Pushing "older equipment".

[BigBoyPlowin]

All of our equipment gets serviced by our ASE & Diesel mechanic before the winter... They also get all fluids and everything changed REGULARLY.

Within the last 5 years we havent really had any major problems that put me into a nervous wreck state like when our salter when down...

Yes YOU WILL still have problems in the middle of the night but thats with anything... Even your body will give you problems when you're out at 3AM plowing in 32* weather.... But there is nothing worse than sayin "oh.... i wish i would of checked my radiator(or any other thing) before the season for problems.."

[94gt331]

Originally Posted by Italiano67

You can maintain them as well as you can and still have problems. Maintaining them doesnt mean a problem cant crop up and shut you down. It is almost laughable what can go wrong and does go wrong in the middle of the night with equipment. Not to mention the way prices are for doing commercial work it just doesnt pay most of the time to have have new trucks if you dont have summer time use for them.

I agree having a brand new truck just for snowplowing would be tough if you didn't use it all year. I have 5 trucks and only one payment left. I had a few thousand dollars in repairs this month getting everything ready for this coming snow season. My trucks are getting tired for sure but not dead yet. I almost bought a brand new 2013 ford 250 a week ago with a boss V because I was discouraged about all the repairs lately, but I sleep on it and decicded to wait till my one truck is paid off next year before I buy another one. I don't think it matters what your truck looks like as long as your a reliable, and good plow operator that keeps there customers happy. Good luck everyone this year and hopefully we can all stay running and making money.

[lawn king]

Year round use of trucks is where landscapers have the advantage for sure. Trucks and machines just switch mode & owner/operators/ know the equipment and what issues may be going on with them. Thats not to say we dont have breakdowns, but we do have an advantage. I dont have to go purchase insurance, i just add a 5 month ryder to my existing policy. If you park an old rat out in the weeds all summer and throw a plate and a quart of oil in her and expect to have a good winter, you need to check your meds!

[Dig-It-Landscap]

I run old and new trucks/equipment. I try to buy a new truck every 3-4 years, but I also plan on keeping them for 15+ years and well maintained. Since I needed more truck over the last few years, to service both summer and winter use, I bought a few older trucks. I did this because although I believe having the newer trucks (not all customized) helps company image, I won't have more than 1 truck payment at a time.

So as long as business is still growing I have no problem making 1 truck payment at all times. When that payment is disbursed over the amount of work we do, it adds only pennies.

JMO

[birddseedd]

Originally Posted by vintage steel

I've never made a payment on ANYTHING! I don't even have a credit card.: I go without untill I can afford what I want. My Jimmy, "ol' #1" is older than me. There is nothing wrong with that. People buying stuff they can't afford,on credit is one of the biggest problems today. People cry when the bank forecloses or reposeses...I got news for you, YOU NEVER OWNED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! Me, I'll keep my old equipment and never loose one minutes sleep worring about payments and yes, I charge less than the guy with the shiny new "bank owned" truck.

Technicialy you do own it, hte bank just has rights to it. but what do you think of the situation i was in?

My truck went out shortly after i started my business. there was no way i would have been able to buy one with cash, and was pulling my equipment with my motorcycle. (an old bike, not worth the value of a truck). the only way i was able to get a truck was with a loan. i made sure to get a truck capable of plowing, and the money i make from plowing alone pays for the truck and more.

I just wish the bank would have let me gotten an older truck. 04 ram.

[CRSHOT]

parts or payments either way we pay!