Chip truck build

Treeweasel · Feb 18, 2015

So after being in contact and working with Royal Truck and Equipment in Coopersburg, PA since the TCI Expo back in November, they've decided that they can't move forward with the chip truck project at this time. I have had my current chip truck, which was built by them, since 2006, and their chip body is second to none, in my opinion. It has held up extremely well despite the abuse we have put it through, but it seems that I've reached a dead end with them.

My question here is, where to turn. I would like to start the project now, while there is four feet of snow down and work is slow. I have a specific set of needs, as our chipper is very heavy (20k lbs), and I'd like to put a 16' body on a used chassis. Has anyone here had a chip truck built to their specs? If so, what company did it, and how satisfied are you with the end result? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

Leon_Foree · Feb 18, 2015

I've used local welders before to build chip bodies. I've usually started with flatbed dumps and went from there. Makes it a little easier. And they tend to hold up well. Chips aren't that heavy. I usually go with 11 Gage on the side sheets. I've got a16 ft flatbed dump now I'll probably put a box on soon. If you made your box 16' long. 8'high 8 across. You just need 2sheets in back 4 up top 4 on each side. 14 sheets. Add some tube for framing and a tailgate you could probably spend $2000 in material plus labor.
There's a guy around here with like a 14 ft flatbed and he put one of those car port frames on his with the cheap aluminum bolted on. He's been running for years.
I know the professionally built bodies in the magazines are pretty expensive (to me) building one doesn't seem that complex.

Leon_Foree · Feb 18, 2015

That's 8 foot truck. But same concept. Just start with the flatbed and build up. If you want to start completely from scratch that's probably a different story

Lumberjack · Feb 18, 2015

What chipper do you have?

ROYCE · Feb 18, 2015

Theres a place in Claremont NH that builds really nice bodies for trucks. They did all the chip body and tool boxes for the company I bought. They were nice. I imagine they were expensive as well. The name of the company is Osgood welding. They have a web-site but it is not very good. They don't show any photo's of there work.

There is also this company in Rhode Island. They too do chip bodies. What I like about these companies is that they work in aluminum. If i was going to build a body I would do it out of aluminum. They are www.eastcoastpowdermag.com. They have some good pictures of what they have done in the past.

Check them out. Let us know what you do and take some pictures so we can see

mikemcC · Feb 18, 2015

Contact Jack at Timberland Trucks, he builds an awesome chip body with a really nice removable roof. I had a royal body on my last truck and I think Jack's is built better!

eric gill · Feb 18, 2015

The company I work for make their own chip boxes and do some work for other company's

Treeweasel · Feb 19, 2015

Thanks for all the responses.

Lumberjack, the chipper is a Morbark M20R with a loader. It weighs around 20k with tools and fuel. My current chip truck is a Freightliner FL70 with a 230hp CAT and Allison auto. It has a 29 yard 16' Royal chip body, which has held up unbelievably. When loaded, hills and stopping are the issues.

Royce, thanks for the suggestions. I will contact East Coast tomorrow. I will post pics of what I start with and how it ends up.

MikemcC, I have spoken to Jack in the past and he has been great. I will contact him and see if he can work with the chassis I'm considering.

AxeTree · Feb 19, 2015

I have built some trucks personal and for companies, bucket trucks grapple trucks grapple attachments, what chassis are you going to use

Treeweasel · Feb 20, 2015

I'm considering a GMC cabover 33 gvw plus a 17k pusher axle. 300hp with an Allison auto. I like the idea of the cabover, and will likely put a through box and mat rack behind the cab.

AxeTree · Feb 20, 2015

Very nice, why won't royal built it?

Treeweasel · Feb 20, 2015

I'm working on that now. It seems that their rep who was at TCI and promised the world is actually more of an attenuator truck guy than a forestry truck guy. I have since made contact with someone else there who I am now working with to get this going. Hopefully it will work out. They are still giving a four month lead time. Too long in my opinion, but hopefully we can make it work. I don't need the truck tomorrow, but will need it before July!

Leroy · Feb 20, 2015

Treeweasel said:
I'm considering a GMC cabover 33 gvw plus a 17k pusher axle. 300hp with an Allison auto. I like the idea of the cabover, and will likely put a through box and mat rack behind the cab.

I used this GMC cabover with mat rack and about 20yds chip space, removable top, awesome!

AxeTree · Feb 20, 2015

Four months is crazy I built a grapple truck from start to finish in 6 weeks that's was stretching frame adding tag building grapple head mounting and plumbing loader and hitch plate pto lights and all sounds to me like they don't really want the work

climbhightree · Feb 20, 2015

AxeTree said:
Four months is crazy I built a grapple truck from start to finish in 6 weeks that's was stretching frame adding tag building grapple head mounting and plumbing loader and hitch plate pto lights and all sounds to me like they don't really want the work

Doesn't take them that long, that is just their lead up time. Arbortech was the same way when I got my new body. The actual build time was relatively short, and they installed it for me in 10 hours, once they received the truck.

Treeweasel · Feb 20, 2015

ClimbHigh, you're exactly right. They are so swamped with their attenuator truck orders that its difficult to get a spot in the production line. I suspect they do a run of forestry trucks every now and then, and if thats what you want, you're stuck waiting for that spot. I've been watching Joshua's grapple truck build thread, and it's obvious from his work that it can absolutely be done more quickly.