Slope Goat - Creating A Profitable Business in Under 1 Year with NO Competition
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
- Dennis Falk Jr has grown a profitable business in just 1 year with his Ventrac Tractor! www.ventrac.com/
Dennis is the owner Slope Goat in Rockbridge County, Virginia.
He and his brother-in-law set out to research how to maintain their steep land and pastures. Realizing nothing could handle the hills like a Ventrac, Dennis started his very own steep land maintenance business. He began offering his services to land owners who cannot safely maintain their slopes and hills on their own in this rural area of Virginia.
Dennis says the Ventrac 4500, equipped with dual wheels, is stable enough to allow him to make decisions at a moments notice while operating on a slope. What makes the Ventrac able to do this? A low center of gravity and wide weight distribution keep the operator low to the ground, combined with center articulation and oscillation makes a Ventrac more of a mountain goat than tractor.
He’s making an impact on the land in Rockbridge County where rocks and hills are an abundant feature of the landscape. With the addition of some very invasive brush and woody plants, Dennis’ clients need him to help control growth in pastures that can easily become a problem over time.
He says most people passing by find the Ventrac very interesting and will stop to watch him tackle hills that no other tractor can pass. And when he saw the need for such a service in his area, there was no other tractor Dennis wanted more than a Ventrac.
Products featured in this video:
Ventrac 4500:
www.ventrac.co...
Tough Cut:
www.ventrac.co...
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Transcript:
I've been in retail management for 35 years. When I decided I wanted to move here to Virginia most of the big-box
retailers are 30 minutes or more away from where we're at. It's a small town here. Welcome to Rockbridge County. My name is Dennis and I run slope goat and I'm mow slopes. Rockbridge is a good descriptor of it. There's rock everywhere there's hills everywhere.
My brother-in-law has a place behind me here that has hills and he was talking about how hard it was to to be able to clear the pastures nothing would do it except he mentioned a Ventrac and so he and I did some research and and so after the demo I decided, I think I could make a business out of this I was able to drive the tractor on the hills here. The tractor's stable enough to where you can make decisions you know on the fly when you come into situations where you need it. So I knew that the tractor was going to be able to do what I needed to do to take care of myself and to be able to make an impact on the land here in Rockbridge County.
People find the tractor very interesting they'll stand there and they'll watch me you know do my work you know all day long and they can't take their eyes off of it they're just amazed by it and then when they see me do slopes they're like how did you do that? You know I'm doing a slope sideways but they can't even do up and down with a big tractor. So it amazes people. We have autumn olives and they're very invasive. If you don't mow your pasture in five years your pastor is gone. It's overtaken. It's like you can't even tell it was a pasture. I've been really surprised on the tough cut. I haven't come across a whole lot that I can't take care of so I've been real happy with the quality of the tough cut and I feel like it it takes care of anything that any other bush hog would do on a large tractor if not more.
When I set out to do my business the only tractor I wanted was a Ventrac and within a year I've been able to take a business idea
and turn it into a viable business that's profitable using the Ventrac.
this is my dad and I'm so beyond proud of him! ❤️
Thank you for the wonderful video
That's awesome, looks like he found his niche and enjoys working outside. In the winter he can use it for snow removal too
That land is gorgeous, and that tractor is awesome looking . Yall be safe love from texas
That's wonderful, good for him and your family.
how much per hour?
Good on you Isabella.
Our little man now operates one of our Ventracs. He says it’s like riding a horse - you become one with the horse and than you become one with the machine
Best thing I ever bought for the farm
Love the name of his company
It's pretty clever, huh!? :)
Kudos for me too, I’ve been in IT for 25 years and now my ambition is to drive a small tractor. Ain’t that a great plan ? Greetings from Canada !
Great video!
I've just got my first dose of this tractor, @7am, today. I've operated many types of riding tools. I was doing donuts on 33° slope. The slope is one side of an interstate retention pond, thats about 80-100 deep..
My exit hole puckered tight, once. I mowed the trim pass, around the top edge and fence. So the fence is on my right side. An obstacle directly in front of me. The only option is go around. So making that Left turn, down slope. As soon as the mower was ARTICULATED fully to the left. For some reason my brain didn't agree with the"Ride or Die bitch" attitude the rest of my body had. My brain was wanting to press the eject button.
