traveling long distances for work

hl_tree

hl_tree

Location
New Fairfield, CT
I'm sure some of you guys have done this before, so I'm looking for your input. A couple of years ago I helped a friend and his father take down a couple of pine trees at the parents' second home, which is roughly 5 hrs from where I live and work. Today I was asked if I could go again, only this time it would be my friend, myself, and the guy who works with me. It should be 1 - 1.5 days worth of work. We would take 2 vehicles to get there; my truck and chipper, and his truck with a trailer towing the backhoe. Now as luck would have it, one of the caretakers I deal with asked if I could take down some trees for him, only its about 5.5 hrs from where we live. I said I would do it, so long as they put us up for a few days and nights, cover fuel, meals, etc. etc. It seems to make sense to lump the 2 jobs together, even though they are 5 hrs apart from one another. I'm figuring I would be gone for just under a week, mostly just 2 guys, truck, and chipper.

For those who have done this type of thing in the past, what do you bring for such a trip, what do you leave behind, and how do you save space in the truck? I know from experience to bring spare tires for both truck and chipper.
 
If you're leaving the state make sure you have the appropriate dot markings. Ie dot number and gvw on the truck. Otherwise use common sense.
 
Unless its storm damage insurance jobs back to back with a line so long you cant see the end of it, plan this as more vacation than work trip.

I wouldn't haul equipment that far for a couple jobs. You are sure to attract attention and get more work... then what ? hotel, rent a house?

You can work from home for much cheaper.

5 hrs might not seem too far, but once you haul it all out there, ONE little problem and you could break even the whole trip.


Had that happen.
 
What about renting a chipper there? I agree that it should be treated as a paid vacation for the most part. When we did this it had to net at least as much as what we would earn staying at home. Bring a set of tools to do any usual repairs, extra set of knives, clean underwear, socks.........
 
familytreeman said:
Unless its storm damage insurance jobs back to back with a line so long you cant see the end of it, plan this as more vacation than work trip.

I wouldn't haul equipment that far for a couple jobs. You are sure to attract attention and get more work... then what ? hotel, rent a house?

You can work from home for much cheaper.

5 hrs might not seem too far, but once you haul it all out there, ONE little problem and you could break even the whole trip.


Had that happen.
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2 years ago when we did this I blew out a tire on my chipper at 5:30? right before getting onto a highway, luckily we had brought a spare, bottle jacks, and tools. It's basically a paid vacation though. If this was for real money the cost woud be astronomical.
 
I don't doubt that you are plenty capable of handling problems that arise, and I'm not being negative about your trip.

It wasn't luck you brought those tools , it was foresight. But how much foresight do you need to work farther from home? A lot more.

Plan to get extra jobs and need more time.

Bring more tools than you expect to use.

Obviously you are going to be spending some money, so bring that too.

Be safe, smart and don't be out and about at night if you can avoid it.
 
Check into local dealers of the products you use. Stihl, Husky, Bandit, etc... Ask your prospective clients or people you may know in the area about reputable service providers for repairs for you vehicles.
 
Nevermind the money - pack light and go have fun. Five hours away is not very far, I can drive it in four and a half. If you're leaving the State, check the liquor stores in the new destination; I've found bottles of '82 Caol Ila single barrel for $160 a fifth on sale at Spec's in downtown Houston. That's a 24 hour drive, but I did it in 23.
 
sounds like some drunks advice...

hurry up, buy some booze and just get there already

people really travel that far to get booze?? is that really a deal with that fuel and TIME you used? cmon
 
familytreeman said:
sounds like some drunks advice...

hurry up, buy some booze and just get there already

people really travel that far to get booze?? is that really a deal with that fuel and TIME you used? cmon
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Never take advice from The Archdruid.

This one time I found myself doing a solo float down the Rio Grande in a raft made of old plastic bottles. Something he heard about on NPR or something.

Well, things didn't work out too well, and let's just say I will be slightly more hesitant to listen to that drunk.

 
You filthy bastard! You knew you were f*cked when you lost all the bottle caps and built it anyway. "I won't rock the boat" he says, "they'll hold."

Easyphlo is not to be trusted here. I have it on good authority he also invited all the robots to this site, and now we're all f*cked. This is the beginning of Skynet.
 
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Anyone else notice we went from ten robots down to three viewing this site in the last hour? Secret alloy wearing motherf*ckers.
 
The_Archdruid said:
You filthy bastard! You knew you were f*cked when you lost all the bottle caps and built it anyway. "I won't rock the boat" he says, "they'll hold."

Easyphlo is not to be trusted here. I have it on good authority he also invited all the robots to this site, and now we're all f*cked. This is the beginning of Skynet.
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I wish there was more than a like button, Christ I just pissed myself laughing, thank heavens I'm sitting on the john.
 
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