Replies

1. 
   dustinf | Apr 21, 2006 03:06am | #1

   Depends what you mean by productivity. 

   Lately, I've been more productive by selling more retail jobs, and less sub jobs.

    

   If you have any poo, fling it now.

2. 
   txlandlord | Apr 21, 2006 03:18am | #2

   Jerrald,

   Once upon a time, about 20 years ago we were doing our framing "in house". I had two experienced carpenters and about 6 helpers.

   We were framing a very large home, had the walls framed but not plumbed and lined. We were gathered at mid morning break, and I told that crew that if we plumbed the walls, set the ceiling joist, set and braced the rafters, ran the subfacia and lookouts and decked the roof we could go home early and I would pay them for the whole day.

   My experienced carpenters knew I was joking, but to my surprise, all of the helpers got to work. I got about three hours of increased production from the helpers and they took a short lunch, but realized the goal to get home early was impossible.

   Seriously, except for getting dirty on my property, most of my work is management. These days to increase production I have been using the internet more as follows: Email communications with vendors, subs and homeowners. Vendor and manufacturer websites for Homeowener selections. Purchases of products from places like http://www.build.com. Sending drawings for Homeowner and sub-contractor review (we are design / build). Asking questions on BT and other forums. Advertising and using Service Majic for leads (it has worked well for me). Etc., etc., etc.

   I also got high speed satillite internet, added a new faster desktop computer, a new laptop, the latest version of Softplan CAD and a PDA. I networked our three desktops and the laptop......it can be used anywhere in the office or home via wireless router.    

   I joined Spash, a forum for Softplan CAD users, and ask questions when stumped.

   You may have been expecting different type answers, but thought I would answer.

   All of the above has really helped increase production. I finished the home in the attached pic three years ago. When I think back to that time.....it is like I was in the stone age. We are moving along faster and with greater professionalism.   

   
1. 
   JerraldHayes | Apr 21, 2006 03:46am | #3

   txlandlord - "You may have been expecting different type answers, but thought I would answer."

   Actually to tell you the truth I was intentionally being particularly vague because I was hoping to see all the different things that "increasing productivity" means to different people and different businesses models.

   View Image

1. 
   user-81267 | Apr 21, 2006 09:11pm | #5

   Site manager on a multi $Mil house.Try to pass on experience/knowledge to young apprentices so that they can be more productive. Difficult task, only a few who really seem interested. Learn to be more proficient in Auto CAD and type faster. Leave the work at the site & go home on time.Work to live, not live to work = productivity

3. 
   blue_eyed_devil | Apr 21, 2006 05:43am | #4

   I'm trying to phase out the  carpentry aspect of our business.

   When I achieve that, I'll be more productive, even if I'm hauling garbage.

   blue

    

4. 
   BossHog | Apr 21, 2006 09:21pm | #6

   Subbing work out to Costa Rica.

   (-:

   Men love the idea that they'll meet a nurse who'll be filthy and up for 3-in-a-bed romps. [ Abi Titmuss]
1. 
   PD | May 16, 2006 06:36pm | #41

   I was going to be sarcastic and say hire more Illegals. But that may not be a safe topic these days.

5. 
   JeffBuck | Apr 22, 2006 09:11am | #7

   stop subing myself to an unorganized company ...

   start subing myself to an organized company!

    

   their un/organization ... directly affects my production.

   Jeff

       Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

1. 
   Catskinner | Apr 22, 2006 03:23pm | #9

   Jeff, I think that observation is right on the money.I was thinking about the same thing this morning. Some builders I work for the job always goes well, some, well, the job never goes. <G>But I still pay my crew, I still meet my overhead.And somehow with the organized generals we always do a better job and make more money.The disorganized-bordering-on-retarded generals take up a lot of unproductive time, a lot of standing around, re-figuring, hurry-up-and-wait, doing things twice, on and off the job (VERY expensive for me), and then they pay late or "can't" pay at all.Man, I'm thinking about the job we're going to today and wishing I had gotten a downpayment from this guy. I will next time. <G>The OP asked about productivity. I don't worry about that for two reasons.1) My crews are outrageously productive. Generals are rarely prepared to keep up (scheduling) until they have worked with us a few times.2) There is no necessary correlation between productivity and profitability. We can be productive and still be unprofitable if we get jerked around by a disorganized general or an architect playing games.Good and timely point -- thanks. The best politics is right action. -Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948)

2. 
   Bentstick | Apr 22, 2006 05:00pm | #10

   What Jeff said!

