vermeer 1800xl vs. brush bandit 1590 xp

[kct]

I want to upgrade to a bigger chipper. I've used a Vermeer 1250 since 1991 and am happy with it. I'm considering the Vermeer 1800xl w/115 hp John Deere diesel and winch vs. the Brush Bandit 1590xp w/140 hp diesel and winch. Both are drums and have auto feed. I know several people with the Bandit and they like it. The Vermeer seems easier to maintain, better protected for the weather and a smarter design. Vermeer claims their chipper will perform better with the lower horsepower engine. The Bandit has the hydraulic lift cylinder which is nice for extra pull pressure for the long big stuff but it seems to cancel the auto feed benefit- someone has to man it for the big logs. The Vermeer took the big stuff with no supervision-- push and pick up the next piece. Will the Vermeer pull the big, long stuff without the extra pressure you can apply with the Bandit? Do the vertical rollers pull better/worse/same than the horizontal rollers? Appreciate any input --anxious to upgrade.

 

[Paul Biester]

I have an 1800 a with the winch . It has been a really good machine .If you work the wich and the feed rollers once a piece gets going it will pull some huge stuff. That is with the small engine. The Xl has some nice little upgrades with extra power to the feed wheels and the fins on the feed wheels are angled now . Also the teir three engines are torque ier. I am about to trade up . the deal is done I just have to take delivery now.

 

[BostonBull]

We have MANY 1800xl's all w/winch. We love them. They pull in basically whatever you can cram in there, with NO DUST! If the wheels wont pull it in, wrap the winch and use both and youre good to go. The 1800 also has guards on the whole machine which is nice for protection, it is also smaller in size than the bandit, which is technology at work.

I am a big vermeer fan. We have tried Morbark, Woodsman, Vermeer, and Bandit. We own two Woodsman 20" and 6-8 1800xl with winch and the 6 cylinders. We are going to be getting one of the new 1800xl with the smaller engine. Ill let you know how that turns out.

Where are you located? have you demo'ed both? Who has better support in your area?

 

[kct]

i'm a smaller co. located in sewell,nj. I deal with Vermeer N.A. in Mt. Holly N.J. Their support is excellent-someone answers the phone and no answering machine. Their head mechanic Gary is a genius and he"ll personally answer questions over the phone- although I get parts for my mechanic who is also an ace. I had major break downs on my 672 and 1250 (both way out of warranty) and they met me at a fair and compensated price on the repairs. They could have told me to take a hike. As we all know , the machine is important, but support and parts are priceless. Sometimes you get voice mail at the Bandit dealer with either a prompt return call or a call the next day--thats a big concern, especially with on the job problems and the clock ticking. All equipment will eventually have a proble Thanks for the feed back--I'm now leaning hard towards the Vermeer.

 

[jomoco]

When it comes to flat out crane fed high production chipping, the morbark 2400 hurricane dual axle chipper with the big john deere engine is the king in my opinion.

And I've worn out alot of 1800's with their wimpy fracture prone mandrels and under powered feed rollers.

Most of the big PNW loggers use the 2400 hurricane or a tub grinder.

If high production is the game, the 2400 hurricane can sure play.

jomoco

 

[BostonBull]

For crane fed HIGH production nothign will outchip a woodsman! Keeping the thing in one piece is a different story.

The 2400 is a BIG machine, and cant be compared to a 1800. Different setups and uses. 2400 is more in line with a Woodsman 18XX. Too much dust from Morabrk machines, IMO.

 

[LJack]

We have both the 1800 with winch, 115 HP John Deere and a 1590 with winch 140 perkins. If the two chippers were sitting there side by side I would hook the vermeer on my truck. It will eat anything- vines to the big stuff, and as others have stated, with the help of the winch at the same time BIG pieces go in like butter. The fuel consumption is much less than the bandit. I feel as though the winch has more hydraulic pull than the bandit. Negatives on the machine for us has been that the metal on the fenders and shoot are paper thin and will rust away even when not been on a salt road. The build quality has not been there IMO. Our vermeer serivce is getting better but was a fight tooth and nail in the beginning. Now, the bandit, also a great machine, only can get a 17" piece in there where the vermeer has taken close to 20" on a good day. Bandit 1590 is heavier duty built which I like and you cannot beat the down pressure cylinder for pulling limbs in. The winch is underpower IMO, uses more fuel and a hair, not much, more maintenance than vermeer, but service and realibility has been great. BOTH great machines, i tend to lean toward vermeer at the moment, hope it helps!

 

[DMills]

We have a Vermeer 1800xl with 140hp JD with winch, and love it. Takes wood with ease and just a push. IMO, I think the vertical wheels feed material easier and with less effort. Dealer support and sales support has been great. I can't say that from other experiences I have had with other companies. Also have new BC1000, good chipping machine. Keep us updated on what you get.