_Bivy]

Good thing that MOFO fell the that way!!!!!!:\:

[TheTreeWiseMen]

I'm speechless.....

[darkstar]

For 1800 they will be losing money for some time at that rate.
However i think i would have beat the estimates of 5K we might handle it for 1700 times 2 [we would take 2 days] plus 400 on the stump so 3800, 3900 ,4200 or above and id be giddy.
It is ashville though and prices are higher there.
Glad they are out of the loop for a spell.
You never know you might still get the job .
Looks like they are 10 % finished

[darkstar]

Yo John i got one tomorrow 2400 for a tree on the house easy ,,,knock on wood,,,, 6 hours at most.
Go where the money is.

[sotc]

no wonder they cant afford a nicer truck!

[cybergeek23851]

no wonder they cant afford a nicer truck!

I feel sorry for the K10. :|:


Hacks are everywhere. There's just no way to avoid them.

[Ax-Man]

The Goobers are scary!

Gary, It is possible to get a full cord on a fullsize pickup. I don't have a pic but I'll explain how. Toss the bed almost full. With the bed filled just under the level of the rails start stacking around the edge of the bed with the chunks resting on the tossed wood and the rail and extending several inches over the side.having the bed less than completely filled lets you get a little angle inward so that the stacks don't fall off on the first turn. (It is pretty easy to stack 20-24 inch wood in a stable formation with plenty of overhang-16inch stove wood is a pain in the behind). Stack wood to the level of the top of the cab, toss the center full and slightly mounded above the stacked wood. If you stack carefully and really push it you can get a cord and a quarter on---- but a cord is a big load and any more starts getting less stable. A 1/2 ton will be grossly overloaded with any decent variety of wood. a 3/4 ton overloaded but steering okay and a 1 ton will be happy. I put measured cords on pickups many times. It is entirely doable without high sideboards.

Yep it can be done just the way you explained it Justin.

A firewood customer of mine who picks up his wood does it like that, like stacking a hay rack, plus he leaves the gate down and stacks on that. He has a regular 3/4 ton truck but it is a 4x4. It gets to be a game every winter as to how much I can cut and split verses how much he can haul about every two weeks during the heating season, he heats his whole house with a big wood stove. I always kick myself for not charging him enough, but he likes the wood 24" and split chunky and he is not fussy about species, it works out I guess he keeps warm and I get rid of marginal wood that I probaly couldn't sell anyway. That truck looks like a big wood pile going down the road.

[No_Bivy]

Firewood?...... no way......TFB(too f'in big)

[squisher]

$1800 let 'em have it :lol: , I bet in another day or two or more they're gonna be feeling pretty stupid.

[Ax-Man]

Bivy,

Are these the kind of guys that pop up after you have those storms come through and think that is all there is to being in the tree biz, picking up and cleaning up after windthrow trees. Looks like it anyway.

I wouldn't think there would be that much of a firewood market down there where you live ????

[Skwerl]

Bivy,

Are these the kind of guys that pop up after you have those storms come through and think that is all there is to being in the tree biz, picking up and cleaning up after windthrow trees. Looks like it anyway.

Reminds me of another major pet peeve of mine. And one of the biggest reasons I prefer subbing instead of dealing with homeowners. Today's customer (along with yesterday's customer, and the day before's customer) said to me "I bet you're wishing for a good hurricane season this year!" Jeezus H Kerist, that pisses me off to no end! Hurricane work is for the fukkinhg trash collectors to come out of the woodwork and gouge people for picking up broken trees off the ground! I'm not a trash collector, I'm an arborist! Why would I want to see more trees destroyed by hurricanes? I literally cried after seeing some beautiful old oak hammocks devastated two years ago. When people have the gall to suggest that I thrive on busting up trees and picking up trash, it kills me.

OK, I'm done bitching now. Back to your previous thread. :|:

[Ax-Man]

I know the feeling, annoying as hell isn't it when people say that to you. I'd starve to death waiting for the wind to blow, I hate doing storm work as it is, working on wind mangled trees is the worst kind of tree work.

[Old Monkey]

Some folks bids are so low it makes me feel like taking a few days off, set up a lawn chair across the street and watch the show.

[Stumper]

Car me clazy but.... That tree looks like less than 3 days for me alone......and my friendly firewood guy with the grapple loader to get the wood on the 3rd day.

[Thor's Hammer]

I hear you justin. I would do a tree like that in a day with 2 guys - but thats providing I can get my grapple truck up to it
Rear mounted grapple = lots of reach for clearing windblown trees.

[darkstar]

Some folks bids are so low it makes me feel like taking a few days off, set up a lawn chair across the street and watch the show.


That would be funny as h@#$:whine:

[No_Bivy]

8hr or less with a crane

[TC3]

The rake in the pic is precious. Where's the Duelin' Banjos music when you need it ?

