[Grant]

We distibute approximately 2000 - 2300 cubic yards of mulch (mostly double shredded hardwood) per year. We contract most of this out to a large company with a blower truck. We are cosidering the purchase of a Finn BB705 blower to use ourselves to help alleviate scheduling problems, mulch quality concerns and to add another profit center for our business. Do any of you have any experience with this product? Thanks for your help!

Grant

[johnkeegan]

I have the smaller unit and it has performed without any mechanical gliches for 4 years. The only problem we encountered was when we tried to switch to a much finer product that, when wet (i.e. this year) would gum up the elbow and slow the mulch way down.

[wingofiv]

like the poster said before the only problem i've had with them is wetness of mulch. The efficiency really makes this a wise choice if you go through a lot of mulch. Make sure you take into account the size of most of your jobs. We mulch several malls a year and when there are cars around sometimes all you can do is get out the wheel barrel.

[paponte]

We have a tow behind unit we have been using for a while. As stated you mave to move slow with wet material. It can and will clog our machine if you do not watch the speed of the conveyor. Dry material spreads like a dream. Well worth the investment on our part.

[mdvaden]

I've hired bark blowing companies, but usually do it for innaccesable areas (to wheelbarrows) or when the wheels will cause soil compaction over lawns, etc..

I rarely have bark blown if it looks like the home I'm at, or the ones next door have just contracted professional window cleaning.

[syzer]

Originally posted by wingofiv
like the poster said before the only problem i've had with them is wetness of mulch. The efficiency really makes this a wise choice if you go through a lot of mulch. Make sure you take into account the size of most of your jobs. We mulch several malls a year and when there are cars around sometimes all you can do is get out the wheel barrel.

Why do you have to break out the wheel barrels? We just picked one up, I will post our findings after we get our condos/apartments done.

[mdvaden]

Originally posted by syzer
Why do you have to break out the wheel barrels? We just picked one up, I will post our findings after we get our condos/apartments done.

That's a point.

In a mall, you could wait until its closed and every car has left the lot, to avoid the wheelbarrows.

Otherwise, its a quickie unprofessional corner-cutting to make a few extra bucks while lightly dusting a lot of nice autos.

Especially since the fine dust gets lodged in the vents and blasts the car interiors the first time they operate something that vents fresh air in the car.

[syzer]

Originally posted by mdvaden
That's a point.

In a mall, you could wait until its closed and every car has left the lot, to avoid the wheelbarrows.

Otherwise, its a quickie unprofessional corner-cutting to make a few extra bucks while lightly dusting a lot of nice autos.

Especially since the fine dust gets lodged in the vents and blasts the car interiors the first time they operate something that vents fresh air in the car.

Ours is fitted with two 100g water tanks on each side that injects water into the mulch at point of exit (at the machine). I have read, and the seller told me this essentially eliminates dust. You can see one tank in the pic here, there is an identical tank on the other side.

[johnkeegan]

How many yards does that unit hold and what is the GVW on the truck?

[syzer]

16, however on the site they were loading it and shooting it they would load it with about 24yards.

The gvw is 33k.

[johnkeegan]

Interesting. I was looking to buy a 33K truck and hoped I could set it up with interchangeable bodies, including one that was for bark blowing. We do alot of it but I'd hate to tie up a truck all year with it. We currently have one of the smaller trailer bark blowers but a larger model would be more convenient.

[syzer]

Originally posted by johnkeegan
Interesting. I was looking to buy a 33K truck and hoped I could set it up with interchangeable bodies, including one that was for bark blowing. We do alot of it but I'd hate to tie up a truck all year with it. We currently have one of the smaller trailer bark blowers but a larger model would be more convenient.

We were thinking of the exact same thing, however I dont think it will be possible because the rear airlock sits very low, so you would not be able to "dump" the body. Any ideas?

[johnkeegan]

Actually, I contacted Finn a year or so ago and they said that yes it can be done. They had someone that fabricates the body accordingly. At the time I was trying to stay under 26K so I gave up on it but now I have decided to have everyone get Class A CDL's so I'll might as well jump up to 33K. I'll have to reinvestigate. But it is possible. Of course, everything is at the right price.

[syzer]

Interesting, I would love to see one so I can have my guy fab one up. I want to get an Isuzu FXR 53k with a nice hook lift system for interchangeable bodies, that would make it great if we could hook the mulch blower up. Maybe if you fab up some legs that you put in the "down" position when you are switching beds so that it sits level when you sit it on the ground? I don't know I will have to look tomorrow.

You only need a class b cdl to drive a 33k vehicle.

Good luck!

[syzer]

Here is what the truck will look like when we get a little time, also we will be adding some chrome simulators, chrome grill, and other accessories. Cant wait, its killing me having this thing running around not matching our other equipment.