[AT] somewhat OT--skid steer vs tractor for mowing

[Larry Goss]

Lawn service is the new WPA, farmer.  Right now, I'm in Europe spending money like it was going out of style.  My lawn is being cared for by a professional person who got cut from Bristol-Myers-Squib a couple of months ago.  He immediately invested in a brand new ZTR and trailer, threw in his existing walk behind and string trimmer, and he's in business.  He doesn't even want a contract.  He already had a truck for towing, and he has no problem at all tackling my two acres.

But there are two sides to every coin.  I also am very familiar with a larger operation in town that owns seven Grasshoppers of various styles.  He needs that many because the yahoos he has working for him ride 'em hard and put 'em away wet.  He TRIES to keep at least five machines working all the time.  At the end of the mowing season, he will owe the local repair shop in excess of $10,000 for repairs that he couldn't afford to pay for.  He has just one client -- a very large cemetery -- the problem is that his operators spend too much time trying to mow the stone markers.

Larry


----- Original Message -----
From: Skip Cleveland <skipcleveland at bellsouth.net>
Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 15:48
Subject: Re: [AT] somewhat OT--skid steer vs tractor for mowing
To: Antique tractor email discussion group <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>

> We have some :-) houses in foreclosure around here and the young 
> guy that 
> came and mowed the acre or so property next to our house said 
> that he has a 
> customer base of at least 45 properties to take care of all the 
> time. All 
> are in foreclosure and that is all that he does.
> That's a small business compared to the properties that are not 
> in trouble.
> The average guy, with one mower, truck and trailer makes about 
> $50,000 per 
> year, year round. More help and equipment and the money goes up. 
> It's a hell 
> of a business.
> Skip
> 
> 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Francis Robinson" <robinson46176 at hotmail.com>
> To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" 
> <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> Sent: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 9:18 AM
> Subject: Re: [AT] somewhat OT--skid steer vs tractor for mowing
> 
> 
> >    Speaking of mowing grass... I have been 
> watching things locally since I 
> > used to have a small yard and lot care business and I am 
> beginning to 
> > wonder if there are as many yards as there are grass mowing 
> businesses 
> > around here. It seems at times like every 10th vehicle is 
> hauling a zero 
> > turn mower or two on a trailer also loaded with walkers and 
> string 
> > trimmers.
> >   I guess everybody isn't broke...
> >
> >   I have to chuckle when I see what looks to be a 
> 60" ZTR mowing a yard 
> > too small to park our minivan in.   :-)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > farmer
> >
> > Francis Robinson
> > Central Indiana USA
> > robinson46176 at hotmail.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
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