New Business Hauling Setup/ Chip v. Chipless

[Jehinten]

@evo an F-350 with a 12' bed allows for an 8' chipbox and a 4' platform for the mini skid. I have used this setup towing a 12" chipper with no problems. The F-450 & F-550 will definitely give you more towing capacity, but it sounds like most of the time your chip box will be empty going down the road.

I think all three models would serve your needs, depending on availability. Assuming you wanted to go with a chipbox instead of the dump trailer.

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk

 

[oceans]

@evo an F-350 with a 12' bed allows for an 8' chipbox and a 4' platform for the mini skid. I have used this setup towing a 12" chipper with no problems. The F-450 & F-550 will definitely give you more towing capacity, but it sounds like most of the time your chip box will be empty going down the road.

I think all three models would serve your needs, depending on availability. Assuming you wanted to go with a chipbox instead of the dump trailer.

Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk

I think a F550 is most appropriate to handle a mini, tools, fluids, a driver and a co-worker, full load of chips and still have enough payload left for the tongue weight of the chipper.

 

[oceans]

A tracked chipper might just be the ticket. I’d really like to stay with a smaller truck

There are a few brands from Europe that offer smaller track chippers, maybe within the 6” to 9” range. I’m sure I’ve seen a few designs online.

 

[Boomslang]

These guys are north of the border, but at least they're on the right side of the continent.

https://www.westcoastwoodchippers.ca

 

[oceans]

These guys are north of the border, but at least they're on the right side of the continent.

https://www.westcoastwoodchippers.ca

XR8 looks toight! Right up tou alley, @evo

 

[Barc Buster]

A 550 might work good, or their little brother a 450.
The point of the trailer is to consolidate the chips to dump on-site. This wouldn’t be a replacement for my chip truck just a second.
Many property’s we work are larger and the work area is distant from the dump site on the same property.

Jessie I’m planning on transporting my Eliet chipper on a trailer along with dingo behind a one ton with dump insert. Seems like it would do what you’re describing:

 

[AdkEric]

These guys are north of the border, but at least they're on the right side of the continent.

https://www.westcoastwoodchippers.ca

Wow. If there was a dealer in the northeast I'd be all over a TR8.

 

[Mowerr]

Jessie I’m planning on transporting my Eliet chipper on a trailer along with dingo behind a one ton with dump insert. Seems like it would do what you’re describing:

Is the guy in the protos rocking fjallraven pants?

 

[Mowerr]

I'm in newyork and my boss is chipless with the biggest grapple truck that can legally go down the road here.
I love it but wish we still had a little chipper for many situations.
He happens to have land he can dump brush on but after some years he's now looking for somebody to come in with a tub grinder and excavator to grind up all the brush and logs that have built up.
It's great to not chip and it helps us a lot bc I'm his only fulltime employee.
But there's just so many jobs and situations we get into that a chipper would have made life so much easier

 

[Barc Buster]

Is the guy in the protos rocking fjallraven pants?

No idea. That’s Jeremiah from Tree First. Hit him up I’m sure he’d tell you what pants he was wearing.

 

[Serf Life]

I think a F550 is most appropriate to handle a mini, tools, fluids, a driver and a co-worker, full load of chips and still have enough payload left for the tongue weight of the chipper.

For sure. I’ve been eyeing the new f600 which is same body style but beefed up and more payload. Haven’t been in production long but on paper look like the ticket.

 

[Reach]

For sure. I’ve been eyeing the new f600 which is same body style but beefed up and more payload. Haven’t been in production long but on paper look like the ticket.

Our propane supplier has one (the owner is a friend of mine), as their new tank install truck. They really like it so far; that’s the closest I’ve had to a personal experience with it. If it didn’t say Ford on the front we would probably buy one, we’ve just grown tired of fixing Fords all the time.

 

[Treetopflyer]

I run some ISUZU n series and f series chip/log trucks for over ten years now and they're bad ass . Stout , tight , and just general maintence seem the norm for them, easy to work on when time comes. They're rough riders over the front axle but I'll take it for overall capabilities.

 

[Serf Life]

Cab overs are sweet for this gig.

 

[Serf Life]

@Reach What trucks/make are you leaning towards?

 

[oceans]

For sure. I’ve been eyeing the new f600 which is same body style but beefed up and more payload. Haven’t been in production long but on paper look like the ticket.

Ask @Helmstein about the F600. They’re rockin one with a dope setup.

 

[VenasNursery]

We used to run all International with 466 and got tired of maintaining and winters in Michigan was terrible if the batteries weren’t 100% we were jump starting

So we switched over to Ford trucks but also went to gas engines
The v10 and the new 7.3 gas have been next to flawless since 2015 and 80k miles and I haven’t had to plug in at night , no jump starting , and only been in the shop once for a thermostat and I don’t have to tell you how much in fuel prices I’ve saved for having a gas vs diesel not to mention a “pickup diesel” option is 12k more

We run 5 Fords and wouldn’t change nothing!
Don’t get me wrong our 90” spade is a International with a diesel but it’s a must for a 56k gvw truck

 

[oceans]

We used to run all International with 466 and got tired of maintaining and winters in Michigan was terrible if the batteries weren’t 100% we were jump starting

So we switched over to Ford trucks but also went to gas engines
The v10 and the new 7.3 gas have been next to flawless since 2015 and 80k miles and I haven’t had to plug in at night , no jump starting , and only been in the shop once for a thermostat and I don’t have to tell you how much in fuel prices I’ve saved for having a gas vs diesel not to mention a “pickup diesel” option is 12k more

We run 5 Fords and wouldn’t change nothing!
Don’t get me wrong our 90” spade is a International with a diesel but it’s a must for a 56k gvw truck

No doubt diesels can be finicky. I remember when the coolant heater set to a timer was installed on the tub grinder I used to operate. Saved me a ton of grief. A lot of forestry equipment uses these because you’re out in the middle of nowhere and your pickup truck just isn’t gonna get that 1000hp V12 CAT 3412 turning! Can’t imagine a gas job as an alternative there, but I can totally see why you would want one in the light duty trucks where you are.

 

[Reach]

@Reach What trucks/make are you leaning towards?

We bought a new Ram 5500 in 2020, and have been really happy with it thus far, so we plan to keep buying Ram for trucks in that size range.

As for larger trucks, we haven’t bought one in a while so we are still debating, but probably Peterbilt due to their reputation and local dealer support.

 

[Vicente]

@VenasNursery just curious on your fuel savings did you add in the fuel efficiency of diesel compared to gas into the mix? Our diesel is roughly 20% more $ per gallon but generally speaking you get at least that much more mpg compared to a similar gas. My 2500 01 dodge has something going on not getting great mileage about 15mpg towing my chipper 50% of the time, but even with that it's still about the same price as me driving a big gasser, if my truck was running 100% I'd be looking at 18 to 20 mpg and up if they're mostly highway miles.