Thanks for all the comments :thumbup2: really appreciate it
Most people think/thought i was mad going into it but it's what ive always wanted to do so after working for other contractors for a few summers and finding what i believe to be a 'gap in the market' in the area (spreading acurately using weigh cells) i decided to take the plunge and go it alone
Its great having being your own boss and having control over whats going on and knowing whats happening the next day instead of just turning up and seeing what happens, although now if something breaks ive gotta sort it/pay for it instead of just ringing my boss or taking it back to the yard and getting another machine
So far the 190 has done me proud, pulls like a train & has done everything ive chucked at it so far without any issues, originally I was trying to find a tidy mx170 but they seem to be as rare as rocking horse s**t so went to the local dealer who had this, wasnt keen at first as id heard a few horror stories about them but this had all the upgrades done to it so took the plunge and havent looked back since
Used to spread with a Fiat 90-90 coupled to a AS side discharge spreader or a zetor rur 55 spreader whilst i was working for other contractors
Good business name, would stick in the mind alright, have a feeling we wouldn't get away with a 40ft on a dolly here Tom!!!!!!
I started off 4 years ago with a massey ferguson 165 and a old reck of a tanco wrapper nothing else went with farmers and contractors under pressure.Thats the biggest problem - the amount of money needed just to be able to start! My biggest expense was the spreader because of the weigh cell stuff on it - in fact it cost me more than i spent on the tractor pulling it. Sounds like its all coming together well, never know you may pick up the odd wrapping job from people who bale their own but want a few wrapped etc? Thats good that you've got a neighbour like that, will certainly help make your life easier having access to 2 tractors especially in the silage game. When you get started get some pics up, would be good to see somebody else's start up kit etc :001_smile:
the back of the spreader seems very close to the ground?
The rear drawbar lowers the back end by around 4 inches, when parked on level ground tho theres around 13 inches clearence between the bottom of the drawbar & the ground. When it was fitted i thought it would constantly be hitting the ground etc but so far hasnt been a problem - makes it easier having it to stand on when de-stringing the beaters as well
assume have a lot of dairy custom if spreading muck then ?
Barely any dairy customers, a lot have shown interest & taken business cards & prices etc but the problem with dairy farms is usually (around here anyway) the contractor that does all the silage does all the spreading - however a few have said they would quite happily use me for spreading but their silage contractor wont like it & they're worried that they wont get them to turn up to do the silage when the dairy customer actually wants them if they changed & used me for the spreading