Anyone using a grapple fed chipper?

[CanaryBoss]

So I traveled to Michigan last week from Florida to demo this machine at the bandit factory. Anyone running a chipper like this? Does it work well for you? I found it cumbersome and hard to operate. Maybe with more experience it would work better. Could it really be better than a mini skid?

 

[joezilla11]

I just found someone local to me who runs this chipper setup and a treemek. If u don’t get any responses on here I could share his contact info or u can message him on FB if ud like.

 

[CanaryBoss]

I would appreciate the contact info. I don’t FB and I’m actually looking into a treemek right now

 

[joezilla11]

Sure I’ll pm u

 

[Lumberjack]

I’ve fed chippers with a mini excavator and rotating grapple.

I used a 40 yard dump trailer or grapple truck with my TreeMec.

 

[CanaryBoss]

So I do a decent amount of crane work. What size Treemek do you have? Is it always useful? Are you able to get it to stuff that you would normally be able to get 130 foot crane to?

 

[jmcscrap]

We run the Bandit 1890XP with the grapple. The control levers swing out from the side unlike the one you have in the picture. Does it replace a mini skid? No, but using the mini to just forward material and letting the grapple on the chipper feed works great. The learning curve was short, and not having people feeding the beast by hand or on a machine in front of the shoot when the feed wheels open is much safer in my opinion. I know we absolutely love ours!

 

[jmcscrap]

Pics

 

[Lumberjack]

So I do a decent amount of crane work. What size Treemek do you have? Is it always useful? Are you able to get it to stuff that you would normally be able to get 130 foot crane to?

PK40.

No it’s not always useful; sell work it’s useful for.

A 130’ boom will reach farther than a 90’ boom. If you have/want a 3 man crew, a stick boom is a worthy consideration.

 

[96coal449]

I was in the market for one. Finances and other necessities put that on hold. I did get the horse first but still have to finish the chip box. I will be looking again when the nest egg is built back up.

For me the goal is to be able to load wood in my trucks and chip with one piece of equipment.

 

[96coal449]

Grapple chippers are supposed to be excellent for storm work where a lot of material is already curb side. Not to mention crane work .....