Choosing between to Bandit 250xp--your thoughts?

[yswami]

Hi, I am looking at two different Bandit chippers. Looking for opinions and suggestions what to watch out for etc. Any input will be greatly appreciated!

First option
http://www.californiatreeequipment....0-xp-12-disc-chipper-in-california-22000.html

Second option
http://www.californiatreeequipment....0-xp-12-disc-chipper-in-california-26000.html

I don't have a way to check out the chippers in person. Need to rely on the dealer's information.

Thanks a lot!

 

[tree MDS]

The first one doesn't have autofeed, or was it just not on in the video? Low hours and the good Deere engine. I wouldn't count on that prissy white paint job looking good for very long. The second one looks like it has the quad rollers, which is nice. Twice the hours kinda makes you think though. I'm a Deere fan personally. They both seem kinda overpriced to me, to be honest.

 

[yswami]

Tree MDS, Thanks! I spoke to the seller, you are correct the first one doesn't have auto feed. My gut feelings are the same that it is overpriced. Seller is not willing to lower the price so far...
My other thought was 2006 Vermeer BC1400 XL 14 Inch Chipper; however, I read a lot bad reviews on this model. This will my first chipper so want to make sure I do it right! I do like the winch option on the Bandits...

 

[tree MDS]

I've heard bad things about that year/model Vermeer too. You're on the right track with the bandits. I would keep looking though. Winch is a must have for me.

 

[yswami]

Thank you for reinforcing my thoughts on Bandits! I needed that nudge to stay with Bandit!

 

[deevo]

Yeah

Tree MDS, Thanks! I spoke to the seller, you are correct the first one doesn't have auto feed. My gut feelings are the same that it is overpriced. Seller is not willing to lower the price so far...
My other thought was 2006 Vermeer BC1400 XL 14 Inch Chipper; however, I read a lot bad reviews on this model. This will my first chipper so want to make sure I do it right! I do like the winch option on the Bandits...

stay far away from the 1400's! Time bombs for sure!

 

[yswami]

[

stay far away from the 1400's! Time bombs for sure!

Thanks Deevo!

 

[treecutterjr]

I've got a 250xp, its like a '99 or 2000 model ands still rolls everyday. I wish I had a winch though. Are you planning on shipping the chipper to Hawaii?

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

 

[yswami]

Yeah, I have to ship to Hawaii. Shipping one this 250xp to Hawaii will cost about $3,000.00 or so from Oakland, CA. Then there will be trucking from the location of the equipment to Oakland. I will be ideal to find something around CA since I'll have to spend so much on shipping! I found one locally on the islands here--Bandit 150XP only 50 hours! Owner is selling his farm. No hydraulic lift or winch. He said it is auto feed. He is asking $25K.

 

[imagineero]

Both are overpriced. I would never believe 1000 hours on that 2000 model. That averages out to 1.37 hours per week. I'd be looking real close at the condition of the disk. The second one has all the bling, hydraulic chute turner (very nice!), autofeed, winch. It's still a lot of money for that class and age of machine, but if the 2,000 hours are real, thats nothing. I see a lot of 250 xps with 5,000hrs+ still running hard. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one with 3,000 hours. I wouldn't buy a vermeer with the same number.

 

[yswami]

Both are overpriced. I would never believe 1000 hours on that 2000 model. That averages out to 1.37 hours per week. I'd be looking real close at the condition of the disk. The second one has all the bling, hydraulic chute turner (very nice!), autofeed, winch. It's still a lot of money for that class and age of machine, but if the 2,000 hours are real, thats nothing. I see a lot of 250 xps with 5,000hrs+ still running hard. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one with 3,000 hours. I wouldn't buy a vermeer with the same number.

Hi, Imagineero:
Thanks for insights! Much appreciated. If you were to buy them, how much would you offer the seller and you being somewhat generous with your offer?

