Gas or diesel?

[LOUROCK]

With astronaumical fuel prices today, Which should be the way to go for a new lawn care business to invest on? Gas or diesel engines? The average for gas is $4.00 per galon and diesel runs for about $4.95 per galon. Thats now, prices are still increasing... I dont know wich to look into, diesel is economical and last longer, But gas is $1.00 less per galon. Does it balances out? In the long run?

Lawn care business tips

I would say that it depends on what you are wanting to do... Diesel you will get more power/torque in your truck so if you need the power go diesel. Im not quiet sure what to say on diesel mowers though but if I had to take a guess I would say your looking at the same results but I don't know. You may need to do some calculations to see how often you will be filling up with diesel vs. gas

Diesel, at least in smaller cars is way more fuel efficient, so it's usually cheaper in the long run. Our owner is now talking about selling all our gas trucks to get diesels instead, since he plans to build his own biodiesel refinery to make us self-sufficient for fuel. I kinda doubt he'll be able to pull off creating enough supply for all 3 trucks to run constantly, but he seems pretty confident in his idea.

[Steve]

What about with mowers?

We only use push mowers...I don't think they even make diesels of those. But I would assume small diesel engines in mowers would get better fuel economy than their gas counterparts.

[LOUROCK]

I'm just a bit concerned about the price of diesel now verses gas. But like andrew said diesel is where the power is... and i'm sure i'll get more milage on the galon. I just dont know wether to go brandnew or used yet. I dont need some one elses headaches either. I would have to get lucky with a good used one...if i choose that route.

Thanks

[Steve]

Luiz,

How much power do you need? What will you be towing? What will you be using the truck for? Hauling materials?

Can you get by with a smaller truck or do you need a big one?

What are you using now and how is it working out for you?

[LOUROCK]

I'm using a Dodge Ram 1500 with a 6 foot bed. only 50k on it but its got a 4.7 engine and i haul a trailer with my lawn mowing equipment wich is too much for that truck to haul up and down my route. I have a 6x12 open trailer packed with my mowers. plus what ever i cary on my 6 foot bed, usualy clippings. those clippings are heavy at times and i hate unloading the truck by hand too. This year my accounts doubled do to word of mouth and i'm going to do alot of leaf hauling this year as well. I'm in debt to my eyeballs and i still owe 16k on the truck, I know i wont get that as a trade in though. so i dont know wether to go new or used or wether i'm ready or not to swich, i just cant afford to pay more than wut i pay now on my truck if i switch. all I know is that i better come up with a plan for the fall cleaning season coming up.

[LOUROCK]

I realy need a mason dump!

Hi lourock, i was in the car buiss for a couple years, and i sold dodge chrysler and toyota's, with the economy like it is now, the auto industry is really hurting for sales, or as we called it, units moved. i am sure you could trade for new and get the same or within $30 or $50 of the pmt you have now with no money down. Here is the trick to it, 1st you want to go to the largest dealer you can find, they deal in volume not indvl units, what this means is that there goal is to get a certain number of units out ea month to get what is known in the industry as unit bucks from the manufacture, on averge they get about 1400 to 2700 per unit if they hit there goal set buy the mfg, this is abouve and beound the hold back and mark-up to the sticker price. so if they sell a unit as a lost up to 1700, they still make money, so dont be fooled. they have so many programs going on rt now, forget the free gas offers, oil for life , tires for life and all that junk, its all in the price nothing is free in the car buiss, just go in and get a salesman and find what you want withen reason of coaurse to hit your pmt ( you can exspect to fig pmts like this, for every 5k of price, with average credit you will pay aprox $80 a month, so if the truck u look at is 20k the pmt would be 320 a month, if credit score above 700 you could get as good as 60 or 65 per 5k ) tell the sale's man this (after u pick a truck) let me fill out a credit app, then give him your card and say this is my only offer to you, if you can hit my pmt i will buy this truck with no money down, with my trade, then leave, and tell him to call you with the answer, they will try to get you to stay while they say they try, all they will try is to bump you, so dont fall into that trap. just leave after signing the credit app. wait for call, it wont take long, and prob will be a manager telling you why they cant do it, just say thank you no matter what they say and tell him not a nego. just the best you can do, then they may say come back and we will try, tell them i will come back not to try, but if you can say ok its a deal, and you will get it. just stay firm, you will get it. remember how to figure pmt to know if your in the ball park. any Questions just ask, good luck!