View Full Version : Matt Koski Landscape and Design 2009
Here's a couple pics of the 6 mulch jobs we've done over the past 4 weekends- more to come as the season progresses- enjoy!
First couple are on a 65 yard job (only got pics of the front of the house)- took us 2.5 saturdays to complete it, last couple are on a 12 yard job, took us 4 hrs :weightlifter: .
Here's a couple more, and how I found the guys when I got back with the last load of mulch for the day :rolleyes:
Lakewlc
04-27-2009, 04:01 PM
nice work. great lookin truck too!
nnj18
04-27-2009, 05:36 PM
get some like 12 tine pitch forks man! and work looks great!
MileHigh
04-27-2009, 05:43 PM
dang....65 yards of mulch spread with two wheel-barrows...
that's busting your arse.
I would've rented a skid.
Good work though.
dang....65 yards of mulch spread with two wheel-barrows...
that's busting your arse.
I would've rented a skid.
Good work though.
Yeah but a skid wouldn't have really helped much- all in small bed areas (expect for the large front area), and the client wouldn't really appreciate having skid marks all over their lawn ;) Good thought though.
get some like 12 tine pitch forks man! and work looks great!
What actually ended up working the best were the large aluminum scoop shovels they sell at TSC- bought 2 of them, work GREAT!
Thanks for the comments guys- keep 'em coming!
2brothersyardcare
04-27-2009, 08:27 PM
i like barn shovels work good 4 me
Kriz2ooo
04-27-2009, 08:53 PM
yeah the big scoop barn shovels are awesome for everything
N&CLandscaping
04-27-2009, 09:21 PM
62 yards! Holy Sh**! For 2 guys and 2 wheelbarrows? I would have hired another 3 guys to help and get the job done in one day. Or a mulch blower. I have never heard of 62 yards of mulch with 2 guys wow. Congrats tho looks good
62 yards! Holy Sh**! For 2 guys and 2 wheelbarrows? I would have hired another 3 guys to help and get the job done in one day. Or a mulch blower. I have never heard of 62 yards of mulch with 2 guys wow. Congrats tho looks good
Well, it was really 3 guys- I was working too lol- they were loading and moving, and for he most part I was getting more mulch (truck and dump trailer), and spreading the mulch piles they dumped- worked pretty well actually! Took 2.5 full 10 hour days really pushing to get it done.
At our peak we were putting down 7 yards an hour (with the help from JPMAKO who stopped by and ended up working some too lol)- pretty damn good!
tls22
04-27-2009, 09:52 PM
Matt everything looks great.....you do nice work.....i cant wait to get my back rack
mowerdude777
04-27-2009, 10:25 PM
Work looks great
slamjamrockinman
04-27-2009, 10:37 PM
Looks Good!! Looks like your already making money with that new trailer!
deere615
04-27-2009, 10:48 PM
Great work man. Dump trailer is looking good. How did you rig up the tarp, I need to do something for mine
Petr51488
04-27-2009, 11:05 PM
wow, 65 yards! How many times did you go back and forth from the mulch place? how far was it? The most i ever did was 30 yards and i used bags! It took 6 or 7 guys about 4 hours. We used bags because the whole back of the house had stairs going down into the yard and would be impossible for bulk mulch.
Thanks guys!
Yeah the dump trailer is working out AWESOME- don't know what I did without it! Definitely worth the money!
As for the tarp, I ordered a 7'x14' dump truck tarp (expensive sucker, was like $120), and screwed (with large washers) it to the front of the trailer sides I made (in the grommits), and to the side, and took 2 short bungees to keep it rolled up. It had a 6" pocket at the end I put a piece of 1" PVC pipe into and screwed it in place to "hold" the tarp flat and roll up nicely. Works Great!
wannabemowing
04-27-2009, 11:06 PM
Work looks really good!! I know what it's like doing a lot of mulch by hand. The place I work has yearly account and every year we re-mulch it and it's 90 yards!! Yes that is not a typo it really is 90 yards and it's all done by pitch fork and wheel barrow, usually takes 4-6 of us a few days to do but hey we all have to pay the bills somehow!! Good luck this year and like I said your work looks very good!!
