I need to lay down about 10-15 yards of bark. Problem is that delivery can't put it where I need it; it'll be in the yard on the other side of the house.

It would take days and lots and lots of trips back and forth if I move the bark using a wheel barrow.

I'm hoping to use something like a bobcat - machine that can move volumes at once and get this done w/in a day (maybe even 4 hour rental?).

Problem - I've never used a bobcat before. Do I need a special license? How hard is it to drive and operate bucket? Is it easy to learn and get the hang of it? Or am I going to end up destroying my land and my house?

Should I just hire a contractor to move the bark? Or is a bobcat relatively straight forward?

Something like this: https://www.compactpowerrents....eeled-roc-1000-1200/

It takes practice just like learning to drive a stick shift in an auto. You need no special license to operate but should have above average coordination.

Hire two Mexicans and the job will be done in half a day for probably less than $100 and a large pizza.

If you don't know what you're doing with the Bobcat, you're very likely to destroy large areas of your yard. When I did almost a dozen yards of mulch, I had the company I bought it from dump it on the driveway on Friday afternoon, and then hired three college kids for the day on Saturday to fill and run wheel barrels back and forth to me while I spread it. Likely cheaper than renting a Bobcat, and no damage done to my yard.

A lot of people rent the walk behind mini skid steer instead of the sit in real skid steer. It gets in tighter spaces, it's easier to learn, and has a lower trailering weight. With bark, you'll fill the bucket before you hit the weight limit.

My neighbor is having an inground pool installed right now and the contractor doing all of the tiling are using one to move the tile from the trailer to the backyard through the narrow walk gate.

It sounds like you have an established yard? You will tear it up with a skid steer, experienced or not. If you want to minimize surface damage there are better options but, if not, a skid steer is a great option and relatively easy to learn to operate at the level you need.

I am much more at home on my tractor but I have driven a bobcat on occasion. There is a bit of a learning curve but it really is not that hard. I would think you should get familiar with it pretty quick. Make sure it has tires and not a track if you are driving this on your yard. I would plan on a full day rental.

Or...you could do as Balze Halze suggests.

Not knowing what it looks like from point A to point B, what about a power buggy ?

This would probably due less damage to an established yard and would be more conducive to spreading the material if this is your first time using equipment like this. Being the cheapskate that I am I would rent it for a day and shovel myself. If you don't mind parting with a few dollars I would find a neighbor high schooler to do or help with the shoveling and let your back thank you in the morning.

There are tons of lawn care guys, lawn care crews, landscapers, day laborers, etc that would absolutely take care of that problem for you.


They'll be quicker and neater and will clean up before they leave.

Ideally, anyway.

If you've no experience with a Bobcat you'd be well-advised to drop that idea. (This as per my wife, who operated one for a brief while when she worked for a landscaper.)

Sounds like you need a mulch blower. I'm surprised your delivery company doesn't own one. Truck or trailer mounted, and blows it through a hose.

While you could destroy your house with a Bobcat, I’d recommend an excavator for that.

If you do decide to rent a Bobcat, get one with wide rubber tracks. I spent 12 hours running a T300 after Hurricane Charley cleaning up fallen trees and debris. I didn’t tear up the anything that I didn't want torn up. It wasn't particularly hard to operate. You just have to be smooth with the hydraulic controls. Another option and probably cheaper is a small tractor with a front end loader.

The rental places by me will rent you 8 hours of run time over the weekend. They’ll drop it off Saturday morning and pick it up on Monday morning which allows you to split the 8 hours between Saturday and Sunday.

If you could rent a sub compact tractor with a loader I would recommend that. The bucket will be smaller so more trips but less damage to your turf.

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While you could destroy your house with a Bobcat, I’d recommend an excavator for that.

Why does this sound like a bad idea?
As said above, hire some kids.

If you do go with a Bobcat I’d recommend hand (or pilot) controls for the bucket vs. foot. Easier to learn and I think easier to operate.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Hire two Mexicans and the job will be done in half a day for probably less than $100 and a large pizza.

It might be a bit more expensive in your area, but this really is the easiest route to pursue

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Hire two Mexicans and the job will be done in half a day for probably less than $100 and a large pizza.

For the win!

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Hire two Mexicans and the job will be done in half a day for probably less than $100 and a Large pizza case of modelo

This. FIFY

Although a bobcat can be learned in a few minutes, you can easily ruin grass by turning on it....

Last time I tried to pick up a couple of day laborers, they wanted $150 each. That was ten years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Hire two Mexicans and the job will be done in half a day for probably less than $100 and a large pizza.

10-15 yards is a lot of bark. However, it’s lightweight. With two or three wheelbarrows, big scoop shovels, and four workers - it won’t take but 4-5 hours.

$100-140 each, $560 plus drinks.

A bobcat delivered (assuming you don’t have a truck) will be several hundred dollars plus you’re doing the work and destroying your yard.

Hire it out.