- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Side hustle for W2 earners
Posted on 4/16/26 at 9:27 pm to pdubya76
Posted on 4/16/26 at 9:27 pm to pdubya76
quote:
I bought a bulldozer and excavator to do small land clearing jobs. I do it by word of mouth . This time of year I stay busy enough to make it worth my while. We are buying a skid steer/mulcher in a few weeks. I’ll do it a good bit more when I retire in 5 years.
That is pretty sweet. Although im working on figuring out a way to justify an excavator or skid steer. Ive always wanted an excavator but I think a skid steer probably has more broad use.
Id love to hang up the rat race life and just be outside in a skid steer doing the simpler minded stuff. What size of bulldozer did you buy? What truck and trailer do yku use for your operation? I have a 3/4 ton dodge and ive hauled some 12k pound equipment. Its hard to get comfortable hauling that heavy with my set up. I use a 14k lb tilt deck to haul a telehandler and skid steer when I rent them. Braking is the biggest concern.
2
Posted on 4/17/26 at 3:08 am to WhiskeyThrottle
quote:
love to hang up the rat race life and just be outside in a skid steer doing the simpler minded stuff. What size of bulldozer did you buy? What truck and trailer do yku use for your operation? I have a 3/4 ton dodge and ive hauled some 12k pound equipment. Its hard to get comfortable hauling that heavy with my set up. I use a 14k lb tilt deck to haul a telehandler and skid steer when I rent them. Braking is the biggest concern.
I bought an older, small Komastsu. It’s about 10k and is good for small brush, privet, and the like. I don’t fool with big stuff and folks know that. My excavator is around 11k and I bought a cutter for it. It’s handy for clearing around ponds , ditch banks , and up in the air. I use it a pretty good bit. More than likely we are going to go with the
Kubota SVL 97-3 track loader when we purchase . I’m hoping it’s a buy once , cry once kinda deal.
As far as towing, I had a 17 f250 with a trailer similar to yours. The tail would wag the dog when towing the mini ex. We upgraded to a 25 F450 and 35ft gooseneck last year. It’s overkill but it does the job and I feel safe with it.
Posted on 4/17/26 at 6:13 am to pdubya76
quote:
We upgraded to a 25 F450 and 35ft gooseneck last year. It’s overkill but it does the job and I feel safe with it.
How much of a pain was it to get your CDL or are you just risking it with a class E or D?
Posted on 4/17/26 at 6:35 am to pdubya76
If/when I ever buy a skidsteer it'll be the Kubota. That 97-3 is a tank. Will you get the air conditioned cab or open cab? My neighbor has a bobcat skid steer and bobcat excavator. Both are the "luxury" lines. Dude bought them in 23 brand new and the excavator has less than 300 hours and the skidsteer less than 1000. I like to find reasons occasionally to borrow them.
Posted on 4/17/26 at 6:37 am to FieldEngineer
quote:
How much of a pain was it to get your CDL or are you just risking it with a class E or D?
I don't think there's any special drivers license requirements for a truck based on towing capacity. Just if the entire rig weighs more than 26k lbs. Might be close and DOT might pull over for a check, but I don't think it would meet the weight requirements.
This post was edited on 4/17/26 at 6:38 am
Posted on 4/17/26 at 6:46 am to WhiskeyThrottle
quote:
I don't think there's any special drivers license requirements for a truck based on towing capacity. Just if the entire rig weighs more than 26k lbs.
It’s based on GVWR. If he’s towing a setup that’s stamped over 26k, he isn’t legal without a CDL, even if it’s unloaded.
Posted on 4/17/26 at 6:55 am to WhiskeyThrottle
quote:
I use a 14k lb tilt deck
You aren’t legal either. I’m not judging, just sharing information. You can’t tow more than a 10k lb GVWR trailer without having a class A CDL.
I think the weight limits really need to increase. Everything has gotten heavier. A guy running a 1 ton towing a mini-ex on a beefy trailer should not need a CDL.
Edit: I may be wrong here. If the truck’s GCWR rating is over 26k AND you’re towing a 10k+ GVWR trailer, that needs a CDL.
This post was edited on 4/17/26 at 7:50 am
Posted on 4/17/26 at 8:10 am to Neauxla
quote:
Who has a good side hustle as a W2 earner to take advantage of the tax code besides STRs and LTRs?
What is it? How'd you get into it? Successful?
laundromat?
storage units?
car wash?
