Part-time Truck/Trailer Set-up

  • Thread starter Thread starter kikori
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kikori

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View attachment Part Time Set up.pdf
Fellas,

I am trying to decide whether or not starting a part time business is feasible at this time. I am taking my certified arborist exam tomorrow(wish me luck!).

I am trying to be creative with truck and trailer combinations/logistics.

Could you have a look at my attachment and give me some feedback. Do you think this would work if I modified an enclosed trailer and elongated the chipper chute? Routed the exhaust out the roof. Would this even be legal? Securing the chipper inside the trailer would be key!

What do you all think? I hope the drawing is clear. I am trying to limit weiaght to the truck to accommodate more chip carrying capacity.

Any feedback appreciated. Holmantree and Jim 454 have dabbled in similar mobile setups. Feedback from either of you would be great!

Thanks as always,

Eric
 
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  • #6
The benefits of boxing the chipper would be more room in the trailer to store gear-permanent storage, so that I would not have to load/unload gear into/out of my personal truck all of the time. Remember, this is for part time work. I could keep my whole show right in that tailer. It would also be less assuming to DOT when in transport. Do these reasons make sense?
 
I don't see a need for a enclosed trailer for the chipper. If your 3/4ton is quad cab keep your gear in the back seat area. Lock your saws up in a box on the chipper. The dump insert will weigh at least 1,000lbs. Put air bags on the rear truck axle. Run 10 ply tires.
Hope this helps.

Willard.
 
Have you seen Willard's set-up?

2yjv5o9.jpg
 
No doubt, this is Willard's specialty!

I'd be afraid to over heat things boxing the chipper in
 
Not to mention some chippers struggle to blow chips out of their existing chute let alone an elongated one. Make sure yours blows...
 
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  • #12
Yes I have seen Willard's setup thanks. Again, putting the stuff in the back seat of the truck means I have to load and unload. I am trying to avoid this over and over again during busy periods.

I am also trying to work with what what I've got-which is dump insert, truck chipper.

I have thought of trying to store more gear on the chipper, but this would not solve all the gear storage problems. Saws are some of the lightest parts of the gear cache.

So besides not seeing the need to box the chipper-do you think the elongated chute and roof routed exhaust would work?

Trying to think outside of the box here-even though I am putting my chipper inside the box.

Eric
 
Skip the chipper completely and get a loader. A loader can make the brush AND logs disappear. A chipper ain't WAS for making logs go away.
 
Other things to think about would be the mess that would accumulate in the trailer and on you while chipping. Think about the last time you chipped a few dead spruce. The amount of dust that would get blown around that trailer would be painful. Your gear, even boxed up, would get dirty. Any maintenance issues could be a pain.

A couple saddle boxes on your chipper wheel wells, a box on the chipper's tounge, mount a low profile box on top of the dump insert, and that should be a good amount of room. Maybe your stuck with one duffle bag in your cab to pull out(personal climbing gear).

If you still need more room you could build full lockable doors for the chipper box, and store stuff in there.

No matter how much storage space you have, you'll always need more!!!
 
Having to feed a chipper that is mounted on a trailer, 2 feet higher than usual, will get old very quickly imo.

You could stretch the chipper chassis and put a big tool box in front of the engine......
 
So you do have tandem axles? Most chippers don't, like my 7500 pound morbark with a single 7000 pound axle under it, it is always over loaded. Will yours be with the box and gear?
 
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  • #18
Agreed on the dust factor with the equipment. This would probably become an issue with the air intake on the chipper as well.-What if I rerouted this too?

The storage boxes on the chip box would not work. That would put me over GVWR. I am trying to avoid getting a DOT number here.

I could definitely see more boxes on my chipper wheel wells. I will have to see what there is room for.

Thanks for the thoughts. Keep them coming.
 
Buy a twin axle trailer, pull the chipper off its chassis, bolt it onto the trailer chassis, build toolboxes on whatever space is left at the front. If you keep the standard chipper chassis in storage, when it comes time to sell it you can convert it back easily.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #20
Willie-My chipper does not have tandem axels

You are implying that storing gear on my chipper would max out the carrying capacity of my single-axle chipper correct?

Peter- If I got rid of the chipper chassis I would lose the flexibility to pull it by itself around large enough properties.

also chipper loading height would be a concern here- you are correct.
 
kikori said:
Willie-My chipper does not have tandem axels

You are implying that storing gear on my chipper would max out the carrying capacity of my single-axle chipper correct?
Click to expand...

Your drawing showed tandem, thats why I asked. I'm suggesting you will need to do the math and know the weight rating of your axle. If it is a light chipper you may need to upgrade your axle. Most frames are pretty heavy but you may want to check that also, will it handle the extra weight?
 
I guess more than the gear weight is the box weight. Is it plywood, steel, aluminum? What will it weigh, wet plywood weight? And don't discount the heat issue, That thing will need to cool itsself so be sure you have airflow for the radiator. I am not being negative, just things that occured to me that may be of concern. It would suck to build it and then ruin something
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #23
Oh I thought you meant the chipper as a tandem axel.

One clarification here! I mean put the chipper-Wheels and all-into an enclosed trailer.

The enclosed trailer would definitely be tandem axel. I assume 2 7k axels.
Probably something similar to this:

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/rvs/2293646496.html

although this one doesn't have the axels I would need.

Although maybe you did mean the chipper having tandem axels. Please clarify.

Thanks,

Eric
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #24
Oh I thought you meant the chipper as a tandem axel.

One clarification here! I mean put the chipper-Wheels and all-into an enclosed trailer.

The enclosed trailer would definitely be tandem axel. I assume 2 7k axels.
Probably something similar to this:

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/rvs/2293646496.html

although this one doesn't have the axels I would need.

Although maybe you did mean the chipper having tandem axels. Please clarify.

Thanks,

Eric
 
Ahhhh! I thought you were building a box off your existing chipper frame! I guess my only thoughts with this other trailer would be floor strength and leaving the doors open while chipping. Maybe insulated exhaust pipe going through the ceiling.
 
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