Photos: About Time!!!!

[jrebeiro]

Hey all,

I finally got pics of my trailer and equipment. Also got some pics of 2 lawns we cut. Wednesday we dont have our better clients (They like Friday's) so here is what we cut today.

Equipment and Shirts:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1649685&a=12629024

2 of my accounts:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=1649685&a=12629001

Hope you all enjoy :)

[eggy]

Looks good!!!! but walk behinds...ughhh Good luck!

[pcs]

I like your trailer/shop. Looks good!

[George777]

jrebeiro, nice set up. The turf is looking awesome. Keep up the good work.

[bob]

I like those plastic bins. Good idea!

[jrebeiro]

The bins are made by Akro Mils. We bought them from Grainger. They keep all our irrigation fittings nice and neat. They also deal with bumps very well... we jumped a few curbs on a few tight turns and only one fitting ever fell out since we installed them 2 months ago. They work really well... The style of bins are called louvred bins.

[HOMER]

What type fasteners did you use to install your trimmer rack? I need to modify the one I cut off my open trailer and attach it to the wall of my enclosed. You did go into steel didn't you?

I worked on organizing mine today but I'm not quite satisfied yet. The bin idea looks good and so does trimmer rack.

[EarthTech Landscapes]

looks great, i also like the trimmer rack. Nice set up.

[Grapevine]

It still baffles me how many guys are in this without at least a 1 ton Dump truck. Do you not take accounts that require you to remove the clippings ? What if the customer wants Mulch ? I'm in Mass and it's rare to see anyone in this with just a pickup.

[Richard Martin]

. Do you not take accounts that require you to remove the clippings ? What if the customer wants Mulch ?

Actually a lot of us wonder why you would take clippings when they can be left behind to naturally decompose in the lawn. Clippings from <i>grass</i> do not contribute to thatch and decompose quickly. Also it is cheaper to leave the clippings behind. You don't spend time loading them and you save on tipping (dump) fees ($65.00 a ton plus the time and gas to drive there). The only places that get bagged around here are at the retirement community where the yards are 500 sq ft or less. Picky old people.

Mulch, that's easy. Take the mowers off of the trailer and load the trailer and the truck up.

[Eric ELM]

I agree with Richard, why would you remove clippings. I haven't removed any clippings or leaves since I got my Choppers in 93. I just Chop up everything and leave it and I've never had ONE complaint about this. Customers love this idea.

The only picture on my website with any build up of clippings is one on the double blade page showing my lawn next to our competition's lawn. The competition's lawn has a big build up, mine has none. See for yourself. ;)

[Grassman]

Excellent, professional setup and lawns. The only thing I'd change are those pistol grip scags. Good luck, Russ.

[Ground Pounder]

Yea for walk-behinds! Keep fit, lighter than riders, with a sulky you can do anything a rider can. I use eXmark walk-behinds, but to each his own.

I really like your set-up.

[powerreel]

Cool set up! How do you shoot hoops with the trailer there?

[Grateful11]

I agree with Richard. When I leave there's never a clipping in site, that I know of. Except of course on the one every two week account I have and I try to get rid of most of them but not by bagging, but chopping. I keep telling my friends that mow their own lawns to mulch or mow the clipping in on themselves because if they're bagging they're wasting that expensive fert. that they put on their grass.

[yardsmith]

Nice setup......
Boy that sloped driveway looks like a sure-fire trailer jack buster! (been there done that)

[Grapevine]

In Mass. with the spring rains and 95% of the customers either being fertilized by Chemlawn or myself, the lawns grow fast and hard. Mulching here is not an option until after June 30th. We use Walkers and actually bought rear deflectors for 2 of them last year and that worked pretty well for some of the properties, but most have to be bagged.
The only Dixie Chopper I've ever seen has been at a trade show or in a magazine, they are just not feasible in this area. Most guys doing this for a living in this area are using Walkers or once in a while a Scag Turf Runner or walk behinds.
As far as mulch on a trailer, I think I'll stick to the 1 Ton.

