[SMB]

Well, I figured I'd start my own thread after seemingly taking over the Bob-Cat striping thread.

I'm 23, and have been a member of Lawnsite since 2000. Yep, nearly 10 years. I was one of those kids inspired by guys like EricELM and Kirby's Lawn, among others. We (the whole family) have been mowing part time for a quite a while, with the same accounts for several years now. I've worked full time as an electrician's helper for over 2 years while going to school to get a technical certificate, and last year it about killed our lawn business (not enough hours in the day!). Now with construction having tanked, I've decided to go full time into lawn care, hopefully diversifying as I go in terms of services. (I was seriously considering this same move even before construction dropped off.)

We have ~30 accounts, ranging from 1/4 acre yards, to rural cemeteries, to a 10 acre+ campground. Hopefully this will be a great year, as I think there are plenty of folks around who would appreciate the quality work we bring to our rural area!

First and foremost, the truck I worked with for the better part of 5 years, a rusted out 1977 GMC 4x4.

Now, the new truck.

Our first Bob-Cat.

Newest Bob-Cat

I'll be adding more, and hopefully many more if this is a good year!

 

[flatlander42]

Man, those are some DIGGERS on the older bobcat!.....Why do you have tires like that? Did it turn into your "rough lawn" machine?

 

[SMB]

We live in the mountains...and well, the turf tires don't really cut it for most things here. Believe it or not, with care, you can get really good at turning and not tearing things up with the ag tires. After a couple years of turf tires, I figured out I caused less damage with the ag tires than I did while spinning or sliding around. Plus, we've had our riders on slopes that most people would probably use a walk behind or weedeater on. It's just the way it is here.

 

[flatlander42]

Makes sense to me, do what works best. They just look like more lug than you'd normally see on ag style tires....*on a mower anyways*

they also look super cool

 

[SMB]

I found that you're really limited in tire styles with a 12" rim, which is why I have those instead of some type of potentially less aggressive ATV tire, which typically comes on a 8 or 9" rim. I've run into the same thing with the 24x12x12s on the larger Z, you either use the chevron style tires, which wear out in a few hundred hours, or the knobby ones I have on there now which are horrible for tearing stuff up.


They do look rather cool.

 

[SIWEL]

I really like the new ford. Any plans for an insert or dump trailer?

Your set-up looks good. Good luck this year

 

[grassman177]

cool story and pics

 

[ygim]

great stuff love those tires. good luck in the upcoming season

 

[Pat'sPerfectLawnService]

cool story, have you had that old bobcat for 10 years or did you buy it used resently?

 

[Lawn Enforcer]

Very cool equipment and story! Best of luck going full-time! I drove through your part of the country last year, beautiful area.

 

[Scag413]

Best of luck this year...the nice thing about rural areas is that people talk and your business name should keep spreading around. I love that ford!

 

[greatinmulchbeds]

hey you wouldnt happen to be from blacksburg are you?

 

[procut]

...the nice thing about rural areas is that people talk and your business name should keep spreading around.

I would certainly remember a name like Beaver Lawn Care, but then again I have sick mind. lol

 

[mowerdude777]

Sweet mowers and trucks

 

[SMB]

Well, the new Ford doesn't look so pretty right now...got involved in an accident in which a guy rammed me in reverse doing about 30. Absolutely nuts. I was driving down a narrow back road tonight, and a guy was too far on my side as we passed, and busted my driver's mirror off. I guess he got mad, because as I'd stopped to try to talk to him, he threw it in reverse and rammed me in the driver's bedside corner, with a dually stake body truck. Later on he was caught by the police on down the road after hitting yet another person. At this point I'd gotten out of dodge and called the police...didn't want to even attempt to confront somebody like that. I'll have pics tomorrow.

As for a dump trailer, I have 2 that I can borrow, so I don't really have a need right now.

Yep, we've had the old Bob-Cat for nearly 10 years, and nearly 2000 hours, but I'm telling you, the hours in the mountains cutting high grass have about done the 19HP Kawasaki in. Thinking about repowering it and keeping on going!

And no, I'm just over an hour South of Blacksburg, near Wytheville.

 

[Kennedy Landscaping]

Nice Ford! Good luck this season.

 

[flatlander42]

good choice getting the hell away from that crazy dude!

 

[MJS]

Not a huge Ford fan, but I love that truck!

Got any lawn pictures?

 

[SMB]

I wonder how long it'll take to get it fixed...

 

[Pat'sPerfectLawnService]

aww, thats bad. good thing he was cought by the police before he did anything else.