Need some help

[Serf Life]

Just looked at a job that is a level up from where I’m at and could use some experienced opinions. It is two house lots on an island and cleaning up a spruce blow down area (2 acres?).

There will be a barge bringing in excavation equipment etc so there is no issue getting gear there. Terrain is a modest slope to a rocky/hummocky area which will be developed. Currently doesn’t look like a truck will be possible to tow a chipper around but that may change. Timeframe is this fall to winter after they close on the property and finalize house plans etc.

So, what would you folks choose to bring? Chipping most or all with max dia around 20”. Some of the blowdown heads down a slope which equipment wouldn’t be able to get to safely (decent winch needed).

I want to capitalize on this opportunity but it may be the wrong time finance wise, long-term rental is an option, need my chipper on mainland for ongoing work...

 

[Sfoppema]

What chipper do you have and how much does it weigh? Seems like if you had an 18" chipper with winch along with your mini skid, some block and tackle etc and some saws you could get it done slow and steady..... Max diameter 20" is pretty easy to work with especially if you have the mini. Where there is a will there is a way...

Sounds like a cool job. If you needed to get it done quick and the terrain is treacherous you could maybe hire a guy with a cable skidder or something... set up a landing and have the skidder pull everything to you. Maybe even a big grapple chipper as well, hired by the day. Could make quick work of it. Seems like a strange job so make sure you don't give it away either way. Most people would probably just stay away from a job like that

 

[Luzl78]

Rent a bandit with the tracks and chip on site and spread out the chips. You can rent from A&a enterprises in pa

 

[Reach]

What equipment do you currently own, or have reasonably easily available? That will make a difference in my recommendations.

 

[Serf Life]

Like the idea of renting a tracked chipper and was my first thought, this is very early on so no budget/quote for at least three weeks. Not planning on hauling my chipper out there if this goes through, mini skid would though

 

[Serf Life]

What equipment do you currently own, or have reasonably easily available? That will make a difference in my recommendations.

So the mini could go out. I’m interested in what folks would choose to bring, and why. Pros and cons, cost, relative production....
Dozer hauling chipper fed by small ex.
Tractor/skidder twitching to chipper.
Tracked chipper. Etc etc

 

[Reach]

If the debris can be chipped and left wherever onsite, I would use a tracked chipper. If it has to go, I would take either a big chipper, or if the majority is down already and especially if the stumps have to go as well, I would pile it and then contract one of the local mulch companies to grind it all.

As for moving the material around, for a project that size with a slope, I would want either an excavator with a blade, or a trackloader with a brush grapple. Feed the chipper with an excavator with a rotating grapple or use a grapple chipper if you have to do the chipping yourself.

This will be a challenging project to bid if you’ve never done something of this scope before, and may be hard to complete too if you don’t have a lot of experience running heavy equipment, especially since it sounds like it’s rocky and has a good slope.

 

[Serf Life]

Awesome answer thanks. Chips can stay, leaning towards renting a tracked from Ricks if feasible or financing a used 12” tracked and feeding with rented ex. May just sub/give job to a local outfit with tracked chippers too.

An older guy has an old cable skidder, Morbark 13 and does a surprisingly quick job of clearing and thinning woods.

Towing a 15-18” chipper up that slope with a 40hp class tractor with skidding winch is doubtful.

 

[Reach]

If the chips can stay wherever they fall, I would definitely look at a big tracked chipper with a winch and if possible, a grapple as well. A 12” chipper is just rather slow to do something of that scale, in my opinion. I would expect a couple weeks of straight chipping to clear two acres, and that leaves you with a lot of logs to contend with afterwards.

A 40 hp tractor is a little light to move a 12” or larger chipper up any real hill I think. A tracked chipper should do better by itself though, especially if it’s a big one. An excavator can also pull a lot of weight, as long as you’re pulling with the boom and not the tracks.