Ego-Scaper

[SVA_Concrete]

Why on earth do you folks spend so much on equipment.

spinning off another thread:

Originally Posted by lukemelo216

And I think its probably easier to say having more like 150-200k on a hardscaping job in equipment

Truck-50k
Trailer-7k
Skid Steer-60k
Saws-1k
Dump Truck and Trailer to move equipment/material 75-100k

In my humble opinion you paid too much for your truck and skidsteer, and trailer.

Why guys like me sell jobs for less, with good profit:

Truck 17k
trailer 2k -equipment
trailer 4k (16 foot dump, hauls ex)
5 ton ex 24k
CTL 29k
dump truck -per load as needed 75-90 a load
matls deliv - supplier provided save labor vs fetching matls

Ive got more equip, for less money. and its not out of date,
2005 truck (cummins 5.9)
2007 CTL (600 hrs)
2005 5 ton ex (2500 hrs)
2005 ish trailers.

79K vs your 200k, my overhead is probally 1500 a month lower than yours, and I have an excavator in this list.

now I don't have cabbed units, power windows, etc. But I can still get to the job, look professional and move the earth just as well.

[Ticolawnllc]

I think lots of guys like some of my family brag how much they pay as a way of bragging.

[Stuttering Stan]

When people are new to the business, they want all the big, cool toys.
With this newbie mentality, overhead and profit are relative unknowns. After a few years, , the newness wears off and reality sets in. Gently used equipment is sold for next to nothing.

[DVS Hardscaper]

We still run our first skid steer, a 1997. She purrs better than any new skid steer out there.

Our dump truck is a 2001 that I bought new. Been Paid for for eons.

I just bought a 14,000 GVW trailer. 4 years old, owned by an old man, the decking doesn't have a scratch on it. paid $3000.00 cash.

My company truck - is. 2004 with 252,000 miles! I have no intentions of replacing it.

I'm as low overhead as one can be. If you're a local contractor in my area and your prices are lower than mine - then you won't be around much longer.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Birchwood]

My mowing crews setup ran less then 15k
truck 5500
trailer 3500
3 mowers 2500
misc all new handhelds 1500





Install crew setup ran around 10k
my dump was $2800 and runs great!



Bank owns nothing, been there done that.

[muddywater]

And that 200k worth of equipment is worth about 80k in a couple years. Talk bout taking it in the pants.

[zedosix]

I'd buy a 97' f350 in a heartbeat but I just can't seem to find one with nav and bluetooth so I'll stick with the truck I have. But I'm all for recycling, its nice to see that someone buys the used crap I get rid of.

[Krafty]

Originally Posted by zedosix

I'd buy a 97' f350 in a heartbeat but I just can't seem to find one with nav and bluetooth so I'll stick with the truck I have. But I'm all for recycling, its nice to see that someone buys the used crap I get rid of.

Zedo I can't wait till 2025 when I can own a 2012 like yours!!

[sven1277]

I'm not sure used stuff is always a better value. I have purchased my '00 pickup twice now since I bought it new in repairs I've done to it in the last 3 yrs. Transmission, new engine, another transmission, frame work, starter, brakes, water pump, thermostat, raidator, plugs, wires, exhaust work, tires. I should have traded it in back in '09 when it started getting expensive. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

[DVS Hardscaper]

Originally Posted by sven1277

I'm not sure used stuff is always a better value. I have purchased my '00 pickup twice now since I bought it new in repairs I've done to it in the last 3 yrs. Transmission, new engine, another transmission, frame work, starter, brakes, water pump, thermostat, raidator, plugs, wires, exhaust work, tires. I should have traded it in back in '09 when it started getting expensive. Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

A) u probably didnt know what you were buying

B) perhaps the truck is undersized for what you're using it for


.
Posted via Mobile Device