[Greenkeepers]

Nice setup and pics... I think I'm going to look into a enclosed trailer...

[Richard Martin]

I know that you know your business but I still have a couple of questions/comments. The grass grows like the dickens here in Maryland too. If a Dixie with Gator Magnums will leave a very nice result here why wouldn't it do the same in Mass? Also, mulching is almost never an option here. We discharge everything. Also, why would you be opposed to putting mulch on the trailer? It doesn't hurt the trailer in any way.

[AB Lawn Care]

Grapevine-I live just above you or beside you in ontario.I too run Walkers.I use to bag as well,but I have switched to side discharge.I now use a 54'' deck for all my cutting and a 42'' GHS for spring/fall cleanups.I was using your setup for years.Then 1 year the dump went on strike.I had no choice but to switch to the 54''.I am very happy now that I have done that.The lawns do MUCH better when you side discharge.As far as clippings go I know just what you mean about how much the grass grows in this area.But I have found ways to make lawns look good even if the grass is heavy.I use a br400 sthil backpack blower to "blend" the clippings into the lawn.And if it is REALLY heavy I will scoot over bad areas twice with the mower.It is a bit of a hassle.But it is quicker when you compare to bagging.I'm not trying to convince you to switch to SD but just telling you how I have found it switching over.

And back to the main post.VERY nice setup!I wish my crew looked that good!

[DMC300]

Looks good,Ilike your rig,And your Logo!

[jrebeiro]

Thanks for the nice comments...

DMC I created that logo myself... took me a while to get it how i wanted cuz I had to learn a new program to make it printable on the shirts and trailer.

Grapevine.. If we have a mulch job we have it dumped by our supplier. We get free delivery and they can do a huge load instead of us making 2 trips on bigger jobs.

[Edited by jrebeiro on 04-20-2001 at 07:03 PM]

[Grapevine]

AB Lawn Care.. Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. Would like to do less bagging and was toying with the side discharge, but opted for the rear deflectors instead. Even had the trailer modified so I could drive up into the truck and dump. Will try to increase the use of the deflectors this year and see what happens.
Muchos grasias

[eslawns]

It still baffles me how many guys are in this without at least a 1 ton Dump truck.

It baffles me why most people think you need an F-350 to pull a 36" WB to cut 10 lawns. That's what 2/3 of the people around here do. One guy here uses a 4 cyl Nissan to pull a 6x16 trailer with 3 WBs in it.

Do you not take accounts that require you to remove the clippings?

Yes, and I charge them dearly for the extra work. Not many are willing to pay for it. The bags go in the bed of the truck, or the clippings are dumped on-site.

What if the customer wants Mulch?

I have a 5x10 w/3' plywood sides for mulch and debris, and a 6x12 w/2' exp metal sides that will hold 5 yards of mulch. Anything more than that I have delivered.

I'm in Mass and it's rare to see anyone in this with just a pickup.

I've seen one guy use a Dodge van, and a few new people put a 21" in the trunk of their cars. A few large outfits use Isuzu NPRs, but almost all use pickups. This is usually because they are working part time, and already had the truck.

[eslawns]

Jeff,

Nice looking setup. I have a few ??? for you:

1. What engine is in your Dakota?
2. What size trailer is that?
3. How much equipment do you keep in there day to day?
4. How much does the trailer/equipment weigh?

I've been toying with the idea of using an enclosed trailer. It's one reason I've held off getting a ZTR. I'm concerned that my 6 cyl GMC will have a hard time pulling that much weight every day.