   Why does a lack of planning on your part (GC), constitute an emergency on my part?

   If it wasn’t for the Bank Payments,

   Interest, Taxes, Wages, and Fuel Costs,

   I wouldn’t have to charge you!!

6. 
   DanT | Apr 22, 2006 01:14pm | #8

   We are just finishing a new office.  Now I can find things that were buried in my home office because of a lack of space.  With a couple of business' we out grew the small home office, and as in most marriages that meant I had to leave!  DanT

7. 
   DavidxDoud | Apr 23, 2006 05:07am | #11

   What kinds of things are you doing to help increase your company's productivity?

    

   oh - I try to spend about 4 hrs/day at breaktime -

    

   "there's enough for everyone"
1. 
   Bowz | Apr 23, 2006 06:34am | #12

   Something I've done is operate off of more lists, and checklists.

   for instance, I have task cards for each type of job I do. So if I am going to install cabinets, every tool or material is listed on that card, and I make sure all of it gets on the truck.

   Every morning I have a series of tasks that I have printed out on a sheet, and need to get checked off before I leave the office.

   Another thought would be do you want to be efficient, or be effective?  What comes to mind is hauling debris from my small jobs. It piles up in the trailer until I have a full load. Efficient: running to the dump once for a bunch of projects. But more Effective was at the old shop having a 4 yd dumpster permanently at the shop. $20 per month, whatever was in it.

   Oh, and I have been avoiding logging on to BT in the morning. :)

   Bowz

8. 
   howhighlites | Apr 23, 2006 05:55pm | #13

   Jerrald,

   I'm a general contractor have been framing for other contractors for years and have been managing projects for other contractors. One thing I try to do on all my jobs whether it's mine or one that I manage is to be completely ready particular sub's to come in and do their job.

   I have received comments from subs that they prefer to do my jobs because their ready and they don't get bogged down because there are four other subs on site stepping over them. They can do their job more efficient, faster and no particular complaints which in turn makes the total job faster and cleaner.

   I'm on site almost always to answer the simplest questions to subs which keeps them moving.

   Now it's not possible to keep the job completely clear of multiple subs on site but I try my best to make sure that that particular sub has a "ready" job to start.

   I've been on to many jobs where there are 15 guys all stepping over each other pulling cords, hoses, tools in all directions because the general wants the job done and all it does is slow the job down and piss a lot of people off which make's the total job go way slower!

   Howie  

1. 
   brownbagg | Apr 23, 2006 06:03pm | #14

   What kinds of things are you doing to help increase your company's productivity?I find by slowing down, I get more production. Everytime boss increase schedule, somebody gets hurt.Last week he schedule me for two jobs at the same time. He said I could go thirty minute early and show up thirty minute late for the other. They was 42 miles apart. a hour travel. I went home early that day.slow it down, think about it, dont have any redo's

9. 
   MisterT | Apr 23, 2006 06:04pm | #15

   Working...

   :)

    

   Mr. T. 

   "My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions - or bury the results." - Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold.

    

10. 
    MarineEngineer | Apr 23, 2006 07:17pm | #16

    something that gives me a huge boost in productivity compared to most of my colleagues is that I know how to touch-type. Once you move up the food chain to 1st/Chief engineer, much of the job involves correspondence, reports, and making maintenance entries in the computer program.

    Once I have done my entries/emails, I can do something else. This past ship, the C/E spent tons of time with his 2 finger typing that could have been spent more productively.

