First Aerator Choice

[CUSTOMLAWN10]

I used to rent ryan and all of them, then I bought a JRCO hook aerator for my 52 inch stander with is also can be mounted on my Scag 61. I is easy to use, less mess, very good for overseeding and infact fractures the soil and does not cut the roots like a plug. Anyway, theories vary on all of that so, for aerating I would look into it. It is easy on the body, electric lift, and only cost about 2500. I frame out small yard with the hand held an use the hook, but some times I still have use the hand held and for that I got used Ryan. The crank shaft works much better than drum.

[sildoc]

Exact has it down. I have ran them all. Bluebirds, Classen, Plugr, Ryan. The only ones I haven't ran was Billy Goat and turfco. I had a plugr and bought a Lawn solutions because people are looking for a price point I couldn't get with a plugr. Plugr is a great machine and pulls way better plugs than any other machine I have used but the cost to operate is 20-24% greater than my lawn solutions machine. We do roughly 4-6 thousand aerations a year and since buying my lawn solutions last spring our roi is 40% over the plugr. Hate to say it but the machine is easy on the body, fast and we only replaced the tines one time. I replaced my plugr tines 4-5 times a year and at 10-15 bucks apiece plus labor it was my final breaking point.

We compete with TG and other companies here offering a 35 under 2500 sqft and the lawn solutions has done the job we were looking for. the up sell of aeration is great and a gold mine however if you can't compete with the big dogs just rent what you can and line them up, you are better off that way.
We are looking at adding another this year but now that Toro corp has bought them out we might think about the xt 5 from turfco. I will wait and see as another company in our area (friend) has bought the turfco and I would like to compare side by side when he receives it.

[TruSomethingOrOther]

Originally Posted by sildoc

Exact has it down. I have ran them all. Bluebirds, Classen, Plugr, Ryan. The only ones I haven't ran was Billy Goat and turfco. I had a plugr and bought a Lawn solutions because people are looking for a price point I couldn't get with a plugr. Plugr is a great machine and pulls way better plugs than any other machine I have used but the cost to operate is 20-24% greater than my lawn solutions machine. We do roughly 4-6 thousand aerations a year and since buying my lawn solutions last spring our roi is 40% over the plugr. Hate to say it but the machine is easy on the body, fast and we only replaced the tines one time. I replaced my plugr tines 4-5 times a year and at 10-15 bucks apiece plus labor it was my final breaking point.

We compete with TG and other companies here offering a 35 under 2500 sqft and the lawn solutions has done the job we were looking for. the up sell of aeration is great and a gold mine however if you can't compete with the big dogs just rent what you can and line them up, you are better off that way.
We are looking at adding another this year but now that Toro corp has bought them out we might think about the xt 5 from turfco. I will wait and see as another company in our area (friend) has bought the turfco and I would like to compare side by side when he receives it.

I would love to have your unique perspective on the Turfco model if / when you get the opportunity. I frequent lawnsite daily. Let me know!

[sildoc]

Originally Posted by TruSomethingOrOther

I would love to have your unique perspective on the Turfco model if / when you get the opportunity. I frequent lawnsite daily. Let me know!

Will let you know we are starting to get busy and he should receive it in the next week or so. I will post updates when I can.

[Exact Rototilling]

Originally Posted by sildoc

...........snip....

We compete with TG and other companies here offering a 35 under 2500 sqft and the lawn solutions has done the job we were looking for. the up sell of aeration is great and a gold mine however if you can't compete with the big dogs just rent what you can and line them up, you are better off that way. .....snip.....

Not sure if anyone caught this but that is what I'm up against here price wise. $35 is my minimum charge for showing up for a tiny lawn with my Lawn Solutions 21". $45 for running my Plugr 850. If I have to mark sprinklers it goes UP in price.

On large estate Lawns that take a few hours I can actually see the plugr tines wear down...$$$ ..

As I have mentioned before application Co here do a $29.95 special and bundle it with other offers.

My advice is to know your market before diving into the shallow end of the pool head first.

I had visions of a solid 2.5X - 3X the mow rate when I looked into this 4 years ago. Reality was a rude awakening.
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[sildoc]

My biggest regret is not having lawn solutions make me a special roller tine assembly that had more holes per sqft and was faster. Now that Toro co owns them I am guessing there is no way that will happen.

[Exact Rototilling]

Originally Posted by sildoc

My biggest regret is not having lawn solutions make me a special roller tine assembly that had more holes per sqft and was faster. Now that Toro co owns them I am guessing there is no way that will happen.

David had talked about rigging one up for me since I'm Mr. More plugs is better. I belive David rigged one up at the factory but it was too many tines and plug depth suffered. I have the full weight kit on mine and frankly it needs it. A more dense time pattern would not work in the soil here.

Have any of your clients groused about fewer plugs with the LS unit vs the old plugr 400...?

My 850 has a tighter pattern than the plugr 400/600 series and I had numerous complaints about lack of plugs from people you'd think would not care when i suddenly showed up with the lawn solitions. Again I repeat ...client wants more plugs they pay 30% more.

Sildoc,

How.do you charge extra for a.double pass?
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[sildoc]

Exact, I have had a few complaints but with double pass they were happy. I usually charge half again as much and can get it as the competitors won't double pass. But I think we are pretty low in price just to compete. I could get a bit more but not the volume, and the LS was an amazing find in upping the bottom line. I would love to get the 2-3x mowing price but it is not going to happen in this economy. I would go back to the plugr but they need to make some improvements on their tines. I have told them this several times. Oh well I guess they sell enough in tines to make up for me not buying their product.

[Duekster]

I find this interesting. I only get a few request for aeration per year but I know people needed it. We have heavy clay so I know tines can get expensive.

Good thread and thanks. Sounds like the LS and the tines wearing better is a good idea. I am also about easy of use, and not killing the operator.

Please carry on for those of us wanting to know.

[Duekster]

subscribe - looking also. do not want to spend a mint but would like an easy to use and effective aerator to offer the service