Jon Howell (Pcamper) did an excellent job for us at a reasonable price.
I haven't seen him post on the forum in quite a while, but I have his cell number if you want it.
He's located in Tuscaloosa

How many pieces of heavy equipment do you own?

If I'm hiring out my equipment, it'll be an hourly rate plus hauling and a set minimum.
Don't want to pay by the hour? Fine, then hire someone else.

Agreed sir

As someone paying someone else to do a job, I’d prefer getting a total price for a job. It doesn’t really matter to me how long it takes the guy. That’s up to him.

You also have to figure in what size of machine and compare apples to apples. As well as what you are mulching up.
Some of the skid steer machines are low flow instead of hi flow. They are good for brushy stuff but they wont chew up larger trees like a big hi flow will. Are they running hammers or knives? From what Ive seen knives are quicker than hammers.

Also what hp machine are they? is it a 80 hp skid steer or a 165hp, or a 300 hp machine? I could have gotten a skid steer mulcher for $125 a hr, or a 300 hp machine that was more like a small skidder in size for $2kish for a full 8 hrs run time on hr meter.
I had patches of thick pines up to 16-18" trunk size. The big machine chewed them up much faster than a smaller one would. What the large machine did I dont think the skid steer machine could have gotten done in 3 days.

North Alabama land clearing is who did the majority of mine. He runs several different sizes of machines and also has a 300 hp subsoiler tractor to go from mulched stumpfields to crop plantable.

https://www.facebook.com/NorthAlabamaLandClearingandForestryMulching/

He's no longer doing it.

my customers charge $150.00 hr, Depending on distance and length of job, may be some travel/ mobilization expense.

Btfl, how far do you mind traveling?

PM sent.

Pm replied

Not to derail, but for those that do this work I have a question. Mulch before or after cutting some timber? I have lots of stuff that isn’t merchantable and needs gone.

I find it easier to mulch before it hits the ground. Wet wood is easier to mulch. If it is piled up, especially mixed with dirt, a lot of guys don't want to touch it.

I’m thinking mulch first. Get what I want done that way and then maybe the logger won’t destroy as much that I don’t want destroyed. Maybe!!

That is a valid point and could help. it will also open it up to let you get a better feel of what you want to keep and its spacing etc.

Call Clay Messer from Brush Clear in Auburn, we have had him do several jobs for us around Russell County until we bought our own machine. He does great work. you can PM me if you want his number

Those of you advocating a bid price have never run equipment for hire.

The only time I ever had it done it was $85 per hour.

Nope, but getting a price on the front end seems to lead to fewer problems in my experience. Both parties know what they’re getting and at what price.

I've hired multiple different mulchers and it's always been by the machine hour and they generally were spot on with how long they told me it would take. Anywhere from $150 to 225 an hour. I can understand them not wanting to do a set price, just too many unforeseen things that can make it go slower that's out of their control.