Mesh/Tarp Roof for chip truck

[oceans]

…I don't think having a few feet of plywood should make loading wood any more difficult.

I believe you’ll find this statement to be true. The only implement I would imagine might pose an issue is a wide brush style grapple you might see on a skid steer or tractor.

I had what you describe on my old chip truck and often loaded with my mini excavator or the spider crane using slings or log tines. It’s especially nice of the material is the same length as the body and it’s grabbed near midpoint. This all would obviously hold true if you’re cutting material into rounds and loading by hand.

 

[evo]

Do you have any overspray issues?

I'm thinking of selling my chip truck for a dump trailer. Not very useful to me in my market anymore.

Are you asking me? The set up I did a mesh tarp roof with was a dump insert on my f250 5x8x4.5(tall)
The biggest issue was chips blowing back out on the rebound and dust clogging the radiator in the summer. The mesh tarp helped with the rebound and cut the dust blow back (but the dust just went through the mesh and over the cab). This was the motivation for buying a leaf blower. But I’m considering doing it again! Now that I have two chippers I can split off and so some small stuff independently from the crew.
However I’m also considering a dump trailer, for blowing chips into. Currently my mini hauler is a 12’ flat deck equipment trailer, and I want to use the mini to push the chipper and trailer into a yard to chip into.
I’ve used the flat bed as a log hauler and brush hauler powered with the mini. So the next thought is use the dump insert on the flatbed instead of the pickup. It’s not out of the realm of possibility I can plumb flat face connection onto the dump hydraulics.
The dump insert are rams not cylinders, electric over hydraulic, held in to the bed with 4 bolts, it’s light enough the mini could take it in and out of the bed if the truck and slap it onto the trailer. I’d have to fab pins and a plug for the electrical if I wanted that versatility. As is right now I bet I could swap it in about an hour.

 

[oceans]

Are you asking me? The set up I did a mesh tarp roof with was a dump insert on my f250 5x8x4.5(tall)
The biggest issue was chips blowing back out on the rebound and dust clogging the radiator in the summer. The mesh tarp helped with the rebound and cut the dust blow back (but the dust just went through the mesh and over the cab). This was the motivation for buying a leaf blower. But I’m considering doing it again! Now that I have two chippers I can split off and so some small stuff independently from the crew.
However I’m also considering a dump trailer, for blowing chips into. Currently my mini hauler is a 12’ flat deck equipment trailer, and I want to use the mini to push the chipper and trailer into a yard to chip into.
I’ve used the flat bed as a log hauler and brush hauler powered with the mini. So the next thought is use the dump insert on the flatbed instead of the pickup. It’s not out of the realm of possibility I can plumb flat face connection onto the dump hydraulics.
The dump insert are rams not cylinders, electric over hydraulic, held in to the bed with 4 bolts, it’s light enough the mini could take it in and out of the bed if the truck and slap it onto the trailer. I’d have to fab pins and a plug for the electrical if I wanted that versatility. As is right now I bet I could swap it in about an hour.

You could just make a chipper/dump trailer like the one that I had. Sold it to my bro, then he sold it to one of my subs. I still see it most days.

 

[evo]

You could just make a chipper/dump trailer like the one that I had. Sold it to my bro, then he sold it to one of my subs. I still see it most days.

I loved that idea! Too much weight and too specific for my needs. I need versatility with my equipment.
I only use the mini for about 20-30% of my jobs and nearly half that time it’s just to place the chipper. I’ve recently learned that if chips/logs have to go and the site allows for it it’s more efficient to use the mini to load the 7x12 trailer and then move the trailer just a few times than making 12+ trips. Blowing chips into the trailer would be a rare occurrence, but a great option.
Scale is important, less than half are residential size lots many are 3-5 acres, and a solid handful are 5-40 acres.
This weeks big project was a 1.5 acre lot, 5 leyland removals in the back. The equivalent of 3-4 loads (30-40 yards) of chips (could have chipped more wood). Trying to be cost effective for the client who is on a fixed income we moved the wood to the driveway entrance but blew piles of chips in the back yard. With a dump trailered chip box we could have at least moved the chips to the drive as well for gleaners.

 

[Jonny]

Do I recall you saying you had a Promark/ Gravely, Evo?

 

[evo]

Do I recall you saying you had a Promark/ Gravely, Evo?

yes a 944, 44ph yanmar 9" no frills.. compared to a brand name 6" its bomber. and still super light at 2500lbs.. There are some things that are lacking, but it makes a super fine high quality chip
and I just bought a 12xpc bandit at twice the weight and hp, also no frills as the add on options are limited but the basic autofeed, cleanout ports (just clogged it for the first time), hydro crush/lift. It's twice the HP and a gasser, but also very happy. Haven't used the gravely since october, but still cant pry it out of my hands. The mini will move the gravely ANYWHERE I dare, the bandit 12xpc not so much as its 5K in weight but a flatish, dryish lawn or site no issue, gravel drive up hill maybe.. off road in the woods, I wouldnt even try it..

 

[oceans]

Sounds like we do similar property types on occasion out here. Lots of large acreage sites and often the motivation to recycle materials back into the site. That’s honestly my favorite style. I use a mini excavator in my setup, but sounds like the goals are similar.

 

[southsoundtree]

Similar here.

 

[Fivepoints]

Sounds like we do similar property types on occasion out here. Lots of large acreage sites and often the motivation to recycle materials back into the site. That’s honestly my favorite style. I use a mini excavator in my setup, but sounds like the goals are similar.

What mini ex are you using?

We also use a mini ex as well in addition to our mini skids. We have a Yanmar vio35. Its an 8000 lb machine. We have a stump grinder I built setup on it, a hanging farma brand grapple with power rotate, a stump planer, atom splitter, and a 6 ft broom. Ours has a hydraulic quick coupler so changing attachments is quick and easy.