I am a lover of roller coasters(wooden coasters don't count on my "oh crap I'm gonna die", list). I rode that biotch out!
Doing vertical rows sucked. My tires kept breakin loose. It wasn't operator error. Weather it was moisture in the soil, gravity pulling down , or the super glue the factory installs on the bottom of the tractor to keep it stuck to the slope. Idk..
These are the greatest things ever created
Hey, thank you so much! :)
They sure are & they God created 👩 woman
Good for you man👍🇺🇸
I would use a flail mower attachment on this application. Just a thought. Looks cleaner and the stripes are more dramatic 🤛
Natural bridge stand up. Nice tractor btw. Would be useful here in Oregon
Thank you! :)
I use to do this in my pasture. Had like a 4 row rhino shredder that I pulled with my little 3020 John Deere
We have been doing this type of work with tracked skidsteer with hydraulic decks (finish or rough). When we don't have a job for mowing we use it for everything else a skidsteer is good for. They have AC/Heat and that means you can mow in the rain at times. With a good deck we mow over trees to a certain point (about 8 inches). What's the benefit of this machine?
Between the Ventrac and a tracked skid steer, obviously there is some crossover for the type of work shown in this video, but the other work they can do is totally different. Skid loaders are better at lifting, loading, etc. A Ventrac is capable of working in delicate yards, on golf courses, etc. Construction or Ag - skid steer. Turf - Ventrac. The Ventrac is also a cheaper alternative for the type of mowing seen here.
$100k for a skid steer. Trailer beefy enough to haul a skid steer. Truck strong enough to pull the trailer and skid steer. $30k for various attachments. Getting a multi thousand pound tracked skid steer stuck in the mud and needing another machine big enough to pull it out. Its apples and oranges really. There is a fine line of fruit cocktail where the abilities of the two overlap, but clearly they can excel in other areas. I would like to see a flail mower or mulcher for the Ventrac. I cant wait to get one. Ive got a boggy lake front on a slope Id like to get mowed to keep the snakes down.
Adapt your own Tim. Or talk to your local engineer 🇦🇺
Same with central and you can get a cab and a lot of useful atachments
Ventrac has a WAY better size and weight which leaves behind a smaller foot print, that gives them more variety of jobs they can do, since it’s size and power ratio is good enough to have a 72” deck for large jobs but also be able to fit through most residential gates you know have the option to do smaller jobs such as redoing/redesigning /improving a homeowner’s back yard 1st you can do much better grading job w/ power rack(Harley rake attachment) without messing up the existing irrigation system and leaving tracking into area’s of yard (shrub beds,sodded etc.) that are not part of redoing, your able to do the job with much less damage to the yard because ITS SIZE,WEIGHT AND ITS ABILITY TO RUN THE SAME attachment as skid steer plus many more attachments skid steer’s don’t have.
Skid steer weigh so much they often crack the driveway and walkways ( especially end points,tips of parking pads,etc.) and most residential yards do not need a big machine to get the job done, and skid steer take longer to do jobs in smaller tight area’s. 90% of homes in southeast only need a bobcat MT55 stand-on or walk behind or Vermeer stand on ditch witch , or THE BEST toro dingo 420 with stand on back deck stand-on option or the newest toro dingo stand-on diesel ($50,000 new est.) bigger than the 420 model by about 1200 pound est.
That can actually put a attachment plate that will alllow for full size skid steer attachment ( full size not needed 90% of time) smaller nibble size machine and go faster much faster back and forth movements and can maneuver around things faster and safer, plus YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER VIEW of your surroundings…. Full size skid steer out perform the others in few area’s one would be large lot clearing, and large amounts of dirt moving, all mainly used on NEW CONSTRUCTION before any tight areas are present…the Vermeer you can CUT the grass slopes, then go grade a yard, trench it for irrigation and go back to your weekly mowing of slopes or any other large yard needed mowed, and you can haul this without buying super big trailer and must having diesel truck to pull it . You can opt. For I closed trailer with other and pull around with gas truck f250-2500 and up,not a f350 diesel and up. Most people buying steer skids don’t buy them for the mowers, by no means are they the best options for any type of mowing. I rather have Ventrac w/ mower attachment,dozer blade, trencher for same price as skid steer w/ just a bucket….
