leaf removla fees

[BLL]

I know this has been posted befre but i couldnt find any good info on it and with this years economy things are changing anyways. I had a guy approach me the other day wanting a estimate for leaf removal. I normally charge byt eh hour for this but he was insistant on getting an estimate. he told me this;

lat years company brought liek 3 to 4 guys in and it took them about 7-8 hours per cleanup. He wants it cleaned up 2 times this fall. its only about 5000ft^2 but a lot of beds and hard areas. also about 3-4 HUGE oaks and a bunch of little trees. I got a 48 wb, a 36 wb, br 400 and grasscatchers, i have t haul teh leaves away also.

Any sugestions?
Thanks

[TLS]

5-8hp push blower.
16-20hp Leaf loader
Some type of dumping truck bed with sides and tarped top.

Blow in to huge piles 20' wide by 75' long. Back truck and leaf loader up to pile. Suck them up. Go dump, come back and suck some more! Oaks take till spring to drop around here. Are you sure they're Oaks?

Dont think that you will be able to do this with a grass catcher on the 48 WB. You'll be there till this time next year!

You could always Sub it out!?

[Firefighter Dave]

I am also interested in what all of you are charging for fall clean-ups and how you come to that amount?

Thanks,
Dave

:blob2: :blob2:

[BLL]

i got a 16 foot trailer that i can fab a leaf body for but how much does a leaf loader cost? i may be interested in getting one this year if not next!

[TLS]

BLL,

Does that trailer DUMP? If not, how are you going to get them out?! Leaf loaders pack leaves and debris pretty dense. Pitchfork would take about an hour or more!

Leaf loaders vary by type/size/hp, etc.

[wxmn6]

I was just about to post a question about leaf loader when I saw this post. I am in market for leaf loader but the only problem is how am I supposed to take the leaves out of leaf box after it is loaded up. I cannot afford a dump trailer and my truck is a Toyota pickup shortbox. I am wondering if anyone have any experience with reversing the vaccum tubes to make the leaf loader suck the leaves out of the box, blowing the leaves out. Will it work well? How do you set it up? Thanks.

[FrankenScagMachines]

Yes someone has done a reverse tubing to suck things out, but not on a truck loader. http://cyclonerake.com/ makes a trailing vac with it's own engine and flexible impellers. They are made to dump or bag, or you can reverse the suction by hooking up different tubes. All they have are quick clamps on the hoses. I think they might show what you are looking for on the website. Just to give you an idea of maybe make one like this for a truck loader, but it'll be pretty slow compared to dumping. Well theoritically it should be about the same amount of time to unload as it would be to load the same amount except maybe longer because they will be shredded some, so not as fluffy and light per sq. in. as non shredded leaves.
An idea.....
Eric

[65hoss]

Originally posted by BLL
lat years company brought liek 3 to 4 guys in and it took them about 7-8 hours per cleanup. He wants it cleaned up 2 times this fall. its only about 5000ft^2 but a lot of beds and hard areas. also about 3-4 HUGE oaks and a bunch of little trees. I got a 48 wb, a 36 wb, br 400 and grasscatchers, i have t haul teh leaves away also.

Any sugestions?
Thanks
4 guys on 5000sf lawn taking 8 hours?????? What the heck were they doing, playing around?? That's 32 man hours for 5000 sf. :dizzy:
Heck, you could cut the trees down quicker. haha

[TLS]

OOPPSSS!

When I first read it, I though it was 50,000sq/ft! :( Now I see its only 5,000 sq/ft. Heck my driveway is bigger than that! You CAN do this with your grass baggers and a rake, and the backpack. No loader needed. Sorry, I have that ZERO disease.. :D I see them and instantly begin looking for the $ sign, and sometimes miss how many are there!!

[65hoss]

Originally posted by TLS
OOPPSSS!

Sorry, I have that ZERO disease.. :D I see them and instantly begin looking for the $ sign, and sometimes miss how many are there!!

Nothing wrong with adding zero's. Especially after $$$$$ signs. :)

[FrankenScagMachines]

actually Hoss I'd prefer to add zeros ONLY after $$$$

[Runner]

He obviously must mean 50,000m for it to have taken that much time. Even then, I'm rather on the sure side that it could be done more efficiently than that. Unless, of course, it was one of those outfits that that use them there fancy mailorder rakes. Hey, once you buy 'em, you have to justify the purchase by using them. "Hey Charlie, we'll leave the Little Wonder and the Lazer with the Ultravac on the trailer for this one, - that way we can use these here rakes!";)

[BLL]

you are right i missed a 1 in front of the 5 it is actually 15,000 sqft sorry for the mistake

[65hoss]

Originally posted by BLL
you are right i missed a 1 in front of the 5 it is actually 15,000 sqft sorry for the mistake

Ok, but 15000 sf isn't much better. 32 manhours is a lot for even 15000.

[gravedigger5]

32 hrs does seem high, but I had one like that last year, appx 15 hrs, 15000sqft, done with blower and tarp. 5 big oak and hickory trees, the biggest over 5ft dia and tall to match. leaves varied from 3" to 12" thick. I think I hauled about 6-7 one ton dump loads ( had free place to dump) didn't make much on job, though. I'm getting a billy goat loader this year and really clean-up. Marc



Are we having fun yet???:eek:

[LAWNGODFATHER]

Getting leaves off a trailer that does not dump

Try attaching a chain to an old tire (with rim) or a pallet.

Have the chain 2X as long as the trailer.

Tie to a tree or have a nother vehical or peice of heavy equipment pull it out.

This will get 85% of the trailers contence out.

[Jimbo]

I haver never done a leaf removal. Can't you just use a WB, and bag it? Wont it suck up all the leaves? If you mulch it; wont it act as fertilizer?
Please let me know becuase I might have to buy some new equipment for this fall.

Jim