Anyone using a tracked chipper

J

JE Chop Nash

Location
Nasvhille
Need ya’lls help. I’m considering a tracked chipper for dual purpose. Using it towed on a trailer behind the dump truck on the regular and chipping into the box (will require unloading at each job unless a custom trailer is built) and having it to get into ROW work and for some of our large acreage clients.

I think with a custom trailer it could be sweet. Chip with it still on the trailer many days and roll it off for chipping into the woods or right places where backing the chipper up a long drive is impossible.

The cons - primarily the weight (14,500 plus trailer) - extra strain on the trucks and we would need another class CDL I believe.

What do you guys think? Sick setup or a too much hassle?
 
I gave it a lot of thought, too much hassle! You’d be better off with a small light machine and a mini. It’s way more versatile, but unless you have a mini platform some creativity is still required..
 
I'd consider a seeing up a trial run at that height, via some sort of mock up for the trailer height.

Can you use a tilt trailer or sloping bed to somehow lower feed height?
 
it really depends on the chip capacity you want to work with?
tracked 6-9-12 etc
I ruled it out and decided 1st to get a mini loader RamRod 950 already had 6" bandit recently replaced with CR70 wallenstein, perfect for what I do 90% of the time
when the warranties over on the CR70 I may dissasssemble the trailer part of the chipper and configure a new trailer to haul gear,tools, mini and chipper all on one trailer mb even dump trailer.
In a perfect world comparmentalizing makes sense but mb not enough to warrant the effort and dollars spent. Like Evo I think it was just easier to rule it out and put the dollars into better investments like upgrades, tools, attachments, labour savors etc.
 
Midsota makes a nice quality drop deck trailer that stock would look similar to the trailer Evo provided a link to. I think Midsota's were priced closer to $8K. Stock, I do not believe it would be wide enough. However Midsota is very agreeable to do lots of custom upgrades with and if rust is a challenge for you, will even hot dip galvanize trailers for $200 per foot.

Big tracked chipper and drop deck trailer is probably what I will do after I buy a tracked lift. By the way if the feed chute is a bit far from the back of the truck and you want all the chips to get in the box I have been having good success placing a light weight culvert tube on the end of the chute during chipping.

Good to have you posting up JE. :)
 
A few other thoughts....the link Evo put up is a bit more expensive than one might need for tree work because it has an air ride self adjusting suspension targeted toward more sensitive loads. They also offer a cheaper rubber ride suspension that sounds top notch.

The width of the deck is restricted by max width of the axle for common use, 102 inches or 8.5 feet. Subtract about 12 inches for tire and fender on each side and you're down to 6.5 feet or so. I was thinking about who I've seen with adjustable track width but that may not be necessary depending on actual mfg specs.

Lastly, this style of drop deck pushes back from tow vehicle as it drops making the plastic culvert chute extender even more of a useful idea.
 
Thanks for the great ideas! We talked with a local machinist who made drop deck trailers for Blackhawk helicopters. That’s the way to go I think but we have to either get the axles offset or go with tracks that can be brought narrower. When it comes down to it we’ll get the most utility from the machine when have some ROW contracts. At which point we will have fun creating a trailer with a builder. Of course, we may have multiple chippers at that point and not bother with the special trailer.

I like this extra chute idea for multiple scenarios though. Sometimes we’re chipping into the woods and the further chips fly the better.
 
Merle, if you put @ then the beginning of the screen name, like "@trev" gets me to two Trev screen names. Click on it and you get
@Trevor Balgavy
Which notifies the user of being mentioned in a thread.
This will make it easier for Jone... to connect with Trevor.
 
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