    Another thing that I do, before, say, overhauling a pump, is to RTFB and check for spares onhand. So many pumps/fans/etc. have some non-intuitive way to come apart, and by reading the book first, you can avoid breaking them, saving the company huge $$$. Plus, having to ship a hard to find part to someplace like Oman or Indonesia is very expensive. And having the ship down (and off hire) is VERY expensive.

    We had an oily water separator that wasn't working right, for years. One of the C/E's ordered a new one (at the cost of $150,000). The other C/E asked me to look at it, see if I could get it working right. Got the book and studied it, then began my overhaul. Spent about 200 manhours at $50/hour, and got it working like new.

    There's an attitude among many seamen that reading the book is for pu$$ies. I disagree. Just wish I could have seen some reward for my work. Being union and on salary, I get paid the same no matter how much I work, and the same as anyone else in my position, no matter how good or bad they are. And that is a big disincentive for going the extra mile.

    Marine Engineer

    fair winds and following seas
11. 
    basswood | Apr 23, 2006 10:45pm | #17

    I used to be a "do it all" remodel guy. My business cards used to have a huge list of different trades on it (framing, insulation, basements, windows & doors, drywall hanging & taping, painting, tile, cabinets, countertops & trim carpentry, etc.). I know that is a profitable biz model for some and people with all these talents are becoming more scarce. On the other hand... just because you can doesn't mean you should.

    Now, I am attempting to specialize to increase efficiency & profitability. When each new edition of my business card comes out, I drop something else off the list. I focus on what I am best at, what I enjoy, and what makes me the most money.

    Now my cards say, "Kitchens & Bathrooms, Finish Carpentry & Custom Closets"

    The next version will read, "Cabinet & Countertop Installation, Fine Trim Carpentry" (a scosh more specific). I am doing a tile job now, but just for a repeat customer and I question even doing that (I am not a production tile setter--this job is taking about twice as long as I thought it would--last tile job was 6 mos. ago).

    It seems to be working for me. I almost doubled my income this past year over the prior year even with the market cooling down. I credit this to several things, but a more narrowly focused & more productive business is a big part of it. To be honest, my jack of all trades approach was not sustainable as a business model--for me. I was barely making it. Now things are looking better as more of a specialist.

    Perhaps I am just better with less of the total project to estimate time and cost on. One big remodel project, bid too low, can blow an otherwise good year.

    I like knowing I am ready for most of my jobs now without even thinking about it. If it is cabinets or trim I'm ready to roll...no checklist or retooling required. Repetition can be good. Friday my two person crew installed 21 cabinets in a kitchen showroom display (complicated stuff at that) that is the most productive we've ever been.

1. 
   bstcrpntr | Apr 26, 2006 01:39am | #18

   Things I have done to increase productivity:

    

   Hire an office manager,  Get on the job more.

   Me being on the job working seems to increse the production.  Guys still get their breaks and lunches but they don't seem stand around for all the extra time after lunch and such. 

   I run quite a few guys.  A fifteen min convo about some girls hooters on a six man framing crew cost me money.  If I am paying $150.00 I want to see the hooters not talk about them.

   I am not on every job every day, but they know I might be.  I do no tcoem in and take the lead mans place for a day. I do what he says needs done.

    I hope Chuck Norris never potato sacks me!!!!

   bstcrpntr ---   I hope to grow into this name.

2. 
   WNYguy | Apr 29, 2006 03:37am | #19

   Basswood, that's very interesting how you've been narrowing your focus.  Makes sense to me.  I'm just getting into the business, and still stumbling along. 

   Yesterday I printed my first business cards ... keeping the tagline intentionally vague for now: "Architectural Restorations and Appropriate Adaptations."   Maybe too vague.  Or maybe too specific, since I'm focusing on old buildings.  Well, we'll see how it goes.

