Feedback On Brush Bandit Chippers!!!

[rahtreelimbs]

I need opinions on Brush Bandit Chippers!

 

[DDM]

Any model