Ways to make money with a Dodge Diesel?

[rmrc]

Just thought I'd throw this question out to the membership and see if one of you can come up with a suggestion.



I hopefully plan to purchase my truch within the next couple of years. If I could come up with an idea to put her to use in some kind of small business, the possibility of finally owning my dream truck would be assured, and, the order date could possibily be sooner.



Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Cobra]

I have never done it, butb I have been told that many of those who deal in campers will pay you to taken 5ers and or slideins to various states. I don't know any more about it because I never even looked into it, although I thought about it.

Life is good. Happy trails to ya

 

[Shovelhead]

After "BOMBing" you can run 5. 0 Muskrats, and "Rice Bombs" for $$$ on Friday nights.

" Yeah, I'll run ya'... ... ... . with my pick-up truck. " Oo.

 

[Okie-Go]

Better check on insurance regulations before getting too commercialized.

 

[apkole]

We use our 2 CTDs in our snowplowing and residential roofing businesses. I can't say as the extra cost of the diesel is justified for either business, but I put my "toy" money under the hood of my trucks. I love being able to plow two nights in a row without refueling.



A couple of thoughts: New paint doesn't necessarily make you any money. A CTD is a good choice, but if purchasing for a start up business, try to fine a solid, well maintained used truck to get the venture rolling. Most people are great at making money, but not very many of us have figgered out how to hang on to what we earn.



Comment #2: Hauling stuff for other people - - depending on the market, it's pretty competitive out there. There isn't much of a "barrier to entry" cost to limit the competition. Any one willing to make a truck payment can jump in. And the hungrier they are, the cheaper they will work. Some of them don't find out until it's too late that they have been working well under their cost of operation. I don't usually worry about the "low ballers" as basic economic rules generally weed them out within a very short period of time.



Comment # 3: Insurance will be a BIG part of the picture. The companies you wish to contract for have insurance carriers who will demand proof of auto, commercial liability and workmen's compensation insurance. One of my peers just had his annual insurance go from $4500/yr to $7500/yr. My understanding is that this is just the beginning.



Carefully work your numbers, be realistic. Do some basic market research - - how much of a demand is there, and who is the competition. You can make money with the CTD, if you know and work your number.



Andy

 

[M Barnett]

Just to expand on what Andy said, for my big truck I have to carry an umbrella policy for liability in the amount of $4million to satisfy the people I carry for. A couple weeks ago my insurance company notified me the umbrella policy is increasing $3,000 for this year. No accident, no claims, no tickets. When pressed, I was told the increase was because of the terrorist attack.

Michael

 

[Champane Flight]

How much?

It all depends on how much money you want to make. I have a couple of friends who hotshot and earn a fair living with thier trucks. Although as said above permits, insurance, and rules and regs ruin the whole experience. A close friend of mine makes a few bucks every week hauling cattle for people out of the local sale barn. He takes cash under the table and has never been hassled by the law. He told a trooper he was hauling for a friend and I suppose that is true, he knows everybody in the area... ...



I think this is the way to go. Anytime you get the goverment involved, you get them in your pocket... .....

 

[R.E. Miller]

What is above is good info.

The guys have laid out good info above, and I will just add in my tid bit of information.

Personally, I think that the CTD is a wonderful tool; powerful, reliable, and durable. You are going to need these traits to start any business, and if you tools have them, you'll be ahead of the game. I have used other diesel trucks in my business, but have observed that the CTD pays for it self in simplicity and ease of service.



Now the beef. I run a small landscape business, first thing not to do when starting a business is look right at the short run and gross #'s. What I am saying here is that this may be my last year in business because your income is defined to a large extent by the weather, I know... . when you look hard enough at any job, the weather governs everyone. Just don't run out and start something because the easy money is blaring in your face, this is not exactally what I did, but it is hard to walk away from the dough. Just use your head and think through what you want to spend your hours doing to put food on your table, I don't think you can screw-up by spending a ton of time thinking about it.



The used truck thing. Consider it. This has given me a cushion when I need it as a small biz. Everything gives you down time, no matter what. For the monthly payment of one new truck, I have two used trucks that suit me fine. I see a lot of guys run out and buy new because they like it, so do I. Right now we are in a huge drought, my trucks can sit, I can bite my nails, but I can wait for spring. If I had new trucks I could be in bad shape.



Sorry to ramble folks,

PM me if you need help.



Russell



Oh, here is one business idea that I have thought about for a 3500 RAM. Morbark company makes tub grinders that will grind up almost anything (look them up on the web). They make a small model that can be towed with a 3500..... mobile on-site waste reduction... .

 

[Skydiver]

Miami Fl. up to 750 miles north.

Not trying to use the TDR as a dispatch or an income.

But I have to take an old car to Miami from Auburn Ala. Already losing money.

I would like to haul up to 6000lbs on a flat trailer six feet 4 inches wide sixteen feet long from Miami to as far north as Atlanta or B-ham.

Leaving Miami Saturday 23 around 1pm.

I hope to get out of this money losing trip.

E-mail, me .

Wish watermelons were in season.

TDR admin: Remove this if you need.

Tim

 

[apkole]

REMiller - - How much consideration have you given to starting a counter seasonal business. Most of the landscapers around here do snow removal in the winter. We have managed to sell most of our commercial and residential plowing customers on the idea of seasonal contracts, so the investment in the equipment and the shop and other overhead is covered. You probably don't get as much white stuff by you, so would be a difficult sell.



A couple of guys have tried doing the holiday decorating thing. Don't know how it worked out for them, but that activity would pick up the end of October, first of November or so. You'd be going strong for about four weeks or so, then after the holiday you'd be tearing down for a couple of weeks.



The basic idea is to look at your downtime and see what you can fill it with. For us right now, with the lack of snow but some good rains we have been out measuring roofs, submitting quotes and scheduling work for when the weather breaks.



A couple of additional thoughts about starting any business.



Banks get real nervous around novice business owners. Establish your lines of credit (credit cards, mortgage, bank notes) before you quit your full time job. Especially after Enron, credit for business ventures in general is tightening up.



Better yet - - get the business off the ground part-time for a couple of years if you can. You can build a customer base without putting your family's financial situation at risk. Once you've proven out your idea, take it full time if the numbers work for you.

I worked the roof business part-time after work and saturdays for about 15 years. When I went full time in '90 I found that I had built a customer base of return business and referrals. We don't put signs on the trucks or in the yards, and we keep busy.



AND - - a good way to learn is to work for someone else in the same line of business for a while - - kind of like an apprenticeship. They may not share the numbers, but an oservant individual can pick up alot of clues about what works and what doesn't. I worked for the snowplowing company I purchased for 13 years. Nothing beats practical experience and a good mentor.



Andy

 

[FL70CAT]

If you want to do toter work or cargo-haul with your diesel pickup call:





Rad Transport Inc. 1-800-528-0719

 

[rmrc]

Just like to thank everyone for their ideas and interest in responding. I'll be checking into some of your suggestions and keep you all posted if I get something working for me. Probably won't happen until I make the move to Virginia late this year.



If that 'DOES' happen, I'll be looking for a one or two year old, fully loaded used Dodge. Just can't see going for one of these new style HD's with that cramped engine compartment.



Again, thanks for the feedback!!!

 

[RottnDogue]

You could park it on a street corner and allow people to fondle it for money... ... Wait is that legal?

 

[mblair]

good job...

You could hire out to NASA to pull those shuttle platforms out to the launch site... .



You just might feel like you could do this after driving one of these.



Good Luck