   Allen

1. 
   basswood | Apr 29, 2006 11:43pm | #31

   That sounds like a good way to start out. I am still glad the I was a generalist first. If I GC a job, I know how each trade should work together. Even as a specialist, the general knowledge helps me with details related to other trades.The shift to a primary trade (cabinets & trim) has left me rusty on some other stuff though. But, it is good when the main trade slows to have other work you can fall back on. Now after two weeks of nothing but cabinet work...I have a generalist week ahead:Mon. Tile
   Tues. Blow cellulose
   Wed. Countertop
   Thurs. Doors
   Fri. TrimI know I'll spend considerable time just tooling up for these varied jobs...no SOS though LOLIf I has a schedule completely full of cabs & trim, I think I'd make more $.Regarding your biz cards...Mine used to say "Historic Renovation", that did't work in my market. No one ever asked for that. I think it just meant "expensive" (not that I try to be cheap). Half of the houses here are from the 1800's and I still had no takers for historic restoration--they just wanted a new kitchen. Even those who had me do historic work referred to it in other terms, so I dropped it from my cards.It might work great where you are...try it, then see what your customers are going for.

1. 
   WNYguy | Apr 30, 2006 06:40am | #33

   Basswood, thanks for the feedback.  I spent today at a Preservation Conference where there were a lot of old house owners who are frustrated in finding competent tradespeople who are sensitive to their homes' original fabric, accurate restoration, etc.  I think there's a market, locally, for what I can offer, but I'm still fumbling along.  

   Interestingly, I also spoke today with two restoration contractors who have each narrowed their focus exclusively to the restoration of old windows.  And both seem to be doing quite well, in the same relatively small market (Rochester, NY).

   Yeah, it sure looks like this week you're returning to your generalist's roots.  Good luck!

   My projects this week range from replicating and installing Italianate exterior trim details to completing some Mission Style cabinet doors.   Last week, some stone masonry and a porch ceiling.  I'm constantly moving tools and supplies from my shop to my truck to the site to my own house projects ...  Definitely not very efficient, yet.

   Allen

3. 
   fab4beck | May 14, 2006 12:51am | #37

   I agree with you I started 5 years ago doing like you said My business card had a big list on it now it's down to half and getting smaller.

   I looked at it like this after the first year I looked at what I had got calls to do narrowed it down, then the second I also choice what I got called plus what I was more efficient doing and so on.

   Scott 

1. 
   basswood | May 14, 2006 01:27am | #38

   This may not be true for all generalists, but it seems that many could become more profitable if they refine their focus some.Even if you take pride in doing everything from start to finish on the job, at least get a specialist to do bookkeeping, etc. Or find a niche market to remodel or build in, so you are an expert in some category (Urban loft remodeling or storage solutions or ?).This said, If all I did was hang doors & trim, all the time, I would go nuts (not that anything is wrong with that ; > ).I'm a specialist now, who enjoys a wide variety (when the schedule is not full of cab & trim jobs--even those have enough variety).

12. 
    dieselpig | Apr 29, 2006 05:58am | #20

    I'm kicking around the idea of starting to have the guys over to my place every Saturday morning for two hours or so.

    I'm thinking coffee and doughnuts while I go over a specific topic in depth.  I often have to teach on the fly onsite and they end up getting about 1/2 the information as I'm distracted, they're distracted, and we are all just trying to git 'er done.  Lately I've been realizing that two of my guys who have been with me awhile appear to be ready for a 'breakthrough'.  There's some concepts that I know they're just about ready to wrap their heads around, but need more of the finer details explained out and/or demonstrated.

    I could also use this time for safety meetings, which never hurts.  But I'm thinking more along the lines of keeping it on topic for what's on the agenda the upcoming week.  Even refresher 'classes' if it's basic stuff.  If we're heading into wall framing in the upcoming week, I could go over making an accurate and complete window/door cut sheet.  If we're heading into the week and looking at a floor frame, I could go over accurate placement of stair holes as well as stair framing.  Roofs... the topics are endless.

    I wonder if I could hand out paychecks on this Saturday morning gig?  It'll be paid company time, but I wonder if that crosses any boundaries?  Sure would make it easier to ensure I'm not wasting my time waiting around for someone sleeping off a Friday night bender.