W.L.M.
04-27-2009, 11:19 PM
My lordy that front bed is huge, looks like you guys did a nice job.
Gudtimes
04-28-2009, 12:16 AM
So how many yards of mulch are you able to fit on the new trailer once you built the sides?
I was taking 7 yards per trip. I could fit 9 volume wise, but it would be a little heavier than I would have liked. It was also like 90* on Saturday, and I didn't want my trans temp above 200* so I kept the load to 7 yards. Truck pulled it like a champ though!
wow, 65 yards! How many times did you go back and forth from the mulch place? how far was it? The most i ever did was 30 yards and i used bags! It took 6 or 7 guys about 4 hours. We used bags because the whole back of the house had stairs going down into the yard and would be impossible for bulk mulch.
I did it in 10 trips- mulch supplier is about 8 miles from me- about 45 mins round trip. Worked pretty well, I'd drop the first load off Fri night, the guys would start at 8A sharp, I'd roll in with abother 7 yards around 8 so they had 14 yards to start, we'd get through about half of the initial pile and I'd go back for more, and continue that until the end of the day, repeat... They would just about have the pile (~6 yards) gone by the time I got back.
Lawn Freak
04-28-2009, 01:27 AM
Looks good, thats alot of mulch!
Thanks! Yeah, it's the biggest we've tackled before- most are between 10 and 40 yard jobs.
deere615
04-28-2009, 10:48 PM
Thanks guys!
Yeah the dump trailer is working out AWESOME- don't know what I did without it! Definitely worth the money!
As for the tarp, I ordered a 7'x14' dump truck tarp (expensive sucker, was like $120), and screwed (with large washers) it to the front of the trailer sides I made (in the grommits), and to the side, and took 2 short bungees to keep it rolled up. It had a 6" pocket at the end I put a piece of 1" PVC pipe into and screwed it in place to "hold" the tarp flat and roll up nicely. Works Great!
I see, I might have to try a fab somethng up like that
I see, I might have to try a fab somethng up like that
I'll post a couple of close ups this weekend when I'm home again if you like- works great so far, and a lot cheaper than getting a tarp roller ($250 or better).
MysticLandscape
04-28-2009, 11:00 PM
I was taking 7 yards per trip. I could fit 9 volume wise, but it would be a little heavier than I would have liked. It was also like 90* on Saturday, and I didn't want my trans temp above 200* so I kept the load to 7 yards. Truck pulled it like a champ though!
My buddy puts 18 yards in his dump trailer, talk about heavy.
My buddy puts 18 yards in his dump trailer, talk about heavy.
Yikes! What does he tow it with? I could probably pull 12+ yards, but my trans would definitely be pushing 210*, which according to GM is just fine, but I'd still rather keep it under 200.
deere615
04-29-2009, 12:10 AM
I'll post a couple of close ups this weekend when I'm home again if you like- works great so far, and a lot cheaper than getting a tarp roller ($250 or better).
yeah they are expensive, I had looked at them a while back. Yeah post some pics when you get a chance
lukemelo216
04-29-2009, 01:45 AM
you might be able to get a bulldog tarp (just a mesh tarp) for cheaper........thats what we use 12x20 80$ from my nursery.....works great. thats what they run too when they cover up materials or plants and stuff.....doesnt puff up or anything
MysticLandscape
04-29-2009, 07:53 AM
Yikes! What does he tow it with? I could probably pull 12+ yards, but my trans would definitely be pushing 210*, which according to GM is just fine, but I'd still rather keep it under 200.
07 350 diesel. Banks tuner with gauges, exhaust and intake. Thing sounds stupid loud when its loaded. 5 inch straight pipe.
thu cutting edge
04-29-2009, 11:31 AM
i have a couple of comments. that doesnt look like 65 yrds. also i would have used bags because you van spread them easier. and finally if it was 65 yrds then you should of had a lil profit you could have rented a bark blower for the day. And finally u need some 12 tine pitch forks to spread that much easier. im not dogging u or nothing just giving helpfull info.
