64 cu ft chip box for mobile DR chipper setup

[dbotos]

Finally made the chip box for my mobile DR setup. Trailer is 5' x 10', chipper is a DR 16.50, and the box is a 4' cube. Gonna test it out this weekend on a removal job for a coworker. Even have some room on the back of the trailer for logs.

 

[STLfirewood]

I could see where that would work for very small jobs. How are you going to empty it?

Scott

 

[treesquirrel]

I could see where that would work for very small jobs. How are you going to empty it?

Scott

That would be my first question too.

Be anal about servicing that chipper. If I'm not mistaken the DR is more of a homeowner grade unit.

Good luck friend.

 

[dbotos]

Probably my telescoping snow shovel. Or I may install an access door on the side and see how well it "drains" chips. What'd be really slick is a vacuum conveyor:

http://www.vaccon.com/DF-Home.aspx

I guess I could hinge it to the trailer too and make it dump-able off the side.

I bought the DR as something in between the laughable MTD unit I started with and a full-blown tow-behind unit. So far I've been very happy with it. The design is simple, yet rugged and I like being able to move it by hand, ATV, or stick it up on the trailer. I'm somewhere in between homeowner and full-time tree guy, so it fits the bill pretty well. Seems pretty easy to maintain - normal small engine stuff and then the knife, belt, and bearings on the unit itself.

 

[crashagn]

Could raise the chip box up so its level with the top of the frame. Have a side opening door and place another 4x4 sheet as a floater sheet on the bottom of the chip box. Attach a rope and when you need to empty it just open the door and pole on the rope to drag everything out. Or just hinge the whole box to the trailor and side dump it.

 

[Tree Pig]

a box that small maybe you can put on a base with wheels so you can roll it off the trailer and dump it, or at least to the end of the trailer and then dump it

 

[dbotos]

Based on a chips density of 500 lb/yd^3 (I think I found that somewhere else on this site), she's gonna weigh about 1200 lb when full. I'm thinking I'd probably need to reinforce it some if I tried to move it or dump it when full or partially full.

 

[Tree Pig]

Based on a chips density of 500 lb/yd^3 (I think I found that somewhere else on this site), she's gonna weigh about 1200 lb when full. I'm thinking I'd probably need to reinforce it some if I tried to move it or dump it when full or partially full.

yeah your probably right about the weight but at least if you could wheel it to the end of the trailer it would make it easier to shovel it out if that's the route you going to take.

I would be curious to see a video of that thing chipping good size limbs

 

[dbotos]

I would be curious to see a video of that thing chipping good size limbs

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6230641393480527656&hl=en

I've put everything in it from little stubs to big branches that just fit through the small end of the intake hopper (and some that we a smidge too big and had to be pulled out) and it's handled everything fine that fit in. I even put some pieces of locust in there that had been sitting for a while. One thing to keep in mind is that if it has side branches, those play into the total diameter when folded against the main branch. In the DR-produced video, you'll notice they show smaller branches with lots of side branches and leaves, but the bigger ones are either stripped clean or just have a few tiny side branches. Clever marketers...

 

[Tree Pig]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6230641393480527656&hl=en

In the DR-produced video, you'll notice they show smaller branches with lots of side branches and leaves, but the bigger ones are either stripped clean or just have a few tiny side branches. Clever marketers...

yeah thats why I would like to see an owner make a video

 

[TreEmergencyB]

yeah thats why I would like to see an owner make a video

Yea!! show us what shes got

probally could've found an older 6in little vermeer or sumting take it off the wheels and on your trailer, or just tow it you gonna tow that trailer anyway why not just get a towable chipper make a little pole tarp thingy for your pickup

We used to move a 2001 vermeer 935 around with 3 guys by hand, now we couldnt push it up much of a hill but 2 guys can easily spin it in a circle on a driveway

 

[Slvrmple72]

Loc tite all of the nuts and bolts on the chute now!!!!! Plus any of the other ones that do not need removed periodically when servicing. Looks good! Better keep that OSB dry!

 

[southsoundtree]

Looks like you are being ambitious and resourceful. Good work.

When you are ready, a light tow-behind and your pick-up truck (?) will be a step up.

If you try to dump to the side of the trailer, you will be loading all of the weight on one side and will be torqueing the trailer. Probably not built for that.

Looks like you will get a lot of tongue weight for your truck, as the load is not balance mostly over the axle. Just be sure you can handle the tongue weight. If you are seriously overloading the tongue weight, besides overloading your rear axle, you will be lifting your front, reducing your steerability. Be safe. What are you pulling with?

I started with a 5.5 hp Craftsman and an Astro van. Then a 70's 9" capacity chuck and duck chipper ($2400) that I bought from a guy that upgraded, which I still have, and its still Hungry. Then a 1990 Ex-Asplundh rig with an 11ft dump bed and man/ equipment cab. Working for me. Everybody starts somewhere.

 

[tomtrees58]

:hmm3grin2orange:your kidding right tom trees

 

[treesquirrel]

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6230641393480527656&hl=en

Neat machine I must say. Looks like it should chip the stuff too small to be good firewood size.

 

[Small Job Tim]

dr

hey bud,
nice set-up idea ya got goin there. I too am a small time guy, and have been developing a similar chipper/trailer/box idea in my head.
Also been looking into the dr chippers, the same one you bought. Can ya give me the real story on it? Some people rave about them, some hate them. Since you seem to be doing the same thing I am, I'd like to hear your opinion. Also, is it worth the 3 grand?
Thanks.....- T. McD.