    View Image
1. 
   DanT | Apr 29, 2006 11:49am | #21

   My guys value the weekend.  Not to say they won't work a Saturday if need be but it would agravate them to come in for just a couple hours.  Unless you meant tagged on to a work day or work half day.

   If not working Saturday anyway I might consider doing it Monday morning or Friday morning.  I like the training concept in either skills or safety.  But also you don't want to forget the value in one on one with your staff once in awhile.  Gives them the warm fuzzy thing of personal attention. 

   We try to do lunch once a month or so.  Depending on schedule.  And we meet in the shop 20 minutes or so before we start.  I review the day then and hit an overview of the week.  On Friday I try to do a view of the week ahead but I am the only one the remembers that one by Monday!  DanT

1. 
   dieselpig | Apr 29, 2006 03:34pm | #22

   Yeah I think you're right... if I were to do it on a Saturday am, it would have to be totally and completely optional or it would be really unfair.  I still think I could get them to go for it for awhile anyway.

   On Monday mornings?  Dude I'm lucky if I can get them to hit the right end of the nail for the first few hours or so on Mondays.  Forget teaching.  I'm not much better myself on Mondays, come to think of it.View Image

1. 
   DanT | Apr 29, 2006 05:06pm | #25

   I like the rain or snow day idea of Jons the best.  Good thought.

   Mondays I am rarin to go lol.  I am a morning person too.  Maybe it is the same thing about early part of the week and early part of the day.  By 2PM I am ready for a nap but I up at 5AM with no alarm and ready to run out the door!  By Thursday I can forget Friday lol.  DanT

1. 
   dieselpig | Apr 29, 2006 05:12pm | #27

   I'm more of a marathoner myself Dan.  I can plug along and work at above average production for a good 60 hour a week before I start burning out.  In fact, that's when I feel the most healthy.  It gets me in bed early, up early, and 'satisfies' me.  Too much downtime and my head is my own worst enemy.  But Monday mornings are notoriously junk for me.  I feel like my head is in sand, I've got five thumbs on each hand, and someone tied my shoes together.View Image

2. 
   DanT | Apr 29, 2006 09:52pm | #28

   I was the same for years. Nice thing about maturity.  You balance out some.  The 5 thumb, shoe tied together thing is neat visual.  DanT

3. 
   brownbagg | Apr 29, 2006 09:58pm | #29

   I,m sleeping on saturday morning, my boss know better.

2. 
   jonblakemore | Apr 29, 2006 04:26pm | #23

   My opinion is similar to Dan's. Saturday could be fine for some guys but for other it could be the worst thing you could do. Maybe do it bi-weekly, or even monthly.Here's an even better thought (IMHO)- what do you do on rain days? I do think you have a good concept, and the kind of employees that can and want to excel will do just that with a little guidance. 

   Jon Blakemore RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

1. 
   dieselpig | Apr 29, 2006 05:05pm | #24

   Yeah, I've come to agree with you and Dan.  Saturday mornings would be very unfair if I want this to be 'mandatory'.  Rain days are another great idea, but I find that by the time we get one, I've got so much of my own business that needs tending to.  I eat up rain days with estimating work, billing, running errands, etc.

   I'm going to try Saturday mornings and totally put the ball in their court as far as attendance.  I think they'll bite, at least for awhile.  I know they want to learn more because they're quite driven, even without my pushing them along.  I also know that they know that this means more money for them.  I'm pretty good about increasing wages when production goes up as a result of someone's new found skills.  I also know that these two are very competitive with one another..... so if one shows up, the other will too in fear of letting one get a 'leg up' on the other. 

   You mentioned bi-weekly.  That might not be a bad idea either.  Take some of the pressure off and we can even make sure we schedule for a Saturday morning that works for all of us.  Thanks Jon.View Image

1. 
   mrmojo | Apr 29, 2006 05:11pm | #26

   hey its a good thing not many people on this board live by you

   you would have more applications for work than you know what to do with

   thumbs up for being able to be a boss and a regular person also

   ,too many frigging greedy jerks out there Due to recent budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel will be turned off until further notice.

