Chip body, log lift and large chipper combo. Thoughts?

jamesf

jamesf

Location
Comox
Hey guys,

I'm looking at options to clean up large amounts of heavy debris quickly without an army of groundmen. I love hard work but am worried about all our backs when it comes to heavy work. I came across chip body/box log lift grapple combos and thought they would be a great idea when teamed up with a larger chipper. Mark Chisholm post some pics of his awesome set up here (this is a dated link from 2009):

http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/log-truck.11456/

It got me looking and I found this grapple-equipped log loader for sale:
https://www.schmidysmachinery.com/t.../profile/2005-ford-f750-12-chip-body-log-lift

And am thinking that this chipper would go well with the truck above:
https://radiusindustrial.ca/product/1890xp/

I have some questions and I'd love to hear what you think:

1. Could the grapple on the truck effectively move debris up from ditches and right of ways to the road for processing? Would I need to switch to a brush rake attachment for branches? Would the reach (7.12m) be sufficient? Would the speed be sufficient?

2. What is your experience using a combo like this? Pros, cons?

3. Specific to the units linked to above, is the Log Lift 75Z a good choice? The chipper a good match?

4. Where would you look to purchase this, if not at the above links?

I've never run or even seen anything like this, ever. I admit I am pretty excited thinking of all the wicked applications this unit could be used for to increase safety and productivity.

PS - I'm on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

Thanks,
James
 
I dont have much of an opinion on most of your questions as I haven't used a log truck or a chipper larger than 12". I did notice the site for the truck was schmidys. You might do yourself a favor and search them on here or Google and check out the reviews. Now some people have bought quality used vehicles from them and others not so much.
 
Take a professional mechanic with you, if you're not a top mechanic! Schmitty's (sp?) get's mixed reviews, mostly bad, but they are a used truck/ equipment dealer, not Mother Teresa.

I wouldn't choose that name unless I had really good rep, too close to...

I'd love that set-up.
 
Having worked with a grapple truck on the side of the road, yes it will reach, sort of. The deeper the ditch the less it'll reach (they don't do terribly well reaching below grade).

Also something to consider is the reach is from the center line of the truck with outriggers set, so you'll likely end up with about a dozen feet of usable side reach, especially if working on roads with guard rails that you cant get off the shoulder on. You can use ropes to drag brush with the grapple, but more physical work and time...

Lastly if your grapple isn't long enough to manipulate brush behind the pan of the chipper (not necessarily feeding it, just placing it butt towards the feed wheels, you're going to end up with lots of manual work anyways.

If you're only planning on loading wood and dragging brush to the chipper by hand, your truck setup location will rarely be advantageous for both operations at the same time

Not saying it's a bad idea, just there's reasons it's not commonly seen... A chipper with a Winch or a grapple chipper might be more appropriate
 
We just got a roll of truck with hiab. We got a new tongue insert to get our 12” morbark to fit in behind. With a tree tarp reel top to be the roof it works as a chipper truck roll up the tarp and logs go in Np. This seems like a good setup so far for us. We’re working on modifying the back doors so they stay closed as we chip in just through a certain area but we’ll see how it goes
 
This might be useful if or for you. 33k gvw truck. 230 hp. 12' switch n go because its lighter than a hooklift. Palfinger PK12 because its light, reaches 47' horizontal, lifts crazy weight, can attach a basket or use just a hook for really heavy logs, and remote control. Swiss army knife of tree trucks. I have a flatbed and regular dump box for it too. The trick with a 33k gvw truck is to pick the right equipment to put on it so you still have payload. I feel like I nailed it with this one. Makes a great rope swing, too!59661
 
Gerasimek said:
This might be useful if or for you. 33k gvw truck. 230 hp. 12' switch n go because its lighter than a hooklift. Palfinger PK12 because its light, reaches 47' horizontal, lifts crazy weight, can attach a basket or use just a hook for really heavy logs, and remote control. Swiss army knife of tree trucks. I have a flatbed and regular dump box for it too. The trick with a 33k gvw truck is to pick the right equipment to put on it so you still have payload. I feel like I nailed it with this one. Makes a great rope swing, too!View attachment 59661
Click to expand...
That is awesome, goddamn.
 
KevinS said:
We just got a roll of truck with hiab. We got a new tongue insert to get our 12” morbark to fit in behind. With a tree tarp reel top to be the roof it works as a chipper truck roll up the tarp and logs go in Np. This seems like a good setup so far for us. We’re working on modifying the back doors so they stay closed as we chip in just through a certain area but we’ll see how it goes
Click to expand...
Pictures?
 
jamesf said:
Hey guys,

I'm looking at options to clean up large amounts of heavy debris quickly without an army of groundmen. I love hard work but am worried about all our backs when it comes to heavy work. I came across chip body/box log lift grapple combos and thought they would be a great idea when teamed up with a larger chipper. Mark Chisholm post some pics of his awesome set up here (this is a dated link from 2009):

http://www.treebuzz.com/forum/threads/log-truck.11456/

It got me looking and I found this grapple-equipped log loader for sale:
https://www.schmidysmachinery.com/t.../profile/2005-ford-f750-12-chip-body-log-lift

And am thinking that this chipper would go well with the truck above:
https://radiusindustrial.ca/product/1890xp/

I have some questions and I'd love to hear what you think:

1. Could the grapple on the truck effectively move debris up from ditches and right of ways to the road for processing? Would I need to switch to a brush rake attachment for branches? Would the reach (7.12m) be sufficient? Would the speed be sufficient?

2. What is your experience using a combo like this? Pros, cons?

3. Specific to the units linked to above, is the Log Lift 75Z a good choice? The chipper a good match?

4. Where would you look to purchase this, if not at the above links?

I've never run or even seen anything like this, ever. I admit I am pretty excited thinking of all the wicked applications this unit could be used for to increase safety and productivity.

PS - I'm on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

Thanks,
James
Click to expand...

I had the same thoughts when I was looking for a way to speed up production and keep a small crew. So after talking to Jeff at JMAC, he sold me on the idea of a rear mount 25' Robotec loader truck that we could still chip into and dump. Box length was 18.5'. I had a Bandit 12" drum chipper, and we did a lot of jobs that way...we would chip the brush, then load the logs on top.

But as time went along, we started using the chipper less and less, and finally we sold it. The time we save by not processing the material onsite more than compensates for an extra trip to the job now and then. Plus we no longer have to worry about dirt and nasty wide crotches for the chipper, and maintenance on knives and all of the greasing that you have to do on a chipper.

We have found that we can crush the material into the truck with the grapple, set the logs on top, and we can get nearly as much in as if we were chipping! Plus having the flexibility of leaving brush piles to be picked up later by another guy has been nice.

Our truck is also set up with an 30K hydraulic winch out the back, that has come in really handy at times!

Just my two cents based on our experience.
 

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