So as I ponder chippers you guys and gals get to answer all my annoying questions

Buy the biggest you can afford. You think 6" is fine, until you have see how much time a larger machine saves. It's gets tiresome having to cut up stuff into bite size pieces just so I can chip it. I have a 10" and it's a good solid machine. If I were to do it again I would go 12" with a winch. I paid 15k 3 years ago. Morbark 2070xl 87hp cat diesel. Only had 150 hours. Autofeed is also a huge plus, even though mine doesn't have the reverse upgrade.I plan on keeping it for a spare. If I can't chip, it's not really worth going out IMO.
 
@monkeylove Not to throw a wrench into your spokes here, but I think you should sell your truck and buy a small grapple truck for the following reasons:
  1. Your truck is an f350. With chips in the bed you're already overweight. Add a larger chipper and you are breaking stuff/getting tickets.
  2. You seem to have a free place to dump already.
  3. You don't own a mini or have any way to load heavy material.
  4. One less engine/piece of equipment to maintain.
A small grapple truck will allow you to do any size job. Dolly heavy wood to the truck and load it up with everything else. You can buy a decent grapple truck for $30-40k used. Here is an example:
http://www.itetrucks.com/inventory/detail/427/2000-GMC-T8500

Just my thought but I think you would open yourself up to making way more money with a grapple than a small dump truck and small chipper.
 
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@AmericanArborist thanks for the input. I thought about that last year but it doesn't fit my business plan at the moment. My customers all find me by word of mouth, and one of the reasons they come is I show up small and work quietly. I choose to accept customers that only fit my working model. If I was going to go big I would go with a setup like Rick Yoos. That knuckle saw combo is sweet. Thanks again for the input though.
 
Anything I saw also requires a cdl license. Not going that route yet either, this is a small side business that allows me to meet cool people and make some fun money.
 
@monkeylove
I wouldn't be afraid of a CDL. Its just you so why not?... The cost is the same as your pickup truck and chipper.
A $30K grapple truck is a drop in the bucket compared to Rick's Yoo's Crane. Its also quieter than a chipper... by a lot.
What is your business model? That would help us guide you better.
 
AmericanArborist said:
@monkeylove
I wouldn't be afraid of a CDL. Its just you so why not?... The cost is the same as your pickup truck and chipper.
A $30K grapple truck is a drop in the bucket compared to Rick's Yoo's Crane. Its also quieter than a chipper... by a lot.
What is your business model? That would help us guide you better.
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I know Frank's position right now... I was there not so very long ago. In our area grapple trucks are not as effective as they may be in other areas of our great country. With the high end properties we work on, people don't want huge equipment busting up their yards (we have enough giants around us that would rather fix lawns and pavement than do it right). Many of the yards we work in are tight at best, where a 550 and chipper sit on the street or we have to matt to even get in. This makes a mini much more valuable than a grapple truck, if your brush can not get close to your disposal method.
We work off word of mouth, do a good job make a client happy and they tell their friends. We aren't looking to take over the world, and like he said its "fun money" (little more than that to me). Our goal is to provide a high quality service and have fun doing it and he'll get paid too.
As for the CDL crap, Frank currently falls below the USDOT regulation (as long as he stays in PA) which is awesome. I stepped up into that regulation last year and it has been a huge headache.​
 
With your situation op stated I'd start with a bandit 90xp or 150xp due to your work load and chip truck you can't go wrong with either and both have a good resale value when you decided to up grade. I recently traded in my 1996 90xp most reliable chipper I've ever owned and paid its self off many of times over. Then you can get a dump trailer for wood then a mini to follow.
 
96coal449 said:
I love the 4bt part of it. My heart's not into Vermeer .... It's like trying to find quality at Walmart. And I hate vertical feed rollers.
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Lol I was the unfortunate owner of a 2005 Vermeer bc1400xl took me to the bank and back several times I had my own office at the Vermeer dealer to boot. Could of had a hit reality show on that subject. Went to bandit and they laughed when I asked for a trade in value. They qouted what's scrap going for. But she's long gone so good luck Frank on chipper keep us posted on it.
 
Thanks. I think it will work out well. The guy I got it from spent a good hour just going over the machine with me, everything from pm to how to add options later if I want them. He did full time tree work for 30 years and then switched to part time when he opened his equipment shop up. He works on all tree equipment and is swamped with work. Now by part time guy I mean he still has a 250xp, a 10T crane, a bucket truck, and a few other goodies. Oh and a horse farm of course, lol.
 
monkeylove said:
Thanks. I think it will work out well. The guy I got it from spent a good hour just going over the machine with me, everything from pm to how to add options later if I want them. He did full time tree work for 30 years and then switched to part time when he opened his equipment shop up. He works on all tree equipment and is swamped with work. Now by part time guy I mean he still has a 250xp, a 10T crane, a bucket truck, and a few other goodies. Oh and a horse farm of course, lol.
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Ya know where he was dumpin' his chips .... I was only turned down once dumping at a horse farm, and that was only because they were holding a family wedding at the time. Farms are awesome! Saved me time from dump travels more than I care to count.
 
monkeylove said:
The search is done. I went with a 1993 Bandit 200. It has a second hand gas motor (Hercules 1991). Runs and chips, needs a little tlc. $3900, Mert you know the one. I'll post some pics tomorrow when the sun is back out.

Huge thanks to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Those are good well built chippers. The power plant is not ideal but hey when the price is right. With where you are now I think you made a good choice with going with that vs a high dollar unit. Good Luck!
 
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