13. 
    frenchy | Apr 29, 2006 11:14pm | #30

    JerraldHayes,

      I spend my days teaching others to be more productive.. use equipment instead of men, use nail guns instead of hammers and bulk nails.  Use forklifts instead of scaffolding, use well equiped forklifts instead of older less efficent equipment..

       (with swing carriages, remote controls and such a forklift I sell today makes more money than one I sold 5 years ago...even though it costs about 40% more) 

     Train your operators to think ahead, plan the layout of materials on the jobsite as well as you plan to put outlets in for lights. 

      When called for don't  Don't  use the forklift, use a crane and operator to install roof trusses.  

1. 
   blue_eyed_devil | May 01, 2006 12:50am | #34

   Frenchy, we set a house full of trusses the other day with the lift. It was a little slower than when we use our crane but it wasn't too bad. We probably wasted an hour or so. We have a 12' boom and we could reach all the way into the middle from any side of the house.

   It beats doing them by hand.

    

   blue 

1. 
   frenchy | May 09, 2006 12:19am | #35

   blueeyeddevil.

      I only rarely suggest using the forklift to set trusses, the time involved is always longer then the time used to set them with a crane, however, you are absolutely correct in that it beats setting trusses by hand..  There are of xourse exceptions, when a crane isn't available or when you are in such a remote place that the crane woulkd be prohibitively expensive for transport costs..

    

       With the new swing booms that we have dramatically closed that time gap..

     You can pick up a bunch of trusses swing left and drop one.. swing slightly right and drop another, repeat.. (like a crane does it..)  that way depending on the size of the house you may be able to place all the trusses without moving like a crane does..

       Now all you need to add is the remote control unit that operates all hydraulic functions like Ingersol Rand does.

1. 
   dieselpig | May 13, 2006 11:43pm | #36

   Frenchy,

   If you don't mind me asking.... what would one of these new IR machines cost me with the following specs... just looking for a ballpark +/- 5G is close enough..

      Around 8000# capacity, four wheel steer, enclosed heated cab, framer's carriage, foamed tires, stablilizers (I know you don't like them, but I do), block heater, 100+ HP, that new swing carriage you're talking about, longest boom you can get me, and anything else you think I might need.  ;)  And what does that remote control hydraulic option run? (I'm thinking workplatform with remote would be a killer set-up)

   I'm just kicking tires here and no where near ready to pull the trigger, but I'm somewhat disappointed with my Cat TH360B as of late.View Image

1. 
   frenchy | May 15, 2006 04:43pm | #39

   dieselpig,

         First don't waste your money on a 8000# forklift. they are exactly the same as the 6000# and 10,000#  an 8000# has more ballast in it and once I explain the stability triangle to you you'll understand why more weight isn't a better thing.. please ask..

    

     They are so much more stable than everybody elses forklift that the added capaicty is a real waste.. Plus they cost $8000 more and you'll never use the full capaicity.  A maximum load fora framer/builder is 2200# or less.. Please trust me on this.. my 15 years of experiance should count for something..

     Second, outriggers are about $5,000 but I assure you you'll use them for the first month or two and then 99.9% of the next 20 plus years they will be in your way.. They are very much like training wheels.. (plus they are ballast in the wrong place!)

     Third all forklifts sell for the same price with the same equipment..  it doesn't matter what brand!

     Oh I hear about "deals" all of the time, so and so is thousands of dollars cheaper but a carefull examination shows that they aren't.  They are used or have less equipment.. clever guys will tell you their tires are filled and when you check they are filled with ballast  (calcium cloride which if a tire gets a puncture leaks it out and needs to be replaced {very expensive} )   stuff like that which is hard for a one time buyer to see.

     You might get a couple of thousand off Terex over other brands, however you pay for it..  7 or 8 years ago most rental houses bought Terex because they would sell them cheaper than other brands and if a rental chain was buying  several hundred forklifts a couple of thousand each was a heck of a price break..   They don't buy them anymore.

