Marketing your grapple saw

[Gerasimek]

To Gareth please accept my apology for guideing your tread in the wrong direction .

So to get back on point, i market my grapple to other tree companies in my area ( we do a 50 mile radius) that have good climbers and would normally rent my crane service to dismantle a problem tree but would rather not put them in the tree because i can remove 2/3 of the tree with the saw and two of their employees and only expose the climber to one hour of climbing for the trunk. The same companies now see that they can make more money in one day with the same amount of employees, two go with me and the others go on to another job and they gross 2/3 more in the same day they would have only completed one job.

Gareth,
This is absolutely right. The more you reach out to other services around you and make relationships the more money you will all make and it'll be made safely. It may take some time and some convincing initially. Personally, I'm like a crack dealer. I tell a guy that's skeptical that ill take the 1st tree down for free then he's hooked! As long as he can handle simple math, that is. Some guys just have too much ego and will never come around. Oh well. Just be glad you don't have to do it the old way anymore.
Any way you slice it, it'll be a success.

 

[KnuckleboomTrader]

Hey Todd this not a contest ! You miss all of what we are trying to communicate here , WE LOSE MONEY WHEN CRANES ARE DOWN so choose wisely who builds and how they handle the service end of the crane purchase !

I know it's not a contest... I was being sarcastic after reading the previous posts.

 

[Gareth's Tree]

To Gareth please accept my apology for guideing your tread in the wrong direction .

So to get back on point, i market my grapple to other tree companies in my area ( we do a 50 mile radius) that have good climbers and would normally rent my crane service to dismantle a problem tree but would rather not put them in the tree because i can remove 2/3 of the tree with the saw and two of their employees and only expose the climber to one hour of climbing for the trunk. The same companies now see that they can make more money in one day with the same amount of employees, two go with me and the others go on to another job and they gross 2/3 more in the same day they would have only completed one job.

Do you have your own crew as well?

 

[Gareth's Tree]

Gareth,
This is absolutely right. The more you reach out to other services around you and make relationships the more money you will all make and it'll be made safely. It may take some time and some convincing initially. Personally, I'm like a crack dealer. I tell a guy that's skeptical that ill take the 1st tree down for free then he's hooked! As long as he can handle simple math, that is. Some guys just have too much ego and will never come around. Oh well. Just be glad you don't have to do it the old way anymore.
Any way you slice it, it'll be a success.

My plan is to work hard to become very proficient with my grapple saw this season so I can, through demonstration, sell to other tree service's.

 

[Gareth's Tree]

All who do work for other tree service's- what percentage of your work is that vs. your own work?

 

[SJ_Treeguy]

Yes Gareth we do have a full service tree crew 4 men , 50% for my crew and 50% for other tree services

 

[SJ_Treeguy]

What part of the country do you work in Gareth

 

[Gareth's Tree]

What part of the country do you work in Gareth

North East Ohio

 

[Gareth's Tree]

Yes Gareth we do have a full service tree crew 4 men , 50% for my crew and 50% for other tree services

Were you already offering Crane Services to other tree services in your area before you got the grapple saw?

 

[SJ_Treeguy]

Yes i have been working with other ISA certified arborist companys for about 7 years , operating kboom for 16 years

 

[Tyler Stowe]

Just reading through some of the posts on this forum and wanted to reiterate a couple major points that have been touched on when buying a piece of equipment like this;
1) Make sure you are buying from a reputable dealer that will be able to support you in the future. This dealer should be an actual dealer so they can provide warranty, service, parts, etc., and have technicians with factory training.
2) The build should be engineered so you are stable in all areas of operation. This is critical and they should be able to show you a layout drawing with a stability analysis prior to the build. If they cannot you should probably find a better dealer.

P.S. FRF Hydraulic installed a used Palfinger PK 60000 with a grapple saw on a Volvo chassis in 2004 that is still in use today. We have the experience and know how to build these units well.

