Part-time Truck/Trailer Set-up

[sawinredneck]

I see heat and dust being huge factors in this, that thing is going to get terribly hot in that enclosed space! Servicing, meh, you could always roll it out for everything, but I sure think that would get old fast as well!
I would think it would be easier to do something like this with an open trailer, build some saddles for the axle to rest in, take the tires off the chipper, drop the axles into the saddles and configure a clamping mechanism to hold it into place. This keeps it somewhat lower and still keeps it maneuverable, say like a 12' tandem axle trailer, for you to be able to get it around, raises the weight capacity quite a bit, it's still serviceable, and you could still build the storage boxes you want.

 

[NeTree]

Being intimately familiar with those 9" Morbarks... I'd say ditch it for something bigger. You won't believe how much grief you'll save.

 

[SkwerI]

There's a hundred reasons why it won't work putting the chipper inside an enclosed trailer, several have already been mentioned. I won't repeat them but every one is accurate. If you're looking for somebody to tell you it will work, then maybe you might get lucky. But it won't work.

Either add boxes to the existing chipper frame or buy an open trailer and transfer the chipper body (minus the wheels and axle) over to the new open trailer. If you enclose the chipper then you will be ripping the box apart by the second job.

 

[Strikermike]

I really think it would be awfully hard to beat Willard's set up.

 

[bill22]

If its just part time,why not just sub out the debris removal? After you figure in dump fees, fuel to drive from jobsite to the dump,chipper fuel,and time spent chipping[assuming you have at least one guy helping]. You might as well figure an extra 250 for a clam truck to come haul.just slip it into your bids.

 

[MasterBlaster]

No.

 

[SkwerI]

That's a very workable option in many situations, Bill. Not always, but I know several guys who sub out hauling on a regular basis. I also know a few guys who make their living hauling and their rates are very competitive. I can't haul off my tree debris as cheaply as they can.

 

[bill22]

I know, I get calls about people who want me to come do the tree work[ hoping I'll work cheaper than a regular tree service] and I sub out the hauling. I just don't see a chipper and dump set up being worthwhile for me.

 

[kikori]

Thank you all for pointing out the many reasons why this would not be the best option. That's why this forum is so great! You all have been blazing the trail that I have been making my way slowly down for quite some time.

I appreciate all of the constructive criticism. Heeding the concerns are better than setting this whole thing up and then finding out that for multiple reasons that it is just not a long term solution.

For what's it worth-Willard's set up is great, but just not perfect for how I would use the tools. I need to have the option to roll the chipper by itself if the job calls for it. I will keep mulling this over in my head, and raze this post from the dead if there are any developments.

Thanks again,

Eric

 

[Burnham]

My goodness, that's a grown up response to having an idea shot full of holes...kindly shots, but shot none the less . I think you'll go far, Eric.

 

[SkwerI]

Another note from the School of Hard Knocks-
Bring all your regular tools to every job. Trying to divide up your gear and only bringing certain stuff to certain jobs means your gear is in multiple locations and nothing is ever where you need it. Refining your setup means figuring out how to keep everything together so it is on every job when you need it and not at home or on the other truck when a situation develops on the jobsite. I quit pulling gear off my big truck to do small jobs out of my pickup several years ago. It was never worth the hassle and it often cost me more in inconvenience because it always took a couple extra days to get my gear back on my work truck. Not to mention that I would show up on the job and never have what I needed because I was working off somebody else's description of the job and not my own eyes.

So if you're going to set up a way to carry your gear and the chipper all on one trailer, make it a permanent setup. Or at least until you end up with a bigger chip truck with tool storage.

 

[arborworks1]

Very true Brian. I only leave the grcs and the big saws at the shop nowadays. Sometimes things aloft open up easier option on removals and pruning. I would rather be able to use that option rather than pass it over cause I left a key piece of gear out of the toolbox.

 

[flushcut]

I don't think it would be a good idea. How about building some storage in your chip box and just pulling the chipper behind. Besides how much gear you packing? I had a large job over the weekend and I took everything I had because it was over an hour away and it all fit in the back of my crew cab RAM and only needed three blocks, two bull lines, porty, a fiddle block, climbing gear, and saws. All of the gear except for the saws fit in two bags. Well good luck with the test and all.

 

[HolmenTree]

Eric forget about the enclosed trailer. Its gonna cost you thousands of dollars to buy plus you have an extra ton or of weight to pull around. The dump insert on the 3/4 ton truck is a good idea with plywood sides and roof; ideal would be aluminum square tubing and sheeting.