 

[imagineero]

I've got no idea. Pricing is so regional. A fair condition 250XP without winch and 2000 vintage goes for $12k~$15k where I'm at. Smaller machines have got more expensive lately, seems like there's an 18" chipper for sale on every street corner, and for very little money too! Seems like you can pickup a good 18" chipper for the same price or less than a good 12" lately. All depends where you're at. In my area, $20k would be a fair price for the second machine, which is the one I would go for. Maybe even as little as $18k. It may well be worth every penny of the asking price in your area though, you've got to do your research.

 

[tree MDS]

I'd say maybe 20 for the 2005 and 18 for the 2000 (assuming the hours are true). Imagineero is right, you should be able to get an idea on the hours by looking at the wear on the disk (if you could see it in person and knew what to look for). I had some hard facing done on my 250 before I painted it. That was at around 2000 hours. I do like these prices though. Mine would be worth 30k by that logic. Lol. I paid 18k five years or so ago.

 

[yswami]

Tree MDS, Thanks! I am glad I posted my question here. You guys are very, very helpful!

 

[imagineero]

There's no way 1000 hours is true on a machine of that age, that paint job with new stickers is a whitewash is my guess. I wouldn't even bother looking at that machine, particularly without autofeed, even at $15k. It looks somewhere like $13k in my opinion, just me though. It would have to really be in great condition to be worth even $18k for me, like the chute would have to rotate super smooth, it would have to have the extended infeed tray (probably doesn't) and the tray would have to flip up nice, disk in good nick, and I'd want to see receipts for all servicing work and no cracks anywhere on the machine.

I know nothing about either of those engine options and how desirable or otherwise they are, my machine has the 120 perkins turbo. They very commonly leak at the turbo which is annoying but not a big deal. It's an indicator of wear though. Luckily they seem to leak on the outlet side of the turbo which is not such a big deal, every machine I looked at had it to some extent. The machine I bought was not too bad. It's not really repairable for reasonable money, so you just live with it. You can patch it up if the black crap everywhere bothers you.

 

[yswami]

Hi, Imagineero:
Thanks for the additional thoughts. Looks like it is time to continue with the search. I have a feeling the seller will not bring the price down. I've sent a email for price reduction yesterday. Unless, I hear something favorable close to what you guys are thinking then it is time to move on with my search. I'd rather wait a bit longer until I find something in reasonable condition with reasonable price then buying something overpriced.

 

[imagineero]

Personally I think the winch is an overrated option for a machine in that class anyhow, though I'm sure many will disagree with me. Logs that will pass through the 12x19 infeed area small enough to be handfed. This class of machine is not a whole tree chipper, it's a large brush chipper that you can feed logs through if you rip them down a bit. It's a great brush chipper, and will do medium sized whole trees if you rip the barrel. Fantastic machine in combination with firewooding, if you've got a second truck to put all the firewood into.... but then why the winch? This class of machine can't chip anything big enough that you need a winch for. A winch is a necessity on an 18" machine, nice on a 14" machine, and kind of silly on a 12" machine in my opinion. Autofeed is well worth having though.

 

[lone wolf]

Personally I think the winch is an overrated option for a machine in that class anyhow, though I'm sure many will disagree with me. Logs that will pass through the 12x19 infeed area small enough to be handfed. This class of machine is not a whole tree chipper, it's a large brush chipper that you can feed logs through if you rip them down a bit. It's a great brush chipper, and will do medium sized whole trees if you rip the barrel. Fantastic machine in combination with firewooding, if you've got a second truck to put all the firewood into.... but then why the winch? This class of machine can't chip anything big enough that you need a winch for. A winch is a necessity on an 18" machine, nice on a 14" machine, and kind of silly on a 12" machine in my opinion. Autofeed is well worth having though.

Well a winch can get big chunks of tree to a chipper in a hurry and with no energy expended by the crew for one. Then you don't have to walk it out just cut it up there.

 

[tree MDS]

That's a pretty humorous post about the winch being an overrated option on a 12" chipper. Only on the internet do you find such brilliance. Lol

 

[imagineero]

Maybe it's a different market over there. Most of my work is residential and most of that is in the back yard. You can't get the machine in there, which renders the winch useless. The few times I can get machine access I can generally get close enough that the tree is at the machine. The other machine we use is an 1890 with a winch and to be honest i rarely use the winch. Maybe once a month or less.