Price to charge?

[smalley360]

I know price verys from location to location but I would like some info on how you guys would estimate the ballpark charge for a ditch on flat ground without any obstructions, digging in dry clay 3ft deep x 13" wide x 57 feet long. I am using my new RC-30 with a backhoe attachment.
any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Keoni

[RockSet N' Grade]

Keoni...a couple questions: How far do you have to drive to get to the job? How long do you think it will take to unload, dig, and then reload your equipment?

[Scag48]

That would take me about 30 minutes to do, if that. We have minimums, I won't go to a job unless I get paid for 2 hours of work.

[crab]

30 minutes with what?

[Dirt Digger2]

30 minutes with what?

well it depends how close to 3 feet you have to be. If it has to be exact like using a laser it will take longer, but if its a simple electric trench you could easily knock it out in 1/2 hour with a full size backhoe, i mean its only a foot wide...as far as the positrack with a backhoe attachment i couldnt tell you...i've never run one

[crab]

:hammerhead: yea got it ,misread post 13 inches not feet,my apologies to all concerned!

[RockSet N' Grade]

My thinking is that even though it wouldn't take too much time to actually dig, your fixed expenses are still the same, so you have got to have a minimum to show up and dig and a transport fee of some sort.....otherwise you could be running all around for 30 minute jobs and go broke in the process. I have been trying to get $150 for transport and a 4 hr. minimum....during the busy season, that was no problem with a fast economy....but now it is a tad bit slower and winter, so your guess is better than mine right now....

[smalley360]

The drive is about a half hour in a regular truck not hauling, but the road is very long and curvy with many ruts due to the surrounding trees causing upheaval of the asphault so I would just go up in first gear most of the way. I think the drive is the worst part of the job. The trench is for a retaining wall surrounding a cottage which they are going to burry the ends of eucylptus trees in the ditch for the wall support. The edge of the trench is about 4ft from the side of the cottage. I'm getting into the compact equipment digging business since there is a lot of work in areas that big machines cant go.
I will put a minimum time charge (2 hrs).
My guess for the travel/dig/load & unload time would be:

drive to site = 45-50 min.
load = 10 min.
unload = 10 min.
dig = 1-2 hours

[Scag48]

In that case, I wouldn't charge less than $250. I don't know what you plan on making your hourly rate, but you have about 3 hours of work/drive time, not including the drive home. We usually only charge for move in as the next customer who pays move in will basically paying for move out on the last job. Typically we move from one job to the next, our equipment never makes it back to the shop.

Crab, I was quoting time using a Cat 303CR mini ex. I re-read his post and said it was clay, so in that case I'd probably be looking more at 45 minutes or so, clay always seems to give mini's trouble. You could bring in a 312 and have it done in about 15 minutes, but it sure wouldn't be 13 inches wide...:drinkup:

[smalley360]

Sorry for all the newbie questions but I just got into the buisness. I bought the machine for my property and enjoyed working with it so much that I figured it would be a nice side business. Also the compact market here is small.
What do you guys charge per hour? I was thinking $65/hr for the machine but do you also charge for the operator time or is it included with the machine price (I own my machine and trailer).

[Gravel Rat]

I had to re-read the question at first I though it was 57 inches long :laugh:

Just be prepared for the unknowns your digging along and who knows what has been buried under the ground if the are has been developed over the years. I don't know what a RC-30 is but a skid steer with a backhoe attachment will be slower than what a mini would be. I would count on atleast 1.5 hours you can only dig so far then you got to back the machine up dig some more. Then your spending extra time re-adjusting the machine so you get a straight trench.

For guys like me that are so used to minis digging trenches its quck easy and does a clean job your not limited to how far you can put the spoils out of the trench.

Good luck and hopefully the homeowner doesn't get pizzed off with you that it cost more for you to do the job over a person with a mini excavator.

[smalley360]

Rc-30 with the backhoe attachment. 11 ft reach, 7 ft depth. http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=69405&stc=1&d=1166046227

[Gravel Rat]

Thanks for the pictures :)

I would say 2 hours digging time it may take you less but I doubt it would take you longer unless you run into some hard material. A 36" depth with the backhoe attachement is probably going to be a slow go.

A rubber tired backhoe is a little different because you can push yourself backwards with the hoe.

The local school district has a 763 skid steer with a backhoe attachement it was the first time I ever seen on in operation it was about 11 years ago now.

It was a slow process digging a long trench or any kind of trench because the guy operating the machine had to get back into the machine move it back start digging again. I see they rent the mini excavator from the rental shop now.

[Scag48]

$65 an hour sounds about right for the RC 30, I'd stick with that number.

[farmboy555]

I've have a backhoe att. on my 853 Bobcat, use it everyday. All I have to do on mine from the backhoe seat is reach back and and use the steer levers. It would be very slow if you had to get in the skidsteer every time to move it.
As far a money, 3 hour mini is as cheap I can get @ $65. per and all my equipment is paid for. dennis

[minimax]

Do you have to get off the back hoe part to move the machine? with the mini's you can repostion the machine very quickly but I don't know on a ASV because you can't push the machine like you can on a TLB? On my 35 deere mini-x that would take less than a hour with somebody checking grade, don't forget to charge a houly rate for the guy checking grade.

minimax

[Gravel Rat]

In the pictures it looks like the RC-30 has joystick control so it looks like it would be easy enough to reach back and move the joystick not like the old Bobcat machines with yankem sticks. With rubber tired backhoes its easy lift the front bucket and use the hoe to push backwards lifting the machine so you don't bend the stabilizers :laugh:

Excavator its a piece of cake but its all what you get used to using.

[smalley360]

Actually the RC-30 as well as the RC-50 the controls tip into the cab while you keep sitting in the operators seat so to move backwards all you do is move the joystick on you side to lift the backhoe a little and use the joystick on the other side to move the machine back then put the hoe back on the ground and keep digging. you don't even have to lift the outrigger legs as they lift with the arms on the 30 that attaches to the hoe so there is no getting up or out of the cab. I like it a lot, makes it very agile. with the hoe on the front it is a little tippy so you have to be a little careful.

[Mike33]

Look at it this way , most people will not hand dig it for 250 or 300. Many times we really bank on these little jobs. In fact my logo for my yellow page ad says " we specialize in small jobs " Do 3 of these by lunch time every day would be very profitable.
Mike

[smalley360]

That is what I am hoping for. Many little jobs would be great. Oh, here is a short video of how the RC-30 operates with the backhoe. This is my first time using the attachment.
http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3046187150040363269

[RockSet N' Grade]

Smalley360....I think, over on the islands there since the market is so hot and it is hard to get people to show up, you may be able to get $75-$85 an hour plus travel time and a 4 hr. minimum. I will make a call tomorrow to a friend of mine on your island who moved from here to there to build custom homes.....couldn't find folks to do the work, so they imported from the states. There is a real demand right now for equipment and operators. If you see a big fat white boy with a santa claus belly and huge mustache, wears suspenders....his name is Robert Webster ( Big Bad Bob ). He is about 60ish and building a $6 mil spec home there.....introduce yourself. Like I said, will call him tomorrow to verify rates....

[smalley360]

Thanks RockSet, appreciate it!

[RockSet N' Grade]

Smalley360....I private messaged you.

[treadlite]

Smalley..... good to see other RC 30 owner here!!! Let me know how that brush cutter works for you..... all the best!!