Weekend Warrior CTL

[dtcohen]

Hi Everyone,

I am kicking around the idea of purchasing a CTL mostly for personal use, but also for the occasional paying job. I have a full time job, so this would definitely be an afternoon/weekend gig. I am thinking about something in the Cat 259D size class. I am just curious as to what types of jobs you could take on with a CTL. I was thinking stuff like hauling and spreading dirt / gravel, breaking up concrete, light excavation and leveling.

I won't be putting food on the table with this thing, but it would be nice to offset some of the cost. What are your thoughts?

 

[RockingBarF]

I did the same thing but mine was a tax write off. I use mine to clear land n build fence mostly as a side job I do. If your current job pays that well and your doin good on cash I don't see why not.

from central Missouri. cattle man live like there's no tomorrow.

 

[DIYDAVE]

look at ASV equivalents, for the cat, if you are going used. ASV's were generally better balanced, and a better ride...:IMO:IMO

 

[f311fr1]

I have an ASV RC85 and an ASV RC100. They are good machines but the AC on both machine is very poor at best. Other than the AC issue they will work very hard. Parts and service info are available from Track Loader Parts in GA. The drive systems do not like gravel above 3/4" and you have to be careful how you operate around any gravel. Dirt is no problem.

 

[JNB]

If you're going to go out and take jobs from the guys who are feeding their families doing it, get liability insurance, commercial insurance for your truck and trailer, and a contractors license if your state requires it. Just to be fair you know. And don't low-ball prices either, just because you can. This business is tough enough without yet one more low-flying beer money guy in the mix.

 

[Tones]

If you're going to go out and take jobs from the guys who are feeding their families doing it, get liability insurance, commercial insurance for your truck and trailer, and a contractors license if your state requires it. Just to be fair you know. And don't low-ball prices either, just because you can. This business is tough enough without yet one more low-flying beer money guy in the mix.

With you 100% on this one JNB

 

[f311fr1]

If you're going to go out and take jobs from the guys who are feeding their families doing it, get liability insurance, commercial insurance for your truck and trailer, and a contractors license if your state requires it. Just to be fair you know. And don't low-ball prices either, just because you can. This business is tough enough without yet one more low-flying beer money guy in the mix.

Me three

 

[movindirt]

If you're going to go out and take jobs from the guys who are feeding their families doing it, get liability insurance, commercial insurance for your truck and trailer, and a contractors license if your state requires it. Just to be fair you know. And don't low-ball prices either, just because you can. This business is tough enough without yet one more low-flying beer money guy in the mix.

Exactly, if its leaving your property you better be on the up and up.

 

[DIYDAVE]

If you're going to go out and take jobs from the guys who are feeding their families doing it, get liability insurance, commercial insurance for your truck and trailer, and a contractors license if your state requires it. Just to be fair you know. And don't low-ball prices either, just because you can. This business is tough enough without yet one more low-flying beer money guy in the mix.

Absolutely right. low ballers will soon figure out that they aren't making any money, on their equipment investment...:Banghead:Banghead

 

[pafarmer]

Absolutely right. low ballers will soon figure out that they aren't making any money, on their equipment investment...:Banghead:Banghead

Get a little tired of guys like this low balling and half assiing everything they touch....here we are trying to do things the right way, feed out families, earn a living, employee a few men and numb nuts like this guy thinks he an operator simply because he owns a peice of equipment...owning and operating are two very different things..

What's funny is they think they can pay for the machine by taking side jobs and actually use that in the purchase logic. You will very quickly find that even at half price you more than likely have little clue in what you are doing..Damage someone's property you accepted money from and tell me how attractive weekend gigs are when the lawyers get done with you...good grief ! Buy and enjoy it on your property or do it right like the rest of us here..

 

[CatToy]

I will defend the OP a little, if he wants to spend a lot of money to make a little money, that is his choice, he needs to abide by any laws but after that it is a free society, go for it.

To the OP, the Cat 259 would make a good small job CTL, I wanted a 289 for better lift but ended up with Bobcat T770 and I am very happy. I started with a Kubota L45 TLB and slowly added a piece or two of equipment every year, the best addition was a single axle dump just under the CDL limit.