Junior M
04-29-2009, 11:36 AM
Mkwl, I've got about the same truck as you(motor and tranny wise) and our tranny use to get just as hot when pulling a heavy load and then we changed the tranny fluid and it ran a whole lot better and it didnt get near as hot...
i have a couple of comments. that doesnt look like 65 yrds. also i would have used bags because you van spread them easier. and finally if it was 65 yrds then you should of had a lil profit you could have rented a bark blower for the day. And finally u need some 12 tine pitch forks to spread that much easier. im not dogging u or nothing just giving helpfull info.
Like I mentioned before- I was not able to get pics of the backyard (where 2/3 of the mulch went to), trust me when I tell you it was 65 yards- I did the job, I think I would know! Why would I want to use BAGS? Do yo have any clue how many bags that would be? Not to mention how much it would cost? And how many bags I'd have to get rid of!?! HOW is it possibly faster to spread with bags?- you have to open them, spread them, and get rid of them. I can get 4x the amount of mulch in 1 wheelbarrow load, that takes 3 mins at msot to load. Most people up here like the mulch to be spread thick (1.5" or better), mulch blowers just don't cut the mustard- they want it hand laid, and that's what we do anc charge for. My spreading method works just fine thanks very much.
When you can spread 65 yards in around 2.5- 10 hour days with 3 guys you let me know- I'll take some advise then:laugh:
Bags lol lol lol:laugh:
07 350 diesel. Banks tuner with gauges, exhaust and intake. Thing sounds stupid loud when its loaded. 5 inch straight pipe.
Is it an auto trans? I'd hate to know how hot that sucker gets if its an auto with all that weight!
Mkwl, I've got about the same truck as you(motor and tranny wise) and our tranny use to get just as hot when pulling a heavy load and then we changed the tranny fluid and it ran a whole lot better and it didnt get near as hot...
Interesting you should mention that- I had the fluid changed last summer and its run cooler ever since that (still gets to near 200*, but GM says it can go up to 250* before major damage)- GM recommends changing it only every 50K miles, but I think every 15K or so makes more sense, and will probably prolong the life of the trans too. What temp does your trans get up to when pulling, say 9K?
matt10486
04-29-2009, 01:13 PM
You've got to be kidding me. You want him to use bags??? He'd still be there doing that job...
You've got to be kidding me. You want him to use bags??? He'd still be there doing that job...
EXACTLY! Not to mention how much it would cost- $2.50/2CF bag (27CF/CY)= $33.75/yd x 65 yards = $2,193.75 JUST FOR MULCH! I spent on the neighborhood of around $1,350 for mulch. Not to mention that bags take FOREVER and I'd have 845 bags to get rid of at the end of the job! No thanks, I'll stick to bulk mulch thanks.
Junior M
04-29-2009, 02:57 PM
Interesting you should mention that- I had the fluid changed last summer and its run cooler ever since that (still gets to near 200*, but GM says it can go up to 250* before major damage)- GM recommends changing it only every 50K miles, but I think every 15K or so makes more sense, and will probably prolong the life of the trans too. What temp does your trans get up to when pulling, say 9K?
If I remember correctly it pushes 200 with our deckover equipment trailer, bobcat, grapple, and bush hog, or the mini ex..
But just running around it'll run around 175? Dont quote me on that, I dont really pay attention to it driving and I dont usually drive it while pulling..
But no way I would let it get above 200! It got to 210 one day pulling the trackhoe through a bunch of hills and it was worrying me then...
Coastal Lawn Maintenance
04-29-2009, 03:10 PM
spreading that much by bags would be horrible. there people who do it that way but bulk is the way to go. nice work.
oakwdman
04-29-2009, 03:54 PM
Matt, you have come a long way! Any updated pics of the rest of your setup? Work is looking top notch too!