 

[Tyler Stowe]

That's exactly what I wanted to hear Rick, as I'm up in the air on whether to buy a truck like yours ( I like the way yours is set up and where the cranes mounted ) or a stick crane. I've called and emailed that company you mentioned in Toronto also which is an hour away, either no call backs or absolutely no reply to me emails about trucks, getting a crane mounted. That's my biggest fear also is service, I know with my lift which I was one of the few to have first around here you've gotta have it, I can't be talking to someone across the pond about a breakdown or this or that, time is money not being made if your main piece of equipments down like you stated. Seems like everything sales and service wise is way better there ! I've toyed with buying the truck getting someone to mount a crane and do everything but no ones done it up here yet and that scares me a little. Here's to hope our dollar goes up a bit! Or I'll just keep waiting to pull the trigger!
Devon

Hey Devon,

Give me a call. We are the Palfinger dealer out of Brantford, ON, and would be happy to discuss your equipment requirements with you.

519.732.4288 (cell)

All The Best,

Tyler

 

[Steve Connally]

I've always been brutally honest on this forum, so I will say what the others cannot. Currently there is only two places that build and service the treemeks that I would consider buying from. Tiffin Palfleet in Tiffin Ohio and Westminster Hydraulics in New Jersey. I bought mine at Tiffin and have the 3rd one built (though Rick may have had his right before mine to be determined later). Rick worked with his at Westminster. I will step carefully because I have respect for Westminster but have personal experience with Tiffin. I can tell that they (Tiffin and Westminster) work together to problem solve and diagnose issues. There is probably over 50 treemek operators giving feedback on a group forum that is privy to these two companies. If there is a problem that one or more is having then it gets resolved quickly. There has been times we have had issues that effect several machines and they all get diagnosed and fixed because operators have a instant platform to the techs and sales. There is nothing like this in any other industry.
So in short I'm telling you that Tiffin Palfleet and Westminster Hydraulics are currently the only legitimate places that build and service these trucks. In full disclosure I'm not paid by anyone to say this, just a happy customer that likes to give it straight because there is a lot of people with different agendas.

Where is this forum. I'm currently looking at spec and build estimates and would love to read some feedback.

 

[Maria Z]

Todd,
What kind of stock or inventory do you carry? Do you have a facility and support techs that travel to jobsites and do repairs and training or are you what your business name implies... a knuckleboom 'trader'? I guess I never really asked.

Glenn, here is a little bit about my company https://www.knuckleboomtrader.com/about-us/ but I think that was a rhetorical question as you know what I do. I've talked to several people now that have told me my name has come up in conversation with you and you've talked down on me "he's just a broker" like I don't know what I'm talking about and have no value. I have relationships with many different knuckleboom dealers and experts in the industry. I've had Palfinger dealers and other brand dealers call me asking about the grapple saw because no other dealers will discuss it with them... like it's some secret. I work together with Palfinger, Copma, PM, Hiab and Fassi dealers, I'm not some salesman that will tell a potential customer what they want to hear just to get a sale... just ask anyone that's talked to me... I'm a pretty straight shooter. I'm very passionate about knucklebooms and excited to see people in the USA finally discovering all of the things you can do with them. I've written a few articles about them and will be adding a lot more content on my website in the coming months to help educate people about this technology.

You were fine with me when I interviewed you for my article https://www.knuckleboomtrader.com/mecanil-grapple-saws/ but after that I'm not sure what happened. Anyways... enough of this on here, if you want to talk give me a call.

Mr. Brady,

According to the MECANIL webpage you’re the exclusive IMPORTER for the following areas:

Ontario, Canada
• New York, USA
• Florida, USA
• Illinois, US

This covers an area where 67,230,000 people are residing.

Your company is registered here :

Heidi S. Webb Attorney At Law
140 S Beach St #310, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA



1. How many distribution centers have you appointed, and where are they located?

2. What relevant background, and track record, do your personnel have in this area of industry?

3. Where are your physical premises (where do you install the grapple saws)?

4. How long have you, personally, been involved in the crane industry; and what prior experience of yours was the genesis of your foray into the industry?

5. What issues have arisen between yourself and your competitor, Altec? As you seem to speak ill of them.

 

[Tyler Stowe]

Currently finishing a new unit headed to a happy customer in Ontario. Palfinger PK 65002 with Mecanil grapple saw on Mack cab & chassis. Fully integrated the saw controls into the crane radio remote. Feel this should be a better way for the user to operate. What do you think ?