Disclaimer- I do not pay my bills by playing in the dirt as most of my equipment is for my personnel use but I do have a sideline excavation business keeping my son busy. And, yes, I have commercial insurance and I can underbid most, as I only need to cover my equipment use and a little labor. Funny thing is, most of what I do are jobs the local dirt guys just will not bid on or do not have time, so I figure I am not robbing food from anyones mouth by my part time business. I would think the OP would be in the same boat.

 

[JS300]

I found out how expensive running equipment can be by buying a skid steer and dozer to clear a couple hundred acres this year. I went into thinking when I got done I could keep the equipment and do a few jobs a year and wouldn't have to charge quite as much and just pick up things others didn't want to do. Well I quickly found out you better have allot of disposable cash on hand (probably 10k for a start) and there is reason guys don't want some of the smaller jobs. I've done one job since the clearing project got finished and it was a small one for a neighbor. Think I'll keep the dozer for one more year then sell them both buy a newer skid steer and just do my own stuff. Trucks, trailers, and equipment are just to much to keep up with.
However I get line about taking food from the pros from time to time on my cattle operation so I see both sides. I guess some folks think if it's not your only line of work stay out or your diluting the market. Like I said I can see both sides of the argument.

 

[pafarmer]

I was just trying to get a rise out of the OP m it really doesn't matter to me what he actually ends up doing with the machine. More power to him. The 259D would make a great machine IMHO for what the OP describes. I own a few of them and really really like the unit. Very capable peice of iron...good luck to the OP...

 

[dtcohen]

Get a little tired of guys like this low balling and half assiing everything they touch....here we are trying to do things the right way, feed out families, earn a living, employee a few men and numb nuts like this guy thinks he an operator simply because he owns a peice of equipment...owning and operating are two very different things..

What's funny is they think they can pay for the machine by taking side jobs and actually use that in the purchase logic. You will very quickly find that even at half price you more than likely have little clue in what you are doing..Damage someone's property you accepted money from and tell me how attractive weekend gigs are when the lawyers get done with you...good grief ! Buy and enjoy it on your property or do it right like the rest of us here..

I am hoping that your comment about "numb nuts like this guy" is not directed towards me as those are pretty strong accusations towards somebody that you do not know. I have run my fair share of skid steer and CTL machines. Mostly Caterpillar, but I have also run Kubota, Bobcat, Case, and Deere machines. I don't half ass anything. If I don't think I can do a job right I don't do it, period. I am not getting into this as a career and I am not trying to steal jobs from anybody. Just trying to decide what types of jobs I could potentially take on with a 259D size machine.

Thank you for all the input!

 

[dtcohen]

I was just trying to get a rise out of the OP m it really doesn't matter to me what he actually ends up doing with the machine. More power to him. The 259D would make a great machine IMHO for what the OP describes. I own a few of them and really really like the unit. Very capable peice of iron...good luck to the OP...

Roger that. Thanks!

 

[dirtmonkey]

Hi Everyone,

I am kicking around the idea of purchasing a CTL mostly for personal use, but also for the occasional paying job. I have a full time job, so this would definitely be an afternoon/weekend gig. I am thinking about something in the Cat 259D size class. I am just curious as to what types of jobs you could take on with a CTL. I was thinking stuff like hauling and spreading dirt / gravel, breaking up concrete, light excavation and leveling.

I won't be putting food on the table with this thing, but it would be nice to offset some of the cost. What are your thoughts?

This statement along with your last post are conflicting.
Offsetting the cost means receiving money for work you've performed with this machine. Sounds like business to me. You say you're experienced in so many machines. So.... Why ask if it will do the job ? You should know by now.
You have a full time job. Do you have insurance and benefits? A lot of independent contractors do not. Why ? Because people like you just " offsetting" the cost of their weekend toy , are keeping the prices down.

 

[pafarmer]

This statement along with your last post are conflicting.
Offsetting the cost means receiving money for work you've performed with this machine. Sounds like business to me. You say you're experienced in so many machines. So.... Why ask if it will do the job ? You should know by now.
You have a full time job. Do you have insurance and benefits? A lot of independent contractors do not. Why ? Because people like you just " offsetting" the cost of their weekend toy , are keeping the prices down.

Well said Dirt monkey, well said...time to flip this one over and put sauce on its back, I think it's done...