How To Start In Forestry Mulching

Forestry is a mad crazy opportunity for landscape contractors.
Simpler than running a lawn care business. Yet the same principles apply. Accounting and understanding "COSTS" matters a LOT MORE.
End of the day you're knocking down vegetation. Heres the 101 of forestry. UNDERSTAND mulching with a SkidSteer is an entry way into the industry. You can not stay at the skid level forever, costs are much higher, production is much lower. DM me on Instragram.com/onsitetrav for questions or help with getting started.

[@AmyWelchBrokeredByFathomRealty]

Can anyone explain if a high flow machine is needed and why? Or would a low flow machine work just as good.

[@OnSiteTrav]

More flow and psi the better. Ideally 30gpm and higher. Bobcat offers a "standard flow" in the 650 that 25gpm, if you're running a forestry deck thats fine. If you want to run a mulching drum, you really need to be pushing 30-45gpm. That type of flow creates heat.... remember you got to reduce that heat so o-rings and parts don't blow. In a perfect world hydro oil should be 150-170 degrees F. Reality on say a bobcat T650 25gpm, you're gonna see temps around 220-230. If thats the case change the hydro oil twice as often. If the book says 500 hrs, you need to change it at 250, cause that oil is cooking above 160.

[@nickgauley2642]

Great video

[@OnSiteTrav]

Thanks!

[@cleatrampler]

Wonder if that is a Cummins 4bt? Nice setup with separate standard and high flow connectors. The rotary deck is what I use for my Bobcat 873 for mowing elephant grass and small trees. Your forestry head is light years ahead because it puts more power to the work.

[@OnSiteTrav]

873 and a Deck is a great set up. I started with a 97' 873. Open cab though.

[@Truckboy383]

Great information Travis. Are you still doing this type of work? Do you have any new updates on this particular part of your endeavor?

[@OnSiteTrav]

Yes. No updates for the moment.

[@Truckboy383]

@@OnSiteTrav thanks for the reply man. Will be watching for it. Have yourself a good one sir!

[@CenTexAg]

When you say “bobcat with a deck”, what is a deck? Is that a disk mulched? Thanks for the video and info

[@OnSiteTrav]

Its a mowing deck made my diamond. Like a brush hog

[@pangsbricks8412]

This looks like a sweet gig to get into! I have been researching how to start. I live in Oregon so there is no end to trees, and bushes. Would you recommend this as a job to someone? Thanks!

[@OnSiteTrav]

Thanks! Its hard work, but if you enjoy it. Its great.

[@carlosfrances01]

Could you please tell me whats the set up you have? Thanks.

[@precisionfilms3777]

Hey buddy. Brian here. I live in Ohio. Currently running 3 old skid steers year round. I watched a dozen of your videos. Super interested in chating with you more. Share ideas.

[@OnSiteTrav]

Hit me up on instragram.com/onsitetrav love to chat with you!

[@precisionfilms3777]

@@OnSiteTrav I dont really communicate on Instagram

[@wilsonshowalter4953]

What do you know about the Diamond drum mulcher?

[@OnSiteTrav]

Lots about the Diamond Deck

[@wilsonshowalter4953]

Good?? Bad??

[@hollowellreid]

I feel as if the skid steer with forestry mulcher has been sold as the "get rich quick" idea for the last 8 or 10 years. Don't see many people sticking with it. High purchase costs, high maintenance costs, tons of travel, limited market, etc. I thought about trying to get into it but passed.

[@silvergrizzly316]

Hollowellreid, I'm with you on this brother, you're either going to have know somebody that can hook you up with continuous work or have a half million you're jus sitting on or you could go bust really fast! Talked with a guy the other day he had the asv 120 with cimaf head, $140,000 total but he said when he started 12 years ago he was the first one in this part of North Carolina to start into forestry mulching, now he said there are 12 guys in a 24 mile stretch of hwy over 2 counties that are undercutting each other just to get the business. Said one guy is cutting @ $125 hr when he should be keeping it between $250 - $275 hr. He has contracts but he said he still has to travel to get some jobs. I would love to do it... bout 15 years ago!

[@TheKaffeeKlatsch]

In the West people are losing their homeowners insurance because of brush/vegetation.

[@TheKaffeeKlatsch]

In the West people are losing their homeowners insurance because of brush/vegetation.

[@silvergrizzly316]

@@TheKaffeeKlatsch it must be due to it being a fire hazard, Too close to house. Right?

[@kandyman8603]

Couldnt agree with you more. I had a Bobcat T320 with a Fecon head about 3 years ago. Sold it after just over a year. The maintenance on them is INSANE! Just the tracks alone cost about $20/hr for wear/tear. Teeth... Shoot at $150/tooth it can get expensive real quick. Think i had it figured out to around $70/hr just for wear/tear cost. Every time something broke it was easily a $1000+ gone. And stuff CONSTANTLY breaking was what got me out of it. They are sweet machines but the market has gotten flooded by everybody and their brother going out, pulling $150k loans to buy one just to charge $130/hr. Every year 1-2 new “land services specialist” popup with brand new trucks/machines just to see them go bust couple years later. Like i said they are great machines but they have a very limited use too. Most jobs require what i call a “brown field” finished product. People dont want 1-5” of mulch spread out on their property. Hard to build a house or any structure on that and IMPOSSIBLE to turn into a yard within a couple years. And of you do clean it up well then you are left with a pile of chips just like a regular chipper would get you. Not to mention the stumps that are still left in the ground. I went back to the excavator/chipper combo. Not quite as fast but it leaves a much better end product and its much easier to charge more when people see 2 machines on site vs 1. The only jobs i found a mulcher was good for were right-of way clients, farmers wanting edges of fields cut and people that wanted trails cut other than that they are kinda useless. 2 of those 3 clients dont have or want to spend the money required.

[@thomasgrawunder3258]

In your experience what’s the best marketing for jobs?

[@OnSiteTrav]

road signs 100%

[@joshland6505]

I’m looking at getting into forestry mulching. Looking. At ASV75hd with a fecon drum bh74ss. Is this a good combo/ good to start with? Thank you

[@OnSiteTrav]

Yes. I've run the 75 a bunch. Personally I'd go Cimaf 150d with the 75hd, /the fecon is good as well.

[@joshland6505]

@@OnSiteTrav thank you so much I appreciate it.

[@leeholton3505]

Gow do you market this ahere do you find customer who do you talk to

[@leeholton3505]

Do you ever get jobs to big and need someone with equipment to help you

[@willivey7516]

So how do I find those original customers for the normal deck? Most people are going to want the full mulching so how do you convince them otherwise?

[@OnSiteTrav]

I don't agree most want full mulching. If you have a deck, sell deck work. Show them the value add, and bid them full mulching if thats what they want. Sub the mulcher.

[@kdoe5071]

So, could I purchase the mulching deck, then rent the machine, to get started?

[@OnSiteTrav]

Smart way to do it.

[@kdoe5071]

@@OnSiteTrav ty for the response

[@CommonSensePhilosophy]

What city in Fl do you live in, if you don't mind me asking?

[@OnSiteTrav]

Shops out of Sarasota. We travel the state quite a bit for different projects.

[@brentromine1505]

It's really irritating that people make videos that you can barely hear.