dump bed & chipper

Tom, the trailer is 7" c channel frame and 8" c for the goose neck it is heavy but I would rather over build any day! Chipper is heavy to I believe it was right around 5350lb if memory serves me right
 
No dump insert.
I used to use 4x8x1/4" poly sheet(slippery stuff) to line the bed and used the LoadHandler.
I now have installed on the same truck a Landscape body with fold down sides(love this feature) and made use of the ali sides from my old Dakota chip box.
Cheers
I'll get ya pic.
 
I have a dump insert on a F350 pick-up and run a Bandit 65AW. Not for everyone but with regard to the focus of the original post, it can serve the right person well. My focus is trimming and shaping preservation of trees and I never have to shy away from big take downs either.

You may want to go with heaviest carrying capacity on pick-up as possible as I often max mine out with chips or wood. Insert was the highest quality slide in I could find so it could dump 5,000 lb. loads without problems. Also high angle of dump for easy release of load. If you end up going this route and want to keep the top of truck open for flexibility, I could get you info. on how to set up a tarp for chip box that allows you to carry chips mounded two feet or more above box and loaded full forward.

My 65AW with Wisconsin 37 hp. engine has good power for consistently running brush 3.5 inches and smaller as well as occasional pieces up to 6 in.. It also has the added benefit of being man pushable. At 1850 lb. and with a caster wheel on the bottom of the tongue jack I have muscled it around in ways that have saved me a lot of hours of dragging brush to the chipper. The caster was an idea I robbed from another’Buzzer’ who runs a 65 Bandit, and goes by Tree_Machine.
 
That's what I'm talking about Jim! Simple & effective. Not for massive production, but good for those of us carving out our little niche and maintaining. Thanks for the pics!
 
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I dont own my own business though but, 5 yards of capacity and 6" max chip diameter sounds like you would be setting yourself up for failure as far as making a decent hourly rate.

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Your first 6 words says it all. I have Zero problems making a decent hrly rate with my little chip box and chipper. In fact I feel bad some days when I hear how little many buzzers charge. $70/hr doesnt even get me out the door.

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I dont know how you could hit $70+/man hour like that. I think a used truck and used chipper both with higher capacity makes more sense.

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You go out find the work and you do it. You have to actually think about what you are doing, but that shouldnt be a problem for anyone in this industry.

Macrocarpa, to answer you question; I have a F350, with EZ dumper ($2700 installed), and a Morbark 2070XL chipper. It is extremely profitable for me on removals (crane or not) and on pruning. Picture wont go. Ill work on that.
 
I have a six inch chipper and f250 with ex dump. I sub out a lot of material removal. Put the tree on the ground, chip up the little stuff and pay someone else to deal with the rest.
 
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I have a six inch chipper and f250 with ex dump. I sub out a lot of material removal. Put the tree on the ground, chip up the little stuff and pay someone else to deal with the rest.

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Sounds like the best plan ever !!
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I would think subbing out material removal would be a lot more expensive than having the equipment and labor to do it yourself? I guess it depends on how often you get those jobs, but with a loader and a decent sized chipper/truck you can get jobs done very quick.

FWIW, I started the first year of business with a 6" chipper and a F250. After a year of that, I stepped up to a 15" chipper and F550. The profit margin is much greater with our newer setup; we've also recently added a mini and a dump trailer which has increased profits on removals tremendously. I wouldn't mind having a second setup like before but as your primary setup I've been there and wouldn't want to go back.

jp
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I don't plan to take on a lot of removals, targeting pruning as I have done for the past 9 years. Got along pretty good, considering I think I've operated in one of the toughest pruning markets possible. (I have to talk the customer out of topping 1st in most cases)

Treebing- I like that idea though! Someone with a grapple that can profit from a flat clean up rate would be ideal. I've done that at my current location. I send a LOT of removals to a company that has a grapple, and they charge me $125-175/load when I need it.
 
Re: dump bed & chipper

Yes if takes the right relationship. The guy I use has a swinger and a big truck. And he gives me wholesale prices cause he works with us so much. It's more expensive than if I owned the tools. But I would have to pay for it one way or another. I always fight becoming an equipment operator. It's a great setup for pruning jobs as well.
 
Re: dump bed & chipper

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I always fight becoming an equipment operator.

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Me, too, up to a degree. Kevin, how do you forward your material to where the grapple truck can access?

I figure for me, in my market, I'll let someone else own, maintain, assume risk during transport, and I'll pay them, as needed.

I'd rather stay a arborist and let others be material handlers and machine operators.
 
Re: dump bed & chipper

I don't use a grapple truck. A guy with a swinger and a large truck. If I were to upgrade equipment, I would go that route rather than a larger chipper. I do have a log arch that I can move big material around with as well.
 
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