[Buzz]

I'd do that in a day as well but I'd put 2400 US on it :)

[No_Bivy]

DAy three NO PROGRESS,........ We will see what tommorrow brings. Today was 65 and sunny, I guess those bubbas are sleeping off a METH buzz.:/: Meanwhile we did 12 takedowns and upsold a pruning job. I wonder if I'll get the call for back up..................:D

[darkstar]

I think you will either get a call back soon , if not they will deff. call you next time.
Live and learn for those bros.

[No_Bivy]

DAY FIVE, here's the action vid. Dude in orange is an OX. Interview to come....:D
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[TC3]

Sux 2 B them !

[No_Bivy]

Yep, dude has a 800$ a month yellow page ad, which says owners supervises every job,... yep he sits on his ass. The were friendly hard working dudes though. Happy to talk with me,.... I wished them all the best. They plan on cutting all of it up for firewood.:\: This may turn into a two week ordeal!!!! I guess I won't be bidding against them in the short term.Here they are.
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[MasterBlaster]

Well, that's one way to go about it.

[squisher]

On that crew I'd prefer to be the supervisor I think :D .

[sotc]

below minimum wage and under the table id guess

[MasterBlaster]

What is the give away for that?

[sotc]

couldnt make money with that bid and that job and that equip. any other way

[No_Bivy]

Thier truck says Fully Insured?:what:

[sotc]

same with a few guys around here!

[SteveBullman]

ive got a smallish truck by american standards and thats no different to how i'd load up my cord, along with the larger percentage of other uk companies...i guess i must be a cowboy too!

[Ryan]

Steve, I've handbombed wood before too. I didn't realize it was an outdated practice. Next thing I know, dragging brush will be a fool's errand and I'll have to talk the boss into getting a winch to pull brush to the chipper 'cos that's how the "pros" do it.

No offense, John. Just another one of my many attempts at humor.:D ;)

[No_Bivy]

Working like that will finish your spine off early. Most companies I see round' here like that use and abuse thier employees, and eventually they all leave. This is a reason for high turnover. I doubt dude has insurance he claims, probably just ghost certificates. Loading wood by hand sucks, Ain't no way dudes can load these big chunks by hand. I try and go with the all hydraulic policy, and save my back for the good part, CLIMBING.

[MasterBlaster]

Shoot, I loaded em like that for years, never hurt my back. Working out of a bucket hurt my back more than hand loading logs ever did. Just don't go too heavy, it's a good workout.

[No_Bivy]

Im lazy:D

[MasterBlaster]

Hell, me too in my old age! ;)

Bring on the loader/Bobcat!!!

[No_Bivy]

Crane?.......:D
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[SteveBullman]

bivy, most of the jobs over here you're lucky to be able to get a truck up to, big wood normally ends up gettings sliced and diced and carried out.

[No_Bivy]

How about mini skids?

[Thor's Hammer]

If you cant get a big truck to it, a mini loader will soon carry it out

http://www.gypoclimber.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=8680&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1175378381

[roller]

Thier truck says Fully Insured?:what:


not being funny ,but i'd watch what I posted about other firms,you never know if they might be reading this stuff..;)

[Climber020]

Been loading wood like that since I started tree work. Almost all companies I work for or sub for don't have groundies so after you climbing you drag and carry. And with my back, it is now in my business plan to buy a mini next year.

[sotc]

Been loading wood like that since I started tree work. Almost all companies I work for or sub for don't have groundies so after you climbing you drag and carry. And with my back, it is now in my business plan to buy a mini next year.

me too, unless it works out for later this year

[TC3]

There's a lot of good points being made about having to chunk & load. It ain't rocket science to dice up a felled tree. We've all done it, and I think no matter where you go there will always be people willing to do it for cheap.
It makes a good case for diversifying. When I'm on a property like that, I can do a walk-around with a customer and offer other tree care services as well as the removal. I'd rather focus on establishing that person as a customer. Repeat biz is where it's at.

[darkstar]

I got to hernias from that kinda of work. It was painful and expensive.

[Ryan]

;)

[Paul B]

nice log Ryan! I think john stewart has a pic of a big hunk o wood upon the shoulder too.

[MasterBlaster]

That's WACK, yo! :what:

[TC3]

Poplar. Light as a feather (snicker).
Dang, Ryan.................
You're HIRED

[No_Bivy]

:what: I'm on the longevity plan,I know my limits. If I pick up heavy shat, I will be done too soon. Diesel fuel is cheaper then back surgery. I prefer to save my back fo'shat like this. I am weak, and lazy.....give me some levers to pull. TNT, you are wise.

[Ryan]

I had a construction foreman who used to say to us, "Sixty inch chest, two inch brain and a one inch....." well, you can guess the rest. I've made some good money picking things up and moving them.

[squisher]

Shoot I pick up logs and move em around but it doesn't mean I like to. I am dying to get a mini-skid. I don't get and have never had a sore back and I'm still jonesing bad for one of these little machines. We used to have a motto while logging, 'let the machine do the work'. Those minis look mighty fine to me.