One job skid steer hands down is a MUST HAVE,TREE CUTTING BUSINESS,residential commercial. But light commercial, to often skid steer damage yards, reason tree people put down plywood over grass, with mini skid steer (toro dingo) or ventrac you don’t need to ,point being you won’t mess you front yards if work is being done in back yard only.
In the thumbnail, it literally looks like he is standing up. Now thats when you know your on a slope.
Well done
Thank you!!!
Great mower
Thank you so much, Xander! :)
I need that for my front yard...lol!
Try one out!! :)
great video and even better company name!
Ventrac has a WAY better size and weight which leaves behind a smaller foot print, that gives them more variety of jobs they can do, since it’s size and power ratio is good enough to have a 72” deck for large jobs but also be able to fit through most residential gates you know have the option to do smaller jobs such as redoing/redesigning /improving a homeowner’s back yard 1st you can do much better grading job w/ power rack(Harley rake attachment) without messing up the existing irrigation system and leaving tracking into area’s of yard (shrub beds,sodded etc.) that are not part of redoing, your able to do the job with much less damage to the yard because ITS SIZE,WEIGHT AND ITS ABILITY TO RUN THE SAME attachment as skid steer plus many more attachments skid steer’s don’t have.
Skid steer weigh so much they often crack the driveway and walkways ( especially end points,tips of parking pads,etc.) and most residential yards do not need a big machine to get the job done, and skid steer take longer to do jobs in smaller tight area’s. 90% of homes in southeast only need a bobcat MT55 stand-on or walk behind or Vermeer stand on ditch witch , or THE BEST toro dingo 420 with stand on back deck stand-on option or the newest toro dingo stand-on diesel ($50,000 new est.) bigger than the 420 model by about 1200 pound est.
That can actually put a attachment plate that will alllow for full size skid steer attachment ( full size not needed 90% of time) smaller nibble size machine and go faster much faster back and forth movements and can maneuver around things faster and safer, plus YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER VIEW of your surroundings…. Full size skid steer out perform the others in few area’s one would be large lot clearing, and large amounts of dirt moving, all mainly used on NEW CONSTRUCTION before any tight areas are present…the Vermeer you can CUT the grass slopes, then go grade a yard, trench it for irrigation and go back to your weekly mowing of slopes or any other large yard needed mowed, and you can haul this without buying super big trailer and must having diesel truck to pull it . You can opt. For I closed trailer with other and pull around with gas truck f250-2500 and up,not a f350 diesel and up. Most people buying steer skids don’t buy them for the mowers, by no means are they the best options for any type of mowing. I rather have Ventrac w/ mower attachment,dozer blade, trencher for same price as skid steer w/ just a bucket….
One job skid steer hands down is a MUST HAVE,TREE CUTTING BUSINESS,residential commercial. But light commercial, to often skid steer damage yards, reason tree people put down plywood over grass, with mini skid steer (toro dingo) or ventrac you don’t need to ,point being you won’t mess you front yards if work is being done in back yard only.
At 1:40 doesn’t look like it cut anything just pushed it over.
No Worries I agree. That’s my biggest concern.
Yup! This is never addressed enough by any of the brands. Having to go over property 4-8 times, which I have seen and they tell me their blades are sharp clearly worries the bejeepers out of me. Granted, people should not wait that long but people do. Then they beg a guy to cut it and charge the sames as the manicured lawn next door that has it done one time per week. Maybe a self propelled finish mower would be in order for the rear of the 4500.
I used to live in Maryland close to the Maryland Virginia line and didn’t know if u live close to there and they seam like nice machines and they seam like they got a good bit of attachments
Request a demo to try one out for yourself! www.ventrac.com/contact/demo
This video is cool and all but those aren't even that steep compared to the shit we cut with our (now 4) ventracs
Hey Robert N - everybody has to start somewhere. How steep do you go hey???
Tom A lol exactly smh some people
Great video Ventrac, I started my business with Ventrac!
Hey Dale, what's your email?? :)
You need to expand ventrac to Australia because no one has heard of it here and there is some people I know that would want one
Jack, we do currently have a distributor in Australia. Check them out!
Ventracs are in Australia. The place I work at has one.
Not cheap though. Think of the price of a utility tractor from a company like Kubota and you will be in the ball park of the price of a Ventrac.
