First chipper...decisions

Stuart French · Mar 21, 2019

We are buying our first chipper and we are looking at Carlton's line of 12 inch models with a winch. The hard part right now is deciding on gas or diesel. Can anyone help with observations on modern Diesel's and their reliability in comparison to the cheaper gas option?
It seems to be consensus that the gas option is a good one.

Tom Dunlap · Mar 21, 2019

There have been a few gas/diesel threads lately. They’re easy to find in the archives

If it were me I’d get gas

Merle Nelson · Mar 22, 2019

Did I see Carlton chippers listed as problem children by one or many? I would google, "problems with....."

I could be wrong.

Z'sTrees · Mar 22, 2019

Carltons seem very heavily built, and in turn are pretty heavy compared to other manufacturers. The only real complaint I have is the 17.5" rims, the only tire options are pizza cutters and are really hard on soft surfaces.
As far as gas vs diesel. The new diesels are kind of impressive and I'm sure you can get better fuel efficiency out of them. That said, you can buy a whole lot of gas for the price difference if buying new. Not to mention gas (at least around here) is almost a buck cheaper a gallon.

Gorman · Mar 22, 2019

When Carlton first started producing chippers they had problems. Mostly hydraulic valve issues. Those have been sorted out as far as I know.

pctree · Mar 22, 2019

Why buy new???

MA Arborist · Mar 22, 2019

Stuart French said:
We are buying our first chipper and we are looking at Carlton's line of 12 inch models with a winch. The hard part right now is deciding on gas or diesel. Can anyone help with observations on modern Diesel's and their reliability in comparison to the cheaper gas option?
It seems to be consensus that the gas option is a good one.

I just purchased a Bandit with a gas engine. I like it so far. Its the first chipper I have owned that was not diesel.

I think that the new diesels are too complicated and not worth the extra cost unless you need a whole tree chipper.

Merle Nelson · Mar 22, 2019

PC!!!!!!

What chippers do you think a person could buy used if they were going for machine fed and 18 inch capacity or more? I know you love the Conehead - I'm not that big on wrenching a huge amount.

(Sorry for the momentary derail.)

pctree · Mar 23, 2019

One of the best chippers I ever had for reliability ,simplicity and performance was a morbark model 17 with a 120HP john deere.
Might be hard to find one now as they are from the 90s but I loved that chipper

Stuart French · Mar 23, 2019

pctree said:
Why buy new???

We have heard it is hard to find a decent used chipper

Gorman · Mar 23, 2019

Stuart French said:
We have heard it is hard to find a decent used chipper

I will attest to this statement. We bought a woodsman 15x a year ago because the guy only put 200 hours on it. Autofeed never worked properly on big tops and we never figured out why until we discovers the shaft seal leaking in the driver side drive motor for the feed wheel. We took it apart and realized that the seal leaked and autofeed never was 100% because the previous owner sheared off the key for the passenger side drive motor. The chipper was only had one working motor.
5k and 10 days later it’s working properly. It would be unreasonable to know that the motor was busted when I bought the thing. You just don’t know with used equipment and it’s always a dice throw.

pctree · Mar 24, 2019

So the chopper only had 200 hours. How had the previous owner sheared off the key? By chipping brush? Imo this was basically a new chipped, from talking with people that buy new it seems their Shit breaks down same as mine and most the time its not covered by warrantee. When buying used do your homework and find a well regarded model with a good motor. It is all a roll of the dice just seems to me the stakes are higher buying new.

After 32 years in the business I feel good that I have a backup for every piece of equipment other than my crane. All old and paid for

Merle Nelson · Mar 24, 2019

I would tell you that is a heck of an accomplishment Paul but, we both know whose opinion you value most.

DTS · Mar 24, 2019

Having a lg diesel Bandit chipper I’m also looking at getting a smaller 12’ chipper for small jobs and for a spare chipper. I’ve always been a bandit fan and have had excellent luck with them I did have

one Vermeer pos. Never owned or tried a Carlton or morbark chipper. Since both morbark and bandit dealers are both an hour away I decided to demo both Thur I demoed the morbark m12r which is the new 14-15 had a gas Gm 145hp engine ran it 10 minutes and brought it back enough said on that. Friday I demoed a bandit 12xp with a gas Gm 89hp engine for a little machine it’s awesome and the gas motor ran strong going to use it this week and probably buy it. The morbark was horribly loud the bandit has a new baffle which is super quiet. For the insane up charge on a Diesel engine I’m going with a gas engine. I’d definitely give the bandit 12xp or 12xpc a look at and demo.

Gorman · Mar 24, 2019

pctree said:
So the chopper only had 200 hours. How had the previous owner sheared off the key? By chipping brush? Imo this was basically a new chipped, from talking with people that buy new it seems their Shit breaks down same as mine and most the time its not covered by warrantee. When buying used do your homework and find a well regarded model with a good motor. It is all a roll of the dice just seems to me the stakes are higher buying new.

After 32 years in the business I feel good that I have a backup for every piece of equipment other than my crane. All old and paid for

He probably did this by forcefeeding it with an excavator.

Luzl78 · Mar 24, 2019

The original guy might not have known the key sheared?

Gorman · Mar 24, 2019

Luzl78 said:
The original guy might not have known the key sheared?

Quite honestly probably not.

TREEXPERTSCT · Mar 25, 2019

If your mostly doing removals rather than trimming I would recommend going bigger than 12" if you could because you will out grow that chipper quickly.

hseII · Mar 27, 2019

DTS said:
Having a lg diesel Bandit chipper I’m also looking at getting a smaller 12’ chipper for small jobs and for a spare chipper. I’ve always been a bandit fan and have had excellent luck with them I did have View attachment 58380 View attachment 58381 View attachment 58382one Vermeer pos. Never owned or tried a Carlton or morbark chipper. Since both morbark and bandit dealers are both an hour away I decided to demo both Thur I demoed the morbark m12r which is the new 14-15 had a gas Gm 145hp engine ran it 10 minutes and brought it back enough said on that. Friday I demoed a bandit 12xp with a gas Gm 89hp engine for a little machine it’s awesome and the gas motor ran strong going to use it this week and probably buy it. The morbark was horribly loud the bandit has a new baffle which is super quiet. For the insane up charge on a Diesel engine I’m going with a gas engine. I’d definitely give the bandit 12xp or 12xpc a look at and demo.View attachment 58383

What’s the difference between a xp & xpc.

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DTS · Mar 28, 2019

Xpc has lighter frame for less overall weight and shoot Is fixed height no adjustment, 1 engine option no winch or any other special options. Xp can get any available options and is heavier built. I bought the one I’ve been demoing today great chipper. Both have the same infeed throat of 14”x17”.