Tree Truck set-ups. Let's see what you've done.

Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done.

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HA, seeing your truk setup there puts your avatar into perspective..

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Yeah Maarten, I plead guilty to wanting to stand out a little. Also per the avatar...I like things not always being as they appear to be. At first glance one gets the wrong impression of just who is at a disadvantage.... if you know the history of those two (lol)
 
Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done.

My have I come a long way.
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For those who didn't know, I hauled brush for about 4 years.
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It was a lot of work. But, it did work. --Just not as effecient as a chipper...

Since 2002 I've had a total of 4 pick ups. Here is one of my most favorite trucks I've owned. It was a '72 Dodge pick up. This picture shows a full load of Locust. It was heavy for that truck. :smrik:

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Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done.

I "upgraded" to a '99 Dodge extended cab. It was an upgrade for me because I could now haul climbing gear & rigging gear much easier then the other pick ups I had...
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Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done.

So, the back end of a truck wasn't enough for hauling brush. What did I do? Get a chipper? Nope! I got a dump trailer. I added the side walls for extra height. This photo is just before I painted the wood walls black. For those who are curious as to what I did with the brush... I used to burn it all!
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I had a huge pit dug out. I used to burn about 6 loads at once. I hated burning for many reasons... But, you'll never believe how fast that stuff would burn.
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Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done.

That trailer was a "deck above." That is, deck above the wheels. It really increased the load capacity. But, the bed was also much higher off the ground...
 
Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done.

I didn't want to get a chipper and chip truck until I knew I had enough clientele to do so. I bought the 2000 Isuzu FRR cash. It has 19 cubic yard capacity for chips. It is a 18k pound GVW truck. It is a great truck for maneuvering around.

I have made a convertible top. I have (4) 4'x8' ply sheets on top to contain chips. If I want to take off the top to load logs in (with the crane) I can do that... I use the extened cab to stow climbing gear for two climbers, my 088, and a MS460.

My set up isn't the best though. I don't have storage for rakes, shovels, pruners, etc... So, I have to unload that stuff to chip. The orchard ladder stays on top.

And notice how long the dump bed is... I have bent many hitches for forgetting to disconnect the hitch prior to dumping
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The people who put the dump bed on it weren't really thinking right. The height of the dump box needs to be at least 1' higher also. We have chips seldomly flying over the truck. It creates a little more time on each job which we need to clean...
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I put two large tool boxes underneath the chip box for extra storage. This photo does not show that...

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Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done.

So, I got me a 2000 F350 nearly 2 years ago. We use this as a family vehicle as well as a work vehicle. I liked the idea of using one truck for 2 purposes, but now I don't. I don't like changing out car seats.
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The Ford cleans up well...

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Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done.

Here is a photo of a different dump trailer we use for hauling logs with crane assisted tree removals. Here is a photo of both trucks ready to work...

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Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done.

Man, the kind of trucks you guy drive around in. WOW.

I specially like the kind South Sound has. Big hold for chips and loads of storage. I bet engine power is seldom a concern.

As of the weight of what you haul. Are you restricted at all ?
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Here in europe we are quite limited. A normal drivers license allows 3,5t metric tonnes. That is about 7700lbs. A basic truck like and iveco or mercedes ways about 2 tons with the guys and the gear, you are floating by 2,5t. The chipper behind (you need an extra license to haul a tow bigger then 500k's) takes up for the rest, so as soon as you start chipping...
 
Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done.

Hello Marteen. Welcome to Tree Buzz, BTW. At the moment, I've only got a class B commercial drivers license.

Class A -- Any combination of vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds provided the GVWR of the vehicle(s) being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.

Class B -- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing a vehicle not in excess of 10,000 pounds GVWR.
 
Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done

We have a FRR too!

Jamin, i went a lot higher when building the chip canopy. Filling it with an 18" doesnt take long! Also, when converting it from a dropside tipper to woodchip canopy i utilized one side by by boxing it in to make a full length tool box on the street side. Holds pretty much everything but the crews personal bags which stow behind the seats in the cab.


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Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done

Trev's got the sweetest graphics. Is it a film applied to a backing board?

Jamin, you've got a nice evolution, and a sweet sign. Who did it. It inspirations to people just starting out that a pick-up can lead in a number of years and dedication to your nice set-up.



I'm hoping to upgrade my chipper next, well after a new grinder engine. Let's have some SToRmS!! Then, I'll upgrade.
 
Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done

Hi Sean, it is digitally printed on adhesive vinyl and applied to the body work.
They call it a "vehicle wrap"
Check out some of the stuff they do here: Race Paint

I guess i have come some way from selling my motorbike to buy a ute/pick up & my girlfriend/now wife investing $1000 in me to buy a saw & my own climbing gear & borrowing a trailer. 13 years later i think she has had a fair return on that investment.

Hey Jamin i really like how you incorporated the family pic both on the truck & your website the way you did, it gives a feeling of trust. I'd often thought of the concept in the past but didn't quite find the right way to do it, you nailed it.
 
Re: Tree Truck set-ups. Let\'s see what you\'ve done

[ QUOTE ]
Hi Sean, it is digitally printed on adhesive vinyl and applied to the body work.
They call it a "vehicle wrap"
Check out some of the stuff they do here: <a href="www.racepaint.com.au" target="_blank">Race Paint</a>

I guess i have come some way from selling my motorbike to buy a ute/pick up & my girlfriend/now wife investing $1000 in me to buy a saw & my own climbing gear & borrowing a trailer. 13 years later i think she has had a fair return on that investment.

Hey Jamin i really like how you incorporated the family pic both on the truck & your website the way you did, it gives a feeling of trust. I'd often thought of the concept in the past but didn't quite find the right way to do it, you nailed it.

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Glad she got a good return.

What is the subsurface that the vehicle wrap can go on? Metal only? wood?

I remember my lived-in-with-her girlfriend (moved states to be with her), now wife, being mad when I was broke (moved up without a job) when I bought my pole spikes for $25 bucks plus shipping, $41 total package, after just buying a next to new 361 for $400 plus shipping. I think the is seeing the return will come, more and more over time, especially storms willing.

I just found an old picture (put it on my desk of as a reminder) of the pick-up with wood box on the bed, hand painted sign, and unintentionally 3 color chipper (I guess there was some white, too, so make that 4 color chipper).
I feel like I've hit critical mass as a business.

The wives probably had no idea what they were in for, eh?
For me, late nights of reading the buzz, early morning of reading the buzz, chasing jobs, seasonal ups and downs. My wife thought that when I figured on starting my own business upon moving states, that I'd be up and running in 2-3 months. SURPRISE! But in 3 years, I've learned tons, gotten a legit business up and running from ZERO, bought a house/ property 1.75 acres, got married, have a p/u truck, chipper, two trailers, dump truck, 5 saws/ rigging/ etc, oh yeah, some debt from it, and good client base that is ever expanding.

Hard work and dedication, and not being the dullest saw in the shed, pays off over Time.

My chip truck's bed has indentations, so the vehicle wrap probably wouldn't work. In the future, with other vehicles, I'll look into it.

I agree with you that Jamin displays himself well, as a family man that people can relate to, and know that they are supporting a business that is supporting a family.
 
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