A 9" Morbark chipper axle can easily handle an extra 500- 1,000 lbs of gear weight kept in aluminum boxes attached to the front of the chipper. Extend the hitch for the room. You then may have to extend the chipper spout, boost the chip blow force by re-routing the chipper engine's exhaust into the spout with flexable exhaust pipe.

Jameson poles can be kept in 4-6" ABS pipe with screw on caps. Forks, rakes etc can be held in place with rubber lock straps Bailey's sells. Climbing gear bag kept in backseat area. Gas cans etc can even be locked up inside the infeed chute.

Ideally if I was you I would get a Bandit 9" chipper on tracks, then you have all the mobility you'll need. Then all you need is a low bed compact trailer to haul it around on.

Willard.

 

[HolmenTree]

Ideally if I was you I would get a Bandit 9" chipper on tracks, then you have all the mobility you'll need. Then all you need is a low bed compact trailer to haul it around on.

Willard.

A chipper sitting on a trailer will be a PIA to feed by the extra infeed chute height, but then just a few seconds to back a tracked chipper off the trailer and drive it to the truck box wouldn't be a hassle. The chipper could be driven to the tree and your helper could disconnect the trailer and back the truck up to the chipper also. Lots of versatility with a tracked chipper.
Have firewood guys haul away the free firewood. Keep several of these guys #s on your cell phone.

And after you make lots of money, get a little wider flat bed trailer and park a self propelled 36" wide stump grinder alongside that tracked chipper.

Willard.

 

[NeTree]

Good to see you understand where we're coming from, Eric. Most of us have been where you're at.

 

[SkwerI]

Willard's idea of the tracked chipper sounds like the ideal setup. The trick is finding a good one at an affordable price.

 

[HolmenTree]

Willard's idea of the tracked chipper sounds like the ideal setup. The trick is finding a good one at an affordable price.

Yes thats true Brian, but the money Eric saves not buying the expensive enclosed trailer can go towards that tracked Bandit. A good used 9" tracked unit couldn't be that high in price.

Willard.

 

[HolmenTree]

Not alot of good used Bandit XP90 tracked chippers out there from what I could see. So I guess the extended hitch 9" chipper with tool boxes would be the way to go.

Willard.

 

[sotc]

I have the perfect trailer for it too! I also dig the track chipper idea if you need to get it in backyards

 

[SkwerI]

I guess it would work in more rural areas, but I would guess that less than 1% of my work is done on properties where the chips could be blown on site and not hauled off. I can't see where it would be such an advantage getting the chipper in the back yard if you didn't have the chip truck back there as well.

 

[SouthSoundTree]

You would need a tilt deck trailer to winch a chipper in and out, I think. I had a hard time winching my dead stump grinder up the normal loading ramps into my trailer once.

Maybe you could give the logistics of your expected work, what you've already got, debris and dumping situation, etc, and people might have some additional ideas that might fit the bill.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Eric forget about the enclosed trailer.

I didn't want to be the first to say that! The weight factor alone forbids it.

 

[kikori]

Willard,

Yeah I would imagine there aren't too many tracked 9 inchers our there. Food for thought though. My Morbark does already have a tongue extension. And I think I found someone to do some quality mods on it for storage.

Burnham,

Thanks for the encouragement. I would think that after 32 years of life I would be able to construct a grown up response.

 

[brendonv]

I'm not liking the enclosed trailer idea either.

For what it's worth on the tool storage thing. I have two under body boxes on my truck, one is about 18x18x18", the other 18x18x32" ish. These boxes hold ALL my climbing gear in the small one (saddle, rope, spurs, chaps, throwline bag, handsaw), with other small odds and ends, the larger one holds ALL my rigging stuff, including three ropes, three slings, two large blocks, a porty, a bag of misc small rigging gear, an axe, GRCS frame and winch handle. The GRCS winch lives in the truck behind the seat, and when I'm climbing the Wraptor also keeps it company back there. Chainsaw and gas go in the chute of the chipper, where I drilled a hole in the closing pin and insert a lock when I need to leave them there.

There really isn't much of anything else I've need all these years. There are two tool boxes on the chipper which I can consolidate the goods to less than fill half of one. Matter of fact I'll take one off and put it on the log trailer when I have a minute.

I'm just trying to show, if you are organized, you can fit everything needed in a limited space. Most part timers might not have a GRCS and a Wraptor hanging around, so that'd leave even more space for stuff.