Chipper Recommendations

[BorealTree]

Any recommendations on chippers.

I am looking at Vermeer BC1000xl or something in that size range. I don't have one currently and the "slice-n-dice" method is getting old and tiresome. I don't want a little one where you have to cut forever to get it to feed into the feeder opening, but also don't need a whole tree shredder either.

Personally I don't think shelling out lots of bucks for a used one is worth the aggrivation & down-time possible with someone else's hard used machine. Any thoughts & recs on new verse used.

thanks!!!

 

[daveyclimber]

Used low hour units are easy to come by. I personally prefer used equipment at my stage in the game being a new business. I recently bought a Bandit 254 with 330 hours on it for half the price of a new unit. treetrader.com

 

[BorealTree]

Insurance rate differential?

I know the newer models are incorporating double redundant safety features such as reverse feed wheels triggers/bars at the top and bottom of the shute tray. Is anyone finding insurance companies offering better/lower rates for having these features (like airbags or abs in cars) or are they still figuring it is just a dangerous occupation anyways? If nothing else they are good for piece of mind in keeping that new groundman from becoming hamburger :greenchainsaw:

 

[jazak]

Don't go VERMEER, they have lots of problems and vermeer doesn't offer good service either. Look at Morbark, Brush Bandit, and the new upcoming chipper from Discone.

 

[Optiboli]

1ooo chipper

Hi ya , we use vermeer chippers here in manitoba 1000s ,1250s 1400s they had a few bugs,but work awesome .Vermeer wpg has the best service bar none that makes a big difference. umpkin2:

 

[treesurgeon]

Hi ya , we use vermeer chippers here in manitoba 1000s ,1250s 1400s they had a few bugs,but work awesome .Vermeer wpg has the best service bar none that makes a big difference. umpkin2:

close.
few bugs
horrible service. very horrible. reminds me of my truck dealer service. horrible. out here, Vermeer service=crap:bang: :bang:

 

[treesurgeon]

but i do like my bc1000xl.
good all around size.
light weight
simple.

 

[CalTreeEquip]

How much can you spend?

How much can you spend?
What kind of truck will you tow it with?
How big are the tree that you remove?
Is firewood an asset or hindrance?
And
What do the tree guys in you area like to use?

In southern Cal Vermeer is preferred.
Northern Cal it's Bandit.
Oregon it's Morbark.

Vermeer service may be bad in New York.
But what is it like in Oregon?

I hear great things about the BC100XP.
They are very popular and there are very few used ones on the market.
This tell me that folks like them.

If you want to see what's available, used, in California go to my website.
WWW.CALIFORNIATREEEQUIPMENT.COM

 

[DFD34]

chipper

We started our business this past year and one of the big decisions that my brother and I made was to buy a new chipper. We bought a new woodsman 15x. This chipper is incredible. I have alot of experience with chippers and this one tops them all. Do you homework. We were able to finance ours over 6 years. I think we pay like 618 a month. That is a half a days work each month to pay for the machine that makes your life so much easier. Trust me/us and buy new. It is a lot less of a headache. You just don't know what you are buying when you buy used. People beat the living crap out of there chippers and you don't want to buy their problems. Especially when it is the only chipper you have and you need to rely on it everyday. DFD34

 

[a_lopa]

Vermeer seems to be copping alot of flak on this forum lately,are there inherent problems with there machines?i see alot vermeer chippers about the place and gather they depreciated at a rapid rate...is the flak justified???

 

[TackleTree]

I have used only vermeer a BC935, and a bc1000xl. I owned the 935 rented the 1000. The 1000 is drum style, and I think it is a good machine, but like I said I only rented. Vermeer was nothing but good to me. They offered advice over the phone, willing to drive many miles to fix my chipper, and when the area rep came to town he would call me to see if there was anything I needed from the store. Very good Customer service in my opinion. Side note: I didnt even buy from vermeer. It just depends on the dealership.

 

[l2edneck]

I agree with Tack.Ive had no probs and ive used vermeer for years.Sounds like its all in the dealer.I can call or drop by anytime and they are always willing to help.My favorite of all time was the 1250 with the perkins.Easy maintenence,chip decent size stuff.When im ready that will be what im lookin to buy.

 

[jmcguiretree]

I just bought a 01' bc1000 and it works great.Some of the parts can be expensive thru vermeer but if you look around you can find them locally cheaper.I needed an alternator and vermeer wanted $1000.I found the same part locally for $125.I pull it around with a 1-ton pickup with single rear wheels and a dump insert for a chip box. This works great because the chipper is light weight and has electric brakes so you don't know it's even back there (even with a full load of chips).I would recomend this chipper to anyone.Last week I chipper 8" dead elm with out any problems .I use a 2001 brush bandit 200xp at my full time job and my chipper will out chip it any day of the week.

 

[a_lopa]

I just bought a 01' bc1000 and it works great.I use a 2001 brush bandit 200xp at my full time job and my chipper will out chip it any day of the week.

Thats interesting all the R.O.W guys around here have been using bc1000 and theyve had then 5 or more years now so they must be half decent,im leaning towards a bc 1000 because of its weight.

 

[bz262]

i've been using vermeer chippers for almost 10 years (the 1250 is a great machine, but the 1800 is what you want). no major problems and fairly decent service. i wouldn't buy a used one. ours take a beating on a daily basis. you don't want to buy one and then find out that the previous owner treated his like we treat ours !!!

 

[dhuffnmu]

If I were you try and get a demo at a job site of each machine and see first hand what you like the best. We use a Bandit and love it they are built here in Michigan and I have never had a problem with them. However, we just demoed the Rayco 20" chipper and that machine was NICE. They have so many new features that the other chippers just don't have and that makes it so hard for me to decide when it comes around to buying a new one. I do believe that the Rayco will be the next. It was one nice machine. Without demoing it first hand on a big job I wouldn't of considered it. But that thing ate up the material. And one real nice feature about it is the Radiator on the side of it. The keeps the blow back from the back of the truck from covering it and keeps you from having to keep clearing it.