backing up chippers

[DDM]

dangerous how?

I ve seen one person Trip and get Nailed by these Roll the end over to Remove the small Diameter end.

 

[clearance]

Thank you all for your help.

 

[NeTree]

I ve seen one person Trip and get Nailed by these Roll the end over to Remove the small Diameter end.

 

[lync]

Backing

Althought backing up on the drivers side of the chipper is easier to see, you might find that the chipper(in my case brush Bandit) has the engine mounted at an angle, this allows more room and less jacknife contact on the passenger side of the truck/chipper. You can turn more sharply if you let the chipper fold to the passenger side.

Also this allows you to back up from the traffic lane into the client's driveway without having to put the truck in oncoming traffic.
corey

 

[MasterBlaster]

That's a good observation, Lync.

 

[NeTree]

My CDL Trainer once told me if I cant back up a chipper, I shouldnt be allowed to drive. NeTree might vouch for me.....

 

[topnotchtree]

This may be the wrong attitude to have, but I dont worry about blocking lanes of traffic for a few short moments while I back into a driveway. Besides, if a truck is big enough to be a pain to back in a driveway, chances are it is going to be bigger than any cars trying to go down the road.

Another tip is to make sure your mirrors are adjusted properly. Lots of bigger trucks use the west coast style mirrors. Adjust the bar the mirrors themselves bolt to to stick straight out from the truck. Most people set these on a backwards angle a bit. Then loosten the bands that hold the mirror itself on and slide it out as far as it can go. This may take a few minutes to adjust, but it will give you a much better view of whats behind you.

 

[Koa Man]

Don't want to brag, but I consider myself an expert in backing up trailers and chippers. You want to try something difficult, try parallel parking in between cars. I've done that before while waiting for the driveway to get cleared. I still always use a spotter, unless it is at my home. I have my spotter use a 2 way radio and give voice commands and I can talk back to him. If you use hand signals, the spotter will have often have to run from side to side so you see him in the mirror. In a real tight spot, there will not be enough room for him to stand on the side. FRS radios are cheap. Even the real good ones can be gotten at a Costco or Sam's Club for $50 a pair.

 

[Stumper]

I'm a pretty good trailer backer. Chippers tend to be harder because they are so much shorter in wheelbase than the tow vehicle. My foolproof method with the little WoodPro was to hop out and disconnect it, grap the handles I had installed on the tongue and wheel it where I wished by hand. Then I could just back the truck up to it. With bigger chippers that isn'tworkable so I just have to go slow and watch what I'm doing. So long as I don't try to cut too sharply and jackknife it I can manage alone but it is better with a spotter. Practice coupled with calmness is the key.

 

[Beast12]

We have a couple chippers at work. They are both just a BIT narrower than the dump truck. We installed markers on the sides (the same flexible ones that are on snow plows) and they work out great. Just make sure you get the ones that have the springs near the bottom so they FLEX/BEND a bit easier.

Always have someone guiding you in when you are in a tight area. I can back up a chipper no problem but the extra eyes always help just in case. :Eye:

-Matt

 

[Lumberjacked]

What I have done in the past is use road cones, we all have them so shove then in between the fenders and the body on the chipper. The are both harmless to just about anything you might back in to and low cost. They stick out just far enough to see the ends of the cones in your mirrors.

 

[Tree Machine]

.... so that no one would ever walk into the flag and get a faceful.

Assuming you can't see your fenders in the mirror, the rebar would be sticking out beyond the fenders, right? I can see the sense in having something flexible. It's to protect those around you who aren't fully aware of their surroundings.

I stuff a rake in sideways, giving me one side to reference from through the driver side-mirror. I still find backing a chipper difficult. I always manage, but I'm anything but expert. My chipper is invisible behind the truck from up front.

 

[NeTree]

If they're so unaware that a bright yellow 1" bar at chest level can't be seen, they have no business being in this line of work.

 

[tophopper]

Id agree rebar could be dangerous. ,On my chipper I have flexible plow markers mounted on the fenders at a 45 degree angle. I can see the top 4" of the markers when the chipper is sitting striaght on behind the truck. If you ever walk into one it just bend out of your way.
Extending the tongue will also make backing easier, the shorter the trailer the harder to back, long is good.

 

[MasterBlaster]

What I have done in the past is use road cones, we all have them so shove then in between the fenders and the body on the chipper. The are both harmless to just about anything you might back in to and low cost. They stick out just far enough to see the ends of the cones in your mirrors.

Yup, me too.

 

[Al Smith]

I suppose I've driven nearly everthing that is road worthy,in my life.Backing any short coupled device such as a chipper,compresser,or welder,is always a bit of a challange.As has been pointed out,visibility is the key thing .The short coupled device has a fast response while a long wheel based truck has a slow response.It is simpley a matter of practice.When you all get good at this task,then go on to a 4 wheel wagon.Ah,that one will make you mumble

 

[jamie]

woods

get in teh woods and drive a forwarder you'll soon get the hang.

jamie

 

[Xtra]

I also use plow markers they're highly visible, flexible and fit in the tubes on my Morbark (I remove them once at the job, too many people walk into them and try to bend them out of the way).
Rebar? hmm, one trip could cause a bad injury.

The comment about having your helper tell you where the chipper must go is a good one. If gotten into many yelling matches with a guy trying to tell me which way to turn my front wheels or steering wheel.

If you have enough room going down a long street backwards I find the zig-zag method works well.

One of the part-time guys on my crew drives tanker semi's in NYC and his advice is (as already stated) always back into a driveway from the driver's side so you can see everything.

 

[tophopper]

I
One of the part-time guys on my crew drives tanker semi's in NYC and his advice is (as already stated) always back into a driveway from the driver's side so you can see everything.

It is easier to see from the driver side, but some guys make it harder than it has to be. Look at the driveway angle and pitch, what side are you setting up on? Left, right, in the middle? If you have to go circle a couple of city blocks to turn your rig around so backing in is easiest, do it.

Whenever I see a chipper going down the road, I always look for any jack knife damage just for giggles, funny bout 75 percent of em seem to have it.

My plow markers are mounted permantly and are flexible, in 5 years, Ive replaced one of them, I think they cost around 15 bucks per pair.

 

[MasterBlaster]

I can't believe how many drivers fail to set themselves up correctly from the start to back in.

You gotta pre-turn into yur backing up.