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Building something different

6K views 27 replies 11 participants last post by  ironandfire 
#1 ·
So last year my dad’s government job of 20 years was privatized to a company two hours away and offered to him at minimum wage. So he decided to take the offered buyout, I was swamped with plumbing and quite frankly starting to get bored with roughing in houses and service work. So I decided then to branch into excavation and septic due to needing it done constantly. So far since then I’m averaging 3200$ a week in excavation plus plumbing. I purchased a cheap dump truck, old ford 7.3. After about 3 jobs it’s way too small.
So I’ve decided to say screw it and I’ve purchased a international 4300. So I’ve got a box I’m looking at but also might just go new. It’ll also be set up for sewer installation.
 

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#9 · (Edited)
That sounds great man. I'll say it nicely before the others bark at you, I hope you have a trench box :smile:


Today Feb 12 2020,
5' wide 8' deep trench collapse here outside Houston, Texas
killed one worker OSHA & Local Police are still Investigating,
two other workers OK, this trench was located alongside busy highway
no mention of a trench BOX or any other type of support :crying:

FEB 13 2020 Sources: There did not appear to be a protective trench box in place :crying:
 
#3 ·
Just signed all the paperwork and it’s headed for the body builder in the next week. I should have it completed in the next 8-10 weeks. Going to have it outfitted with toolboxes so it will carry water service supplies and sewer supplies aswell. That way the regular cube doesn’t have to follow it around.
 

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#4 ·
Congrats on the new purchases and venture into a new market. Truck looks good, so does the Cat. Are you also excavating the spots where the tanks are set? How deep are yalls tanks usually set? Just wondering if that Cat would reach down far enough. What kind of tanks do you set or have set?

Last place I worked, we always had to have someone dig for the tanks, which sort of baffled me why we didn't do it since 99.99% of the homes we built were on a septic.
Kind of made me want to get my own excavator and start doing excavation and maybe site cleanups, etc.
Always loved getting to use one, the boss would rent one when we would be installing a french drain and/or gutter drains, or the panel type leach field systems, sure beats the hell out of a shovel.

Ps. That's some bs about your dad's job.
 
#6 ·
Typical around here it’s a 7’ deep tank. Plus I typically over dig a foot then drop a foot of A gravel or recycled concrete on the bottom and level and tamp it for a solid base. That is the long stick version. We’ve had it down 10’ digging for the municipality.
Yes it is, although he’s much happier now but just goes to show how big corporations dont seem to care about their employees.
 
#7 ·
It is a matter of Liability Insurance, typically most plumbers Insurance only
covers what you can dig with a shovel, a backhoe requires a whole
different Insurance level even if it is just rented, <img src="http://www.plumbingzone.com/images/smilies/biggrin.png" border="0" alt="" title="Biggrin" class="inlineimg" />
I’ve always had excavation on my insurance rider. That way I didn’t have to worry and even when having other contractors digging for me we were double covered.
 
#14 ·
It showed up today. Had dad take me and the fiancé up to pick it up. The company that built the box did a super nice job on it. So much more little fine details that the mass produced boxes don’t have. The fiancé was bugging me to let her drive it all the way home. I’m going to keep the smaller truck around for hauling the packer/fuel/trench box I’m currently building while in quarantine.
 

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#17 ·
That sucks, I’ve really been enjoying excavation work more than plumbing. Probably because it’s a change of pace. I’ve even been doing excavation work for the local heating and cooling company and the local electrician.
nice truck....the first scratch hurts bad and then not so much....
I already threw a big rip rap stone in the back to yet it over with haha. It’s funny how we spend $40,000 on a a car and cringe when it gets a dent or scratches. Spent the same on a dump truck and it’s like oh well.
 
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