[No_Bivy]

Almost a month now, they are still plugging away at it!!!! Quatering up the big chunks, no fun. And my other low ball competition got a new truck. Firewood ain't sellin' to good at 80 degrees though.

[MasterBlaster]

That truck is unbelievable.

[squisher]

Oh thanks for that man. That is to funny :lol: . Shoot John I don't know how ya do it with all that competition around :lol: .

[Canuck]

The other day I was a tree buddies house in calgary and he had a "card" that was left on his door stuck to his fridge. Hand written in crayon was the company name and contact info. Trees Cheap. I tried calling the number but it was a cell that was turned off with no voice mail.

[No_Bivy]

Only 4 more tons to go, yee haw

[SteveBullman]

i was about to spend £200 getting my truck sign written, never occured me to write it on myself with a permanent marker!

[Paul B]

maybe you could suggest an alternative use for the wood, once split it can be firewood or.... wheel chocks.
Its all in the marketing I tell ya.

[No_Bivy]

maybe you could suggest an alternative use for the wood, once split it can be firewood or.... wheel chocks.
Its all in the marketing I tell ya.

Good idea! And you can duck tape the turn signals on the truck to in a pinch.

[No_Bivy]

i was about to spend £200 getting my truck sign written, never occured me to write it on myself with a permanent marker!

Thats finger paint:/:

[SteveBullman]

cool....even cheaper, perhaps i could even use dog crap

[No_Bivy]

cool....even cheaper, perhaps i could even use dog crap

It's your finger:lol: Or just scratch it into the paint:\:

[No_Bivy]

Persistence is about to pay off....Dudes are using a stump grinder and broken maul to finish it off. I was unaware one could grind something that was loose like that?

[Skwerl]

If nothing else, they are honorable and keep their word. They said they would do the job and they kept their word even though it meant working for free for a couple weeks.

[xtremetrees]

No bivy would done it in just one day. They Probably fed the crew a month off this one job.

[stehansen]

I think they have some relatives here, or maybe they have franchised their operation. By the way that "license number" is not a contractors license number, but probably a business license number. Too many digits to be a contractors license number.

[Stumper]

Iunderstand working too cheap. What I can't wrap my mind around is taking soooooooo long.

[sotc]

they cany get much smaller and still use the grinder or theyll hang the stump up in the machine

[stehansen]

i was about to spend £200 getting my truck sign written, never occured me to write it on myself with a permanent marker!

What were you thinking?

[SteveBullman]

i clearly wasnt!

[Old Monkey]

Looks like they are just about ready to steal another job from you NoBivoulous One.

[Skwerl]

If they steal too many more jobs, they'll run themselves out of business! At those rates I think welfare would be more profitable...

[Bodean]

After someone does a job like that for a rock bottom price,
Do they learn something from it?

They should have just picked that hunk of wood up and thrown it in that
antique truck and been done with it.

Maybe the competition was karma bidding.

[darkstar]

They better learn ...

[sotc]

They should have just picked that hunk of wood up and thrown it in that
antique truck and been done with it.


done with the truck or the job? :)

[Old Monkey]

This was a fun thread.

[No_Bivy]

Oh yeah it was!!!:lol:

[sotc]

i just scrolled through, it was funny

[Blinky]

Yep, That was a good one.

The 'supervisor' sitting on his duff while those two heaved wood in the truck was priceless.

I've chunked and heaved plenty of wood but on a 60" TD it's time for the equipment. Did they just pull it over or what?

[stehansen]

Maybe they were drunk when they planned it. F___ yeah we can chunk it and load it up! No problem.

[No_Bivy]

they just re painted thier trunk with some new slogans. They usually park thier trucks outside a grocery store on the weekends to advertise. I thought about parking my rig next to thiers, but I decided there shit says enough as it is....and I don't want to pick a fight. Pretty entertaining though. This was on Thanksgiving weekend. Spellin' aint thar bes suject

[stehansen]

That is something else.

[No_Bivy]

I know..they should get em' detailed:lol:

[MasterBlaster]

Someone needs to call that number.

[stehansen]

My competition parks their rig in our local grocery store parking lot on occasion but they park a nice rear mount boom truck with actual lettering on the side.

[Blinky]

You got admit, it gets attention... it's almost like they've branded their business with spray painted signage and bad spelling. ...I didn't see his ISA cert #, is it on the other side?

What they need now are spray painted polo shirts.

[sotc]

nice marketing campaign

[Frans]

...I didn't see his ISA cert #, is it on the other side?
.

Badges?! We dont need no stinking badges!

[Jonseredbred]

Problem is, I bet they get alot of work.

[No_Bivy]

doubt it

[Jonseredbred]

I am gonna guess they get more than you might think. Always a bunch of customers who dont care about anything other than the low $$

[No_Bivy]

they can have those folks.......if one job takes a week, then they are outta the game for the high dollar jobs:D