Leaf removal rates and setups?

[FrankenScagMachines]

Just curious what rates and equipment everyone will be using this fall.

So far i've got:
Reduction/Collection devices:
Ferris 52” with Gator blades and vac bagger and front mount tine rake/dethatcher to loosen leaves
Exmark 36” with Gator blades and mulch plate and side catcher
Lawn Boy 21” with mulching plate and jumbo leaf bag

Relocation devices:
Echo PB650T backpack blower
Kawasaki KRB400B backpack blower

Truck loading devices:
5hp vacuum with 6” hoses

Hauling device:
F350 truck with 8'x12' flatbed with a leaf box (not yet built)


And I'm trying to buy these things, but having a hard time getting the owners to communicate with me! :
10hp Billy Goat push blower
11hp Giant Vac leaf loader with 8” hoses for truck

[Kelly's Landscaping]

27hp lazer 60 inch with trac vac and leaf plow

20 hp lazer 44 inch for the smaller lawns

20 hp giant vac truck loader 12 inch hose

two 10 hp giant vac blowers

one 13 hp giant vac blower

6 br 420 stihl back packs

gmc v3500 rack with box 8 x 11 x 6

were going to be adding a 16 hp giant vac 10 inch hose swing away truck loader and a 4th truck a 3500 mason dump 2005 dodge ram.

Then theres the 2 rams pulling trailers as we will be running 2 clean up crews this season.

As for rate depending on if I like you 35-40 dollars an hour plus dump.

[Fareway Lawncare]

$35 to $40 per man hr. sounds Low w/all that Equipment....I can send a guy out w/rake for $25.....

Bring in the Big Toys & it jumps to $100 Plus....

[walker-talker]

I will use a Redmax (recently purchased) to blow out all beds. Pick up majority with Walker mower. Put on the spring tine dethatcher to pick up what has worked down and pick up whatever loose stuff. I then dump and pick with leaf loader. Eric, go with the biggest hp you can afford on your leaf loader. I have the Lesco 16hp and it does ok, but definetely wished I could have afforded something larger. Here is a pic of my truck and loader, for those have not seen it. It sures needs a paint job, but runs fine. I charge right around $60 to $75 and hour for leaf removal.

[njones]

when you pick up with your walker do you just dump it on the ground by the loader

[mkwl]

The following is what I use to do leaf cleanups: ( I love all my equipment!!!!!!!!!!)

'04 48", 15 HP Bob-Cat mower w/ hi lift blades and Grass Gobbler.

'03 10 Hp Little Wonder blower

'89 8 HP Mighty Mac blower

'97 Stihl BR320 back pack blower

Some rakes, tarps and my trailer

[odin]

lazer z hp 52 with ultra vac
toro555 with 3 bagger
toro 557 with 3bagger
21 incxh mower for some back fenced in lawns ..mulch em bagg the excess

echo blower's and soon my first redmax blower ...got the puppy on order now
one ton dumps with side planks


city lots with a maple or two in them ..charge double mow every week ..and 20 dollars a utra vac full of debrie.Very few of these type lawns take over 20 or 30 minutes.


Big lots with a lot of bed's and tons of leaves they get charged 80 a man hour.

[Kelly's Landscaping]

Id love to charge more but they freak at those prices its what my market will bare. I make up for it though with larger crews so the hours rack up rather fast.

[punt66]

Originally Posted by Kelly's Landscaping

Id love to charge more but they freak at those prices its what my market will bare. I make up for it though with larger crews so the hours rack up rather fast.

Im in CT as well and get around $125 per hour on cleanups. I do $85 per hour mowing. Your way low my friend. If you are charging by the hour not the job then thats probably the issue. If i told a custome i charge by the hour at $125hr they would freak. But if i spend 2.5hrs and charge $300 for a cleanup they dont have a problem with it. Its the going rate.

[White Gardens]

Originally Posted by punt66

I'm in CT as well and get around $125 per hour on cleanups. I do $85 per hour mowing. Your way low my friend. If you are charging by the hour not the job then that's probably the issue. If i told a customer i charge by the hour at $125hr they would freak. But if i spend 2.5hrs and charge $300 for a cleanup they don't have a problem with it. Its the going rate.

It all depends on your area and cost of living. Sure, If you live in an area where nobody has the time or effort to do their cleanup, then sure, you can charge ungodly prices for cleanups.

Most guys around here complain that they can't make any money on cleanups and only offer it to their customers that they already mow, or do maintenance on. It's just way too blue collared around here, and people know there is always a Crack-Head, or young kid looking to make a couple bucks with a rake.

Don't worry Punt, I fixed your spelling mistakes,