Questions about expansion.

[firecapt13]

I have a lawn maintenance business and am venturing into landscaping. I am trying to find out if i should buy a tractor or a skid steer. i have had numerous customers ask me about doing renovations for them and i think it would be a smart move. i have someone to cut my lawns for me. what is the best way to go about this direction without going overboard or overwhelmed. any comments from people who have done this please give your thoughts.

[NEPSJay]

skid steer is way more productive than a compact tractor, hands down, no questions asked. Dont forget, you can always rent one or the other to figure out which one you like better and see which one suits your needs better. I'd rent for a while till your monthly rental bill is more than what a monthly loan payment would be on the machine. Then go buy a machine and rent speciality attachments as needed. good luck!

[ynvvbr]

Jason,

are you doing maintenance up there?? Want some work???

Mike

[NEPSJay]

yeah sure!!!! gimme a call mike.... u still got my number?

[amvega]

A skid loader is faster and easier to manuver.

[CAG]

it depends on what kind of jobs your doing.. light landscaping a little tractor, bigger jobs skid.. Watch out the skid will do a lot of ground damage..

[lawnspecialties]

Originally Posted by CAG

it depends on what kind of jobs your doing.. light landscaping a little tractor, bigger jobs skid.. Watch out the skid will do a lot of ground damage..

I'm with CAG. My New Holland TC33DA has been awesome for the landscape work I've been doing. Installs, light grading, etc. and I also use it for my mulch work, aeration, spreading, and such. If you're doing BIG stuff, get the skid, but if it's lighter stuff, the tractor is the way for me.

By the way, Raleigh firefighter here.

[drsogr]

tc33 is a great little tractor. If you are just doing smaller jobs like what they are saying it is a great tractor. I rent them all the time

[start2finish]

another positive is, attachments are cheaper for the tractor. I started with a tractor and have grown in to larger equipment, but we still run the tractor everyday. If I had to only have one, I would probably own the tractor. I would be a tough decision though.

[Tim Wright]

I went with the tractor (NH TC35DA) for the ground damage control, because I am using it to finish grade lawns and don't want to have to fix ruts created by skid steer. I will rent skid steer when I need it.

Tim