Matt, you have come a long way! Any updated pics of the rest of your setup? Work is looking top notch too!
Thanks! I have been so busy lately I haven't had everything in one place at once, I'm hoping to get a good "group" picture the weekend after this one. In the past year I've added the dump trailer, my 16' landscape trailer, and some handhelds. Thanks- we've had a good season so far- hoping it continues just as well!
CrystalCreek
04-29-2009, 08:11 PM
Did I just read where someone suggested using bags?:dizzy::dizzy::dizzy: They must be smoking some of their mulch while at work. That had to be the craziest thing I read today. Keep up the good work man. Where in Dirty Jersey are you. I like the truck. I am surprised that your temps get that high. I have pulled over 12K with the tranny never going over 175. It usually runs about 125 while crusing. I have gauges and watch them like a hawk. Keep up the good work.
thu cutting edge
04-29-2009, 09:59 PM
Like I mentioned before- I was not able to get pics of the backyard (where 2/3 of the mulch went to), trust me when I tell you it was 65 yards- I did the job, I think I would know! Why would I want to use BAGS? Do yo have any clue how many bags that would be? Not to mention how much it would cost? And how many bags I'd have to get rid of!?! HOW is it possibly faster to spread with bags?- you have to open them, spread them, and get rid of them. I can get 4x the amount of mulch in 1 wheelbarrow load, that takes 3 mins at msot to load. Most people up here like the mulch to be spread thick (1.5" or better), mulch blowers just don't cut the mustard- they want it hand laid, and that's what we do anc charge for. My spreading method works just fine thanks very much.
When you can spread 65 yards in around 2.5- 10 hour days with 3 guys you let me know- I'll take some advise then:laugh:
Bags lol lol lol:laugh:
hey im not dogging u u do nice work. i have spread 70 yds with 6 men in 22 hrs total time. i have also used bark blowers and we are up to 50yds in an 9 hr day. now thats loading it with a bobcat. now back to the bags. u get 5 yrds in a pallet of mulch. so 13 pallets would do the trick. now u can get 10 pallets delivered by a tractor trailer for very cheap because you bought ten pallets. now the other 3 you can pick up at your own time. and we have compared using bags to bulck and im telling u bags sometimes is much faster. believe me i have almost spread 400yrds this season.
J&R Landscaping
04-29-2009, 11:12 PM
Nice pics Matt! BTW, Did you ever consider getting an aftermarket tranny pan for your truck? Larger capacity and more fluid will help it run cooler and longer. It may be something to consider!
Nice pics Matt! BTW, Did you ever consider getting an aftermarket tranny pan for your truck? Larger capacity and more fluid will help it run cooler and longer. It may be something to consider!
Good suggestion, the truck actually had an aftermarket one on it when I bought it, I'll look around to see if I can find a larger capacity one though. It's interesting that GM says the normal operating range for the trans is 180-205*, when most people never want to see their trans get anywhere above 195*.
lawnpro724
04-30-2009, 04:26 PM
looks good but how did you get away with dumping all that mulch on a city street? Around here you would have ended up getting a major fine for doing something like that.
blake2727
04-30-2009, 05:55 PM
Nice work. I have same truck as you except its 04 Chevy instead of GMC. I have hauled over 20K with it before for a short distance (8 miles). I haul 8 to 10 all the time with no problems. Just keep watching the temp like your doing and you will be fine. Just make sure you turn the overdrive off so it will run lower gears. Again very nice work.
looks good but how did you get away with dumping all that mulch on a city street? Around here you would have ended up getting a major fine for doing something like that.
It's not a city lol- its a town at most- and the road is not busy at all.
I'm on my town's Ambulance Corps and am buddies with all the cops, I don't have too much to worry about lol
Nice work. I have same truck as you except its 04 Chevy instead of GMC. I have hauled over 20K with it before for a short distance (8 miles). I haul 8 to 10 all the time with no problems. Just keep watching the temp like your doing and you will be fine. Just make sure you turn the overdrive off so it will run lower gears. Again very nice work.
