Which kimd of Chipper

[Jamin_Mayer]

I have the Bandit Model 90. It's perfect for trimming and small removals (even though I use it for all removals).

However, I would like a 18" capacity chipper for the increase in production. I can't imagine how much less effort it would be to winch large & crotchy branching and chip it without spending the extra time to de-limb and hand feed it.--That would take a lot of time off of jobs!

Personally, if I could afford it, I'd have two chippers. One for the small stuff and one for the big stuff.

 

[Kman]

When I bought my Bandit 250 the best option I got was the winch!!!It was like having 3 ground people in exchange for 1!!There are some great chippers out there and one consideration might be local availability for parts.Years ago I ran a pair of Morbarks,one gas ,one deisel.When it was cold the gas job always started but it wasn't to easy(or cheap) to find parts for the Hercules(White) gas engine.If you find a chipper with a Ford 300 you can find parts almost anywhere and a replacement engine is as close as any junkyard anywhere in the country and they have a good torque curve.My Bandit has a 125 HP John Deere that is an excellent power plant but EVERY winter I have gasket failure on the block heater.
The Bandit 90's are awesome machines!!I saw some used ones advertised for sale with Ford 300's on them and thought what a GREAT combination!!Last spring I called the dealer I bought mine from and he told me these units were either custom ordered or retrofitted with the Ford 300's.He told me that Bandit was offering a Kubota 90+ Diesel on the model 90,which must be quite an awesome little rig!
Don't count out the old Mitts&Merrill machines as they are now manufactured by Karl Kuemerlings and they have a LOT of retrofit parts for them!They also have a hydraulic feed version that I believe is also a retrofit you can get for these staggered knife drum chippers.
I must admit that an 18" Bandit or Vermeer is on my wish list but there are other updates I need before a replacement chipper...