 

[Gareth's Tree]

Currently finishing a new unit headed to a happy customer in Ontario. Palfinger PK 65002 with Mecanil grapple saw on Mack cab & chassis. Fully integrated the saw controls into the crane radio remote. Feel this should be a better way for the user to operate. What do you think ?View attachment 55159

Well, apparently this thread has come back to life... And in following the tradition of this thread being hijacked, I will hijack it myself ...With that big of a crane on the back of the truck with no tag axle aren't the rear tandems overloaded? Also, how about a picture of the transmitter with a description of how the grapple saw controls are integrated in?

 

[Steve Connally]

Well, apparently this thread has come back to life... And in following the tradition of this thread being hijacked, I will hijack it myself ...With that big of a crane on the back of the truck with no tag axle aren't the rear tandems overloaded? Also, how about a picture of the transmitter with a description of how the grapple saw controls are integrated in?

Wonder if Canada has different regs? Oh those muddy tires LOL

 

[Gareth's Tree]

Wonder if Canada has different regs? Oh those muddy tires LOL

I thought about that there may be different laws in Canada... However, I would think the GVW of the rear axles would be maxed out. Or at least put so much weight on them that sinking in yards or cracking driveways would be a constant concern... I am curious how much weight is on them? I would think you would have to be pushing 40,000 pounds. My rear mount Effer is considerably smaller and I have 30,000 pounds on my rear tandems.

 

[Tyler Stowe]

Well, apparently this thread has come back to life... And in following the tradition of this thread being hijacked, I will hijack it myself ...With that big of a crane on the back of the truck with no tag axle aren't the rear tandems overloaded? Also, how about a picture of the transmitter with a description of how the grapple saw controls are integrated in?

Sorry if I opened up a can of worms here. Not my intent, just looking for some feedback. To address the weight issue, every province and every state have a different set of weight regulations regarding axle loading. This unit was built for operation in the province of Ontario. This particular configuration, in Ontario, allows approximately 20,000 lbs on the front axle and 39,600 lbs on the rear tandems. Our build came in under those weights with some room left for payload. All of our builds are designed and engineered to meet the requirements of the state or province they will be operating in. For the most part that is the province of Ontario. I don't have a picture of the transmitter but it is the crane remote only that has full control of all crane and grapple saw functions. To describe how we integrated it, let's just say a lot of hard work and great minds coming up with a pretty cool solution. We also built this with 2 separate hydraulic systems, 1 for the crane, 1 for the grapple saw.........separate ptos, pumps, tanks, etc., to keep the crane system as clean as possible. The pto for the grapple saw can be engaged and disengaged from the remote as well. What I am wondering, from professionals in the industry, are these good features ? Is this evolving this type of build and good for your application ? We think it is but would appreciate your feedback.

 

[Gareth's Tree]

Sorry if I opened up a can of worms here. Not my intent, just looking for some feedback. To address the weight issue, every province and every state have a different set of weight regulations regarding axle loading. This unit was built for operation in the province of Ontario. This particular configuration, in Ontario, allows approximately 20,000 lbs on the front axle and 39,600 lbs on the rear tandems. Our build came in under those weights with some room left for payload. All of our builds are designed and engineered to meet the requirements of the state or province they will be operating in. For the most part that is the province of Ontario. I don't have a picture of the transmitter but it is the crane remote only that has full control of all crane and grapple saw functions. To describe how we integrated it, let's just say a lot of hard work and great minds coming up with a pretty cool solution. We also built this with 2 separate hydraulic systems, 1 for the crane, 1 for the grapple saw.........separate ptos, pumps, tanks, etc., to keep the crane system as clean as possible. The pto for the grapple saw can be engaged and disengaged from the remote as well. What I am wondering, from professionals in the industry, are these good features ? Is this evolving this type of build and good for your application ? We think it is but would appreciate your feedback.

No worries, it's all good. So, are you running separate lines all the way up the Boom for the grapple saw function? Does that mean there's no switching valves on the jib anymore?