Depends on what you want out of it as well. I picked the heavy equipment, tractors etc to manage my hunting land and properties. I have operators and people to haul the shite around for me. Tax write offs while benefitting. Makes sure money, but doesn't have to. Amazing how much work there is just for bushhogging, digging holes for septic tanks, bulldozing deer camp roads, food plots etc. I don't do most of it, but I've got some that pay just to see their doctor on equipment or doing manual labor.
ETA-have a friend with a rental and construction business. He keeps my stuff working and maintained. Was able to write off my Argo. Another used it to get to some oil wells during some flooding and another used it to tote clients in a and out on duck hunts.
This post was edited on 4/17/26 at 8:15 am
Posted on 4/17/26 at 9:54 am to Neauxla
Been a ticket reseller for almost 20 years. Before COVID, I was making more selling tickets than at my real job. Still currently making really solid money. Once tickets went digital, it became very easy to manage.
Posted on 4/17/26 at 11:21 am to WhiskeyThrottle
“air conditioned cab or open cab?
Guy that has done some mulching jobs for me started with an open cab.
After he got into bumblebee and Yellowjackets a time or two he traded it for AC cab.
Guy that has done some mulching jobs for me started with an open cab.
After he got into bumblebee and Yellowjackets a time or two he traded it for AC cab.
Posted on 4/17/26 at 11:32 am to LSUA 75
quote:
“air conditioned cab or open cab?
Guy that has done some mulching jobs for me started with an open cab.
After he got into bumblebee and Yellowjackets a time or two he traded it for AC cab.
A cab is a must for that reason, plus it just keeps all the dust and debris out of your lungs and it keeps the inside of the machine cleaner.
Posted on 4/17/26 at 3:56 pm to FieldEngineer
I took all the CDL courses just haven’t gone to the DMV yet. I stay close to home.
Posted on 4/17/26 at 4:04 pm to WhiskeyThrottle
quote:
Will you get the air conditioned cab or open cab?
Definitely a cab machine. I’ve been fortunate enough to hit several yellow jackets nests when doing dozer work. It’s a horrible feeling when you can’t get away and they keep coming. I’ll keep the dozer because it’s paid for but I wouldn’t buy another open cab.
Posted on 4/18/26 at 10:46 am to FieldEngineer
Thats interesting to know. I guess ill have to look it up to be sure.
Ive never looked into it but talking to a buddy that had a cdl he said that if you have dually axles on your trailer dot will pull you over but if theyre not dually they wont mess with you. Thats not a legal definition but what he normally goes by. In fact he said he buys dually trailers and replaces the dually wheels with really wide single tires.
Ive never looked into it but talking to a buddy that had a cdl he said that if you have dually axles on your trailer dot will pull you over but if theyre not dually they wont mess with you. Thats not a legal definition but what he normally goes by. In fact he said he buys dually trailers and replaces the dually wheels with really wide single tires.
Posted on 4/18/26 at 12:27 pm to WhiskeyThrottle
That’s probably true, at least in Louisiana.
Posted on 4/20/26 at 8:38 am to FieldEngineer
Pduby76
I bought a bulldozer and excavator to do small land clearing jobs. I do it by word of mouth . This time of year I stay busy enough to make it worth my while. We are buying a skid steer/mulcher in a few weeks. I’ll do it a good bit more when I retire in 5 years.
_______________________________________
I'll be in need of a mulcher at some point... located on Hwy 67 close to MS state line.
gauxt at eatel dot net
I bought a bulldozer and excavator to do small land clearing jobs. I do it by word of mouth . This time of year I stay busy enough to make it worth my while. We are buying a skid steer/mulcher in a few weeks. I’ll do it a good bit more when I retire in 5 years.
_______________________________________
I'll be in need of a mulcher at some point... located on Hwy 67 close to MS state line.
gauxt at eatel dot net
Posted on 4/21/26 at 4:01 am to Gauxt
10-4…I pass there everyday. I’ll email you.
Posted on 4/21/26 at 8:16 am to Neauxla
quote:
laundromat? storage units? car wash? vending machines?
If you’re thinking it’s a good side hustle it’s because you already saw it on the internet and it’s saturated already
Gotta come up with your own idea baw
Tbh the ultimate side hustle is getting on welfare. Why don’t you do that? Nowadays taking money from the taxpayer is the only way to make a living. Look at Elon musk
Posted on 4/21/26 at 9:00 am to el Gaucho
quote:
Gotta come up with your own idea baw
False. You can take an existing idea and do it better.
Posted on 4/21/26 at 11:26 am to WhiskeyThrottle
quote:
I have also done electrical work but normally only for people I know personally. That's a bit more of a liability issue since im not licensed. I do have the ability to make the job meet permitting requirements though if its necessary.
how's this work? like you have an electrician sign off?
Page 2 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News