Topping costs

[Pasty]

About 20 acres, bit steep but all dry. How much would you charge a neighbour p/a to top it if he didn't have the kit and you did?

 

[Wellytrack]

About 20 acres, bit steep but all dry. How much would you charge a neighbour p/a to top it if he didn't have the kit and you did?

How much is on it?

Nearly fairer for everyone to change by the hour.

 

[Grassman]

How much is on it?

Nearly fairer for everyone to change by the hour.

Yep by the hour. £45 if a decent sized topper and tractor

 

[Pasty]

Ta

 

[Wellytrack]

Yep by the hour. £45 if a decent sized topper and tractor

165 and 5 foot topper?

 

[robandles]

I charge neighbours £27 per hour and I'm not driving to break things.

 

[Clive Tee]

£30/35 an hour here. More for big kit.

 

[Grassman]

Yep by the hour. £45 if a decent sized topper and tractor

165 and 5 foot topper?

More 135 really!

 

[Grassman]

I charge neighbours £27 per hour and I'm not driving to break things.

What size tractor and topper?
Inc fuel?

 

[Pasty]

So how long to do 20ac of fairly steep but fairly stable ground. Decent amount of grass but not too much weed. South Devon stylee?

 

[Grassman]

Depends on tractor and topper size

 

[bobk]

£10 an acre , hate topping.

 

[Wellytrack]

If it's steep and awkward and assuming 80hp tractor and 6 foot topper it could take 7-8 hours, you won't really know how long til it's done..

 

[Grassman]

If it's steep and awkward and assuming 80hp tractor and 6 foot topper it could take 7-8 hours, you won't really know how long til it's done..

Plus it might be 10x 2 acre fields with overgrown hedges!

 

[Pasty]

3 fields. 8,3 and 9 acres. Good access. No major issues. Not going to cause a fuss, just want it topped. Guess I'm looking circa £250?

 

[Grassman]

3 fields. 8,3 and 9 acres. Good access. No major issues. Not going to cause a fuss, just want it topped. Guess I'm looking circa £250?

£200 Inc fuel unless you find a keen lad with daddy's tractor then £100!

 

[Pasty]

£200 Inc fuel unless you find a keen lad with daddy's tractor then £100!

Tractor is borrowed but don't want to take the P.

 

[Grassman]

So it's you doing it for your neighbour?
And your borowing a tractor to do it?

Ìm not keen on borrowing machinery to go contracting with. To do a bit of your own is a different thing.

 

[Pasty]

No. not either of those. I'm not going to be doing it, if it's done at all.

 

[Goweresque]

Who pays for a new PTO shaft/gearbox when the topper hits something the landowner either didn't know about or 'forgot'?

I've come to the conclusion its not worth doing favours, it inevitably comes back and bites you in the proverbial. If you own land either buy your own kit to maintain it or pay the going rate from a bona fide contractor. Don't expect someone else to shoulder the risk their machinery goes bang while working on your land, but only pay them a pittance. Its effectively begging.