Rear mount or forestry package.

Crazy_Jimmy

Crazy_Jimmy

Participating member
Location
Texas
I know there was a thread about this awhile back but im just looking for more perspectives.I wanna buy a bucket truck and whats the most practical for what we do ?
 
Rear mount.

It all depends on the market and company structure. If you have enough guys on the crew to drive the other chip vehicle, etc. I'm sure there are operations out there that would rather have a rear mount than a forestry, but logistical issues require that they consolidate drivers/vehicles and end up needing a forestry.

A rear mount makes sense if the man power is there. You can keep working if the chip truck needs to be unloaded. You'll most likely access more with a rear mount, and have a bit less ground pressure. A bit more visibility when backing up without the dump body there in the mirror. Set up may even be easier depending on the site, making for more efficient processing of material. Plenty of room for plywood/mats, etc...

We pretty much need 4x4 capabilities where we dump chips, and the forestry truck will easily get stuck on a bad day. The chip trucks are 4x4 so it's all good.
 
Rear mount is much better for reach and access, but it necessitates the need for a 3rd truck or a dump trailer on jobs where the wood is too big to chip. Gotta do something with the wood. Dumping mixed loads doesn't usually work for us.

Tom
 
I've had the pleasure to work with both recently. Ocean's post sums it up, well also consider you can get a 55 or 65 foot rear mount on an under cdl truck. The same boom on forestry package puts you into a cdl rig.
 
Rear mounts are more maneuverable, better reach and height vs the same boom on a forestry truck. No worries about smashing hoods, doors, racks, etc. forestry trucks for roadsides or conjested areas where storage is a problem and you can only have one truck. To be honest i miss the days of a truck and chipper rollong out in the morning. But ya gotta pay to play.
 
My next bucket will be a rear mount with elevator...currently running a forestry body that only is used to haul 18 sheets of 4x8 plywood. Second forestry style. Running it as a bucket/chip truck stopped like 18 years ago. Once you make the jump to a dedicated chip truck you won't loom back. Have a 17 yard chip truck for that...half the time still not big enough. We worked on production. Its usually with the 26 ton national. During winter months...trimming. short wheelbase rearmount with floatation fronts will be the next one...like/not sold on "spider lifts". My opinion.
 
I know many guys use the forestry units, (I never did) they just dont seem practical to me. If you want to be close your cab is close to your DZ, and your chipper is beyond the tree making for a miserable day to be a ground guy. Lifting the boom to dump, dont know exactly how all that works but just doesnt seem efficiant.
I could see some practicality in it as a secondary, "I need a couple more yards" type chip truck where a designated chip truck runs out with the chipper. But even then I couldnt get over putting all that money so close to large falling wood and such. But these are just the thoughts of a guy that never used one. I would buy rear mount all the way (if I had the guys to drive it).
 
the company i work for has a rear mount and a "forestry unit". im on a two man crew and the forestry unit and rarely get to use the rear mount, but when i do it is better. ive found everything everyone's said about working / chipping position to be true too.
rear mount and chip truck is the way to go my opinion
 
We run both as well. Like I said, be sure you have a solution for handling wood that can't be chipped. I haven't heard any other mention of it in this thread, and if you don't have that part of the equation figured out, you should do it before pulling the trigger. I purchased a badass dump trailer right here on TB just after getting my rear mount, and so far it has worked out pretty well.

Tom

PS - Our chip truck has a log loading boom on it, which has made loading the trailer easier.
 
I have a dump trailor,mini and a decent size chip truck.Im thinking a rear mount and after thats paid off maybe a grapple,but that might be a few years down the road- Will see.But one thing for sure rear mounts are alot harder to find.I been calling ads on the july tree trader and almost every one is sold already.
 
Round booms are nicer when you are in branches. The altec elevator is rock solid, and the bigger engine makes it a no brainer. Truck can pull spider, chipper, john deere trailer etc. Rear mount is definitely an asset to a high production crew.
 
Jimmy, with your setup you should definitely go with a rear mount. I got mine through Rich Mitchell at Altec. It was rented by Burford's in Alabama since 2008. Check with Altec/Global rental, there may be more coming available.

-Tom
 
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