Chipper size for crane crew

Jasonk

Participating member
We recently purchased our own crane and it's become very apparent that our 140 hp 1590 isn't going to keep up to the pace anymore. I'm looking to purchase something larger and I'm leaning towards a 1990. The trouble I see is the size when we are in tight areas and obviously the cost. I'm curious what others are running that can keep up while being fed by machine or log truck. We had a 200hp morbark 2400 before our 1590 and it wasn't much faster IMO. Thanks for any input. -Jason
 
I think your on the right track as far as the 1990 bandit. I did give you my opinion about the 1890's in your other post. If going used try going with the wide feed rollers.
 
I think your on the right track as far as the 1990 bandit. I did give you my opinion about the 1890's in your other post. If going used try going with the wide feed rollers.
Do you know how wide they are? Also what hp do you find adequate for the larger removals? We will be keeping the 1590 for smaller work.
 
We recently purchased our own crane and it's become very apparent that our 140 hp 1590 isn't going to keep up to the pace anymore. I'm looking to purchase something larger and I'm leaning towards a 1990. The trouble I see is the size when we are in tight areas and obviously the cost. I'm curious what others are running that can keep up while being fed by machine or log truck. We had a 200hp morbark 2400 before our 1590 and it wasn't much faster IMO. Thanks for any input. -Jason
Wow Jason that's crazy it can't keep up ! I've never had a problem with the ground guys not keeping up feeding our model 13 doing crane work, even with the mini skid you can't keep up it eats it up so fast ! Turn up the feed wheels ? Lol what size crane did you buy again?
 
Wow Jason that's crazy it can't keep up ! I've never had a problem with the ground guys not keeping up feeding our model 13 doing crane work, even with the mini skid you can't keep up it eats it up so fast ! Turn up the feed wheels ? Lol what size crane did you buy again?
We bought an altec 38 ton. One of the big things is that I'm really not big on is trying to save and separate small wood and would like to be able to chip everything that's not either a saw log or just plain huge. Just to clarify, two guys with a machine and log truck can make it happen but that chipper is really working.....to the point where I feel like it's really getting overworked.
 
We bought an altec 38 ton. One of the big things is that I'm really not big on is trying to save and separate small wood and would like to be able to chip everything that's not either a saw log or just plain huge. Just to clarify, two guys with a machine and log truck can make it happen but that chipper is really working.....to the point where I feel like it's really getting overworked.
Ah ok gotcha, that's a nice crane.
 
When I climbed for Mike Poor, his 1990 ate anything we could throw at it. @tc262 has a bad ass Rayco 20 that I saw some serious potential in. The sweet thing about Mikes 1990 was the stretched chassis to fit the mini up front.
e3e1685b21314d1126c5b4511aec4283.jpg


And for what it is worth, I found the big chipper way easier to steer then any of the small ones.
 
The 1990 is the most incredible 'hand fed' chipper I've ever seen. I watched it eat 20" sugar maple logs. Btw, chipping 20" sugar maple is kinda not smart imo but the point is, the chipper ate it with no problem. 275 hp fuel guzzler.Weakening forks with a saw before chipping is basically never needed from what I observed .
 
I own a 08 Rayco RC20 and run a new Morbark M20r too. 215 and 260 hp. Chipper is definitely not my bottle neck. Most of my crane jobs the drop zone always seems to end up tight as well so I don't often get to take huge picks. Unless we are tight on chip space if it fits it chips. I really don't think you can go wrong with any of the bigger 20"+ chippers out there. I really do love my Rayco but they are not to common and as far as I know they are not being produced any more. Not sure that I'm adding anything to this thread other than rambling lol
 
Seems a lot of crane crews shine with an 18 or 20'' chipper. If you can swing it get the loader option. Nothing like grabbing the butt of the pick and feeding a big chipper.
 
We do crane removals all the time with our 15" chippers, and rarely are they much of an issue. Like Tom said, the size of the drop zone (or the radius from the center pin) is usually the limiting factor in the size pieces we can take. And yes, we chip everything that easily fits thru it.
But if I had my own crane and was purchasing a chipper to pair with it, I'd definitely be looking at 18"/200 hp class machines.
 
When the landing zone is tight we typically set the winch line on the butt or grab with the log truck, get it in and chipping and let the crane float the other end until it can fit in the work zone. I'm sick of dealing with so much trashy wood that can't be chipped. Having a larger capacity chipper also opens the door to split and chip all of the wood we create if we could secure a chip contract. 1990 seems to be where I'm leaning.
 
When I climbed for Mike Poor, his 1990 ate anything we could throw at it. @tc262 has a bad ass Rayco 20 that I saw some serious potential in. The sweet thing about Mikes 1990 was the stretched chassis to fit the mini up front.
e3e1685b21314d1126c5b4511aec4283.jpg


And for what it is worth, I found the big chipper way easier to steer then any of the small ones.
Whats the electric winch/ line for? Looks more expensive than to just replace a worn out jack.
 
@craneguy1, Mike had to have the chassis of the chipper modified to fit the Dingo on front. This in turn ment the discharge shoot had to be lengthened. The softer, wetter woods would tend to clog the shoot so Mike installed the winch. He is all about energy efficiency on the crew and that was the simplest way for one guy to lift the shoot. It is super quick and easy, just lift it up and bounce it a few times with the winch controller and go back to chipping. You can't tell in that picture but the shoot it almost 8 feet long.

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