[KirbysLawn]

Very nice in every way!! I think I'll go out and straighten up mine, looks bad compaired to yours. :D

[Grapevine]

Eslawns.. I'm not talking about guys who do this part time or after school or with their Dads mower, I'm talking about those of us who do this for a living. I've been in this for 14 years full time, have over 120 accounts including 5 good size condos. Have an "85" Ck30 diesel Dump (this thing will pull a school down) and a "97" Ck 2500 Silverado ext cab both with plows. 1 20 Ft Trailer and a 5x10 Trailer. We run 3 48" Walkers, 1 Exmark 48" and and 1 Exmark 36".
I'm really not looking to beef with anybody and really like this site and am always interested in how others from other parts of the country do the same work as me. I guess when doing this for so long you get kind of set in your ways and if it ain't broke don't fix it. If I have offended anyone, I apologize.
Ps.. There's no way I'm putting mulch on my trailer. (just kidding)

[jrebeiro]

eslawns:

1) The Dakota is a V8. Im not sure about the rest of the specs since it is one of the other guy's trucks. Im going to the Ford dealer this week to trade my car in for a F-250. I'm gonna really try to swing for a diesel truck tho.

2) The trailer is an Avenger 7'x16' tandem trailer.

3) We keep 2 Scag 48" wb's, 2 21"'s, 2 trimmers, 1 walk behind edger, 1 blower, 40 bins full of irrigation supplies, full toolbox and toolset, 2 cordless drills, safety glasses, box of earplugs, oil, grease, 2 stroke mix, 2 5 gallon gas cans, 1 2.5 gallon gas can, 2 commercial two-way radios, and 2 extra t-shirts incase we have any laborers.

4) Trailer is about 2,500lbs and my best guess at equipment would be another 1,500-2,000.

We are also going this week to get heavy-duty springs intalled in the back of the truck. The trailer is a bit heavy and the stock shocks arent supporting the weight of the trailer very well. This may be fixed when I get my full-sized but should be done anyway since it still will be used to haul the trailer.

[Eric ELM]

You will find here at Lawnsite, there are many combos that people use as far as trucks and trailers. I use my Heavy Duty F250 4X4 the year around, from plowing to pulling the trailer, so this is why I use a Pickup. I would love to have a 1 Ton Dump, but it's to wide for plowing circle drives.

[Grapevine]

I was picking up mulch on Friday and a 2000 F550 PS Diesel,10 Ft bed, 4x4 w/ plow was getting loam next to me.
I can carry a good 6 yrads of mulch in my Dump, but only 2 yards of loam. This guy gets 4 yards of wet loam on this thing and it didn't even move. I told him I'd give my left nut for a truck like that and then he told me he pays close to a grand a month not including insurance for it. That's a s**tload of money for a truck, but it was nice.

[shorelinelawn]

I like the way your trailer is set up !!!!! I have a 6x12 Haulmark enclosed on order ( just 2 more weeks with my old open pc of S--T ) . You gave me some ideas how to set up mine ! The lettering is the best idea in the world. I had my F150 lettered last year, and I get nothing but compliments on how it looks !! Also the extra "free" business it generates continues to amaze me !! I had one lady roll down her window next to me, stop traffic, and began to ask me questions, in the middle of a busy street !!! It amazes me how many "blank" trailers I see in neighborhoods that don't get that free advertising !!
I like the t-shirts also- like someone earlier said, you get one chance at a 1st impression. You could be a lawn GOD,
but if you show up with a Beer t-shirt on , what kind of impression is that ??
Keep up the good look, and the phone will ring off your hook !!

[steveair]

Hello,

Not to bust you on anything, but I have to ask being that I am in NJ.

I can't see a irrigation license number anywhere on the truck or trailer? For what it is worth, I know a lot of guys up north who would love to do nothing better but call you in on that one.

Just wondering if you are licensed, and if not, how long have you gotten away with it. Even if you are only doing maintenance, and not install work, you still need one I thought( I assume you only do maintenance because I don't see a trencher/puller)

Being this is a professional site, just had to ask. Have a lot of friends in the irrigation business and they would REALLY love to see you cruise into there turf without a license. They did a lot work to get it, so I must give them the respect they deserve. If you don't have a license, may I suggest getting one. I have to say that without it, even with this nice setup, you are still a 'scrub'.

Steveair