Ventrac thanks for that I’ll check them out because I’ve had a look for a ventrac dealership and it is like 8-10 hours away
If you have an Aussie distributor then you need to look at changing them to someone else coz I’m in Oz & never heard of them! 🇦🇺
I suspect it will be like most product from USA these days, cheap Chinese crap imported to USA - marketed as American, exported to Oz at twice the price Yanks can buy it, then wonder why no one buys any of them downunder?
Well we just buy cheap Chinese crap direct & cut out the US middlemen is why!
The Chinese copy ANYTHING with impunity - their communist Chinese run courts system will never uphold ANY law suit for breach of patent, copyright, brand infringement etc, their state spying apparatus deliberately targets western intellectual property theft, the Communist Regime are behind it & actively promote it!
Despite free trade agreements etc between USA & Oz, we simply cannot afford ANY US product at double the cost US citizens pay for that exact same product, & we simply won’t buy it as a matter of principle at those sort of elevated prices.
We are supposed to be your allies, not some 3rd world nation to be screwed over for unscrupulous profiteering & obscene profit margins.
We are all for FAIR trade, but not being ripped off!
We no longer have ANY vehicle manufacturing industry in Oz, but is that benefitting US Automakers?
Nope!
We get all our cars from Japan Korea China etc.
Why?
Because a $50K US car is over $100k in Oz!
Why?
Our exchange rate can account for 30% of the price differential, but it doesn’t cost 70% more to ship vehicles downunder on roll on roll off vehicle transport ships, the Japanese, Chinese, Koreans etc do it every day.
What’s wrong with USA?
I’m phukked if I know to be honest, the ONLY conclusion I can come to, is they don’t know how to do export business I guess.
Our small (relatively) population at only 10% of the US Population isn’t a big enough market to be lucrative to US business, I guess, they are out seeking bigger fish to fry!
When we are no longer US Allies, you will be scratching your heads and asking “why?”.
The answer quite simply is, we are tired of being taken for granted & screwed over like some 3rd world nation.
This company is no different to any other US company.
Pretty sure we could buy equivalent product from any number of Japanese (Kubota for eg) company at less $ to do the same job.
I’m old enough to remember that our US Allies sacrificed a LOT of their boys lives in the battle of the Coral Sea to save our bacon in WW 2 from the Japanese & personally I wish it was different, but sometimes you just have to deal with things as reality dictates, & do the best you can with what you have, & that usually means US product in Oz is just not competitive.
It’s a shame but there you have it!
We can’t afford their over priced manufactured goods & we are too small a market for the Yanks to care. 😜🇦🇺
Because if you have more distributes I can nearly guarantee people will buy one
I need a slope goat or at least 100 goats to clear my field!
What engine?
We have several engines available. Check out this link to view them all: www.ventrac.com/products/tractors/4520
Scroll down to 4520 engine options.
Warum habt ihr die produktion der 3 punkt aufnahme eingestellt
Hey ventrac, where you at for a set of front mounted wheel powered reel gang?
I wonder how long before they are remote control?
That's how they operate them here already.
@Dirty Cop Registry
That's not the one used in my area. Looks kind of tall and clumsy for the application too.
Y’all need to build a flail mower or contract with Trimax to build one for you.
What kinds of stuff would you mow with the flail mower that you can't do now?
Well said Sarah
Dennis where is the website link of your company?
bout how much do you charge per our doing this?
This may help you on pricing your business.
bushhogservice.com/posts/
@slopegoat
Not bad...i'd like to see the blades under that thing....and to know what they cost.
You can see under the deck in our Tough Cut Simple Start video. :)
I want this
I mow that thick grass for a living. How much is this tractor?
Howie C Stylez about $24k
Until the other landscaping company buys a ventrac.
Your thinking is very simplistic. If that stops you from starting/growing a business, you belong on an assembly line.
Nobody has ever thought about a grass cutting business lol
Goats
what?? here in Canada I've done way steeper with 25 year old ford tractor and swather.
shane phelan
Ok, topper! Just let this man have his time to shine. By the way, where’s your video?
how do you know you have done steeper Shane?
?
Time to move there and undercut his prices
You probably voted for Hillary
Jon Snow Nuuupe
Not before me
Home of the free land of the brave ,buy 2 and go hard I say ,
We charge $165 per hour with a minimum of 3 hours and we are booked out 6 months in advance... Catch up sunshine
Third!!
Heck yeah! haha