       Fourth,

     you must get low profile tires!

        with regular 13:00x24 tires even foam filled there is a great deal of squish on tires, that means they flex around a lot.. they are after all just tractor tires and designed to flex over plowed fields.  When you  put a work platform on the forklift and raise it as much as 42 feet into the air that platform will  bob and weave around like a hootcie cootcie dancer.  Your guys will use one hand to hold onto the rail and one to try to work.  With low profile tires that don't flex they feel secure enough to use both hands to do the job.   Now the bad news.. foam filled and especially low profiled foam filled tires have poor traction.. if you work on improve surfaces or hard ground that's ok however if you work in the kind of gumbo mud we have here in the lamd of 10,000 lakes  you'll need aggressive tread tires to make up for the loss of traction..

        Also foam filled low profile tires ride rougher than a  cob.. If you road drive it to the gas station for fuel and hit a pot hole or two your back  will be screaming!  Put a suspension seat on it.!

         Fifth.  Cold weather package.. I don't know where you are at, hopefully not up here in the fridgid north,  so you might not feal a need for a cold weather package but that would be a mistake..   Sure you can get it started and probably won't need the built in either injector, the block heater is nice but I assume you won't need it since you didn't mention it..   What you really need is the change of Hydraulic fluid..  regular hydraulic fluid starts out pretty thick  and the colder it is the thicker the fluid is..   You start that forklift up some morning and instead of the 5000 PSI that normally operates under the fluid is thick enough that it could be 10,000 PSI or more..  Then you have those great big lift cylinders forcing the little level cylinders to accept whatever pressure is present.  Seals give up , around here it's seldom that they aren't repacked inside of three years with regular hydraulic fluid.. Since we use GM automatic transmission fluid instead of Hydraulic fluid our  seals never blow out and we have a reputation for extremely low maintinance in part because of it.. But it  adds another $500.00 to the cost of the Forklift

    Sixth,

        You didn't mention lights, Up here just under the north pole it's dark pretty early and once in a while you finish a job in the dark or need to road drive it to the next jobsite.. Lights are about $800 but actually seem to be worth it..  Your choice.

       With the exception of outriggers a VR642C new with the equipment you asked for and the stuff I suggested  would sell for around $85,000.00

     Your payments with nothing down would be around $1800.00 a month  or if you wanted a tax lease (ask)  they'd then be around $1500.00

    We rent and apply 100% of the rent towards the purchase price (less 1% per month on unpaid balance) so if you rented for say 6 months and used that as your down payment your payments would then be around $1500 and $1200

     

2. 
   DanT | May 16, 2006 12:57pm | #40

   Good post.  Thanks for the info.  DanT

3. 
   frenchy | May 17, 2006 08:29pm | #42

   DanT

      Just to revue,a forklift will need to be paid for for about 5 years but lasts  the average builder about 20 to 25 years before maintinance catches up to where it's worth replacing..

     A forklift will replace about 1 1/2 laborers and still allow the house to be built 20% faster than doing it by hand..

     I've never heard of a forklift filling a workman comp claim nor have I heard of one having an arguement with the boss or getting drunk on the job..

         Budget about $500.00 a year for maintinance  (except the imported ones like Cat and JCB) that should cover just about everything and when you retire in 20 plus years you'll still have some money left in that account..

    Insurance costs around $800-$1000 /year depending on your agent and your record..

     You can legally road drive them with a SMV decal on the back but if it's more than say about 25 -30 miles I'd hire someone to move it for you..  Most excavators do it and some are pretty reasonable.. around here the crane operators seems to do it in the evenings, some of the more clever ones either have fuel tanks and top off your fuel or stop at a station and top it off for you..

     Don't think of towing it with a pickup!

     most weigh over 20,000 pounds, and if you add the weight of the trailer plus a little equipment it will take a two ton truck to be legal.  Even if you move it 20 times a year you can't save enough to pay for the license and insurance let alone the truck and trailer..

    

14. 
    DanH | Apr 29, 2006 11:45pm | #32

    Stay home.

    If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy. --James Madison