Thanks!- yeah I watch it constantly, when it starts nearing 200*, I slow down some and it drops back down to around 190* or so. Plus, it was 95* outside when the temp was that high, so that probably didn't help either. I run in tow/haul mode whenever I have the trailer connected.
deere615
04-30-2009, 09:56 PM
My truck always seems to run at about 200. whether I have absolutley nothing or am pulling one of my trailers
My truck always seems to run at about 200. whether I have absolutley nothing or am pulling one of my trailers
Do you have a trans cooler? What do you run plowing? I'm surprised it runs that hot, just cruising around my truck runs between 140* and 175* depending on the ambient temp.
greenstar lawn
04-30-2009, 10:25 PM
mine runs about 190 to 195
deere615
04-30-2009, 10:25 PM
Do you have a trans cooler? What do you run plowing? I'm surprised it runs that hot, just cruising around my truck runs between 140* and 175* depending on the ambient temp.
I got a tranny cooler. The temp runs right below the 210 mark. from what I heard and seen that was always normal for these trucks. When I first got the plow it ran even hotter once so I put a bigger fan clutch in. which solved the problem but it always runs at that mark
I got a tranny cooler. The temp runs right below the 210 mark. from what I heard and seen that was always normal for these trucks. When I first got the plow it ran even hotter once so I put a bigger fan clutch in. which solved the problem but it always runs at that mark
You're taking about the engine temp then- mine engine runs right around 200* too, I'm talking about the trans temp- I didn't think the 1/2 tons had trans gages (at least not stock)- do you have a trans temp gage?
mine runs about 190 to 195
With or without a load? If with a load- how many K?
deere615
04-30-2009, 10:55 PM
You're taking about the engine temp then- mine engine runs right around 200* too, I'm talking about the trans temp- I didn't think the 1/2 tons had trans gages (at least not stock)- do you have a trans temp gage?
Damn am I a ******. I dont know why I thought we were talking engine temp, but yeah thats what I was talking about
greenstar lawn
04-30-2009, 11:07 PM
yeah my bad i thought we were talking engine temp too:hammerhead:
Ha ha its okay- yeah most GM trucks run around 200-205* engine temp.
STIHL GUY
05-01-2009, 11:12 PM
thats a ton of mulch. looks good too
thats a ton of mulch. looks good too
Thanks- just finished up another 15 yd mulch job yesterday- I need to start taking more pics!
georgiagrass
05-03-2009, 11:26 PM
i have a couple of comments. that doesnt look like 65 yrds. also i would have used bags because you van spread them easier. and finally if it was 65 yrds then you should of had a lil profit you could have rented a bark blower for the day. And finally u need some 12 tine pitch forks to spread that much easier. im not dogging u or nothing just giving helpfull info.
Bags??? For 65 yds??? Are you kidding me???
Bags??? For 65 yds??? Are you kidding me???
I guess everyone has a different approach lol lol :dizzy:
Here's a couple pics from my school (SUNY-Cobleskill) at the 2009 PLANET Student Career Days at Cal Poly Pomona. It was AWESOME! We placed reasonably considering we only fielded a 1/2 size team (cost a bunch to fly all the way across the country to CA), and had a ton of fun!
I was in Irrigation Assembly, Landscape Maintenance Operations, and Landscape Construction.
Anyone else on lawnsite out at the SCD?
We were the goof balls with the bright pink golf shirts on with flamingos on the back.
Was anyone else on here out in CA?
South Florida Lawns
05-12-2009, 07:26 PM
I have been right there in Pomona. But not for the event. It is real nice out there in california.
Here's a couple pics of a flagstone walk we did last week- we re-constructed the walk with existing stones already on site- laid on item 4. Turned out pretty well I think- customer wanted to use what they had and didn't want to pay to have any stones cut that's why a few fit a little funny. We also re-built the small bed around a new well head.
Here's the pics...
tstutz
06-06-2009, 08:13 PM
you got your ducks in a row! thank you for sharing pics
Thanks for the comments- keep 'em coming!
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