Euro tracked chippers.

[cody willard]

I am moving to N.Idaho/CDA And I’m considering adding a small 8” tracked chipper to the fleet in a year or two. Debating between the TW 280VGTR or a Jensen Spider A550XL with winches.

I would have a Timberwolf/Morbark dealer local, but the UK forums seem to point to Jensen being supreme.

I feel like it would these incredible on some of the lakeside and hilly terrain as far as getting rid of brush, and serve as a low production back up chipper if our 15XP went down. We could track it into people’s yard and just leave mulch there!

Most of the trees are pine, fur, spruce, which is really soft wood, especially compared to here in Oklahoma where it’s primarily oak and hickory. Even these hundred foot conifers trees have pretty small diameter lower branches.

Besides an opinion, between those two chippers, does anyone know how many hours you can get out of one? Obviously it depends on maintenance and how hard you push it, but assume it’s pushed to 80% of it’s limits daily with perfect maintenance.

 

[Mick Dempsey!]

Interesting thread.

Jensen are German made and are normally regarded as a high quality brand.
TW are British made but were recently (2 years ago) bought by the US company that owns Mobark and Rayco.

Checking the specs, if you’re going petrol, you have a lot more power with the TW.

As for the hours, I reckon 2000+ before major rebuilds are needed. Others may differ.

I am a TW devotee, so I’m only voting one way.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

 

[flushcut]

How about using a hitch plate on a mini skid with your currant chipper. I’ve pulled my bc1500 in and out of the woods many times. Just an option.

 

[cody willard]

How about using a hitch plate on a mini skid with your currant chipper. I’ve pulled my bc1500 in and out of the woods many times. Just an option.

Looking for something light weight to be easy on the landscspe, and be able to fairy/workboat it to various locations on the nearby lakes easily. My 15XP weighs 8800

 

[cody willard]

Give you guys an idea of their purpose. To my knowledge, Forst is the most capable and high performing brand, but some folks are saying they rattle apart, and chip too aggressively causing premature wear.

 

[Mick Dempsey]

Yes, I’d never get another Först.
Very capable, but reliability is suspect.

 

[cody willard]

Yes, I’d never get another Först.
Very capable, but reliability is suspect.

Thank you for confirming.

 

[Serf Life]

Carlton makes a tracked 6”, bandit makes a 12” tracked. The former was ~$40k last time I got a quote.

 

[SeanRuel]

Also salsco made a 6 inch diesel track chipper

 

[Mick Dempsey!]

I guarantee you small European chippers will knock the American offerings into a cocked hat.
If the tariff thing doesn’t stop it, in 5/10 years they will change the market over there.

 

[cody willard]

The closest thing we have is a Bandit 90XP and it is starting at $105,000 bald eagle bucks. I’m curious though how long the European chippers last, it’s not uncommon to see some here. There are 20 to 25 years old still in daily use.

The 90 XP is built incredibly well, but it’s extremely heavy enlarged dimensionally because of it. (I actually ran one from 1995 and, it’s still used weekly at the company).

I’m just curious how long some of the chipper’s across upon last. It’s not uncommon to see tree service is using 20 to 25 year-old machines daily here, they’re all extremely heavy and overbuilt.

I guarantee you small European chippers will knock the American offerings into a cocked hat.
If the tariff thing doesn’t stop it, in 5/10 years they will change the market over there.

 

[Mick Dempsey!]

65XP - TOWABLE - Bandit Industries, Inc. | Bandit Equipment

banditchippers.com

If they tried to sell these in the UK they’d be lucky to sell one.
Single roller, overweight, ugly as sin, too big.

The big chippers (Bandit, Vermeer etc) are peerless in the euro market, sought after and rated very highly.

 

[cody willard]

65XP - TOWABLE - Bandit Industries, Inc. | Bandit Equipment

banditchippers.com

If they tried to sell these in the UK they’d be lucky to sell one.
Single roller, overweight, ugly as sin, too big.

The big chippers (Bandit, Vermeer etc) are peerless in the euro market, sought after and rated very highly.

Americans really suck at small and to our detriment ha ha!

 

[evo]

I’ve seen 75xp tracked units. Are they no longer making them?
I seriously can’t see it being difficult for the right shop to slap on some mini x tracks from a salvage yard.

 

[flushcut]

I’ve seen 75xp tracked units. Are they no longer making them?
I seriously can’t see it being difficult for the right shop to slap on some mini x tracks from a salvage yard.

Probably not difficult but expensive plumbing it all together and the fab work needed to make it all work.
Then how do you drive it. Remote? Or a ride on?

 

[evo]

Probably not difficult but expensive plumbing it all together and the fab work needed to make it all work.
Then how do you drive it. Remote? Or a ride on?

I’d ride on or walk behind.. remote would be killer but likely $$$

 

[flushcut]

Maybe one of those little wheel dolly things some commercial lawn mowers come with.

 

[Alec A.]

Eliet Super Prof XC

5" shredder, not a chipper.
~$30,000 new now, I bought mine 2 years ago.
34.5" wide, 1100lbs.
Definitely a change from the 12" morbark I had before, but I much prefer this machine as an owner operator.

 

[Flying~Squirrel]

Eliet Super Prof XC

5" shredder, not a chipper.
~$30,000 new now, I bought mine 2 years ago.
34.5" wide, 1100lbs.
Definitely a change from the 12" morbark I had before, but I much prefer this machine as an owner operator.
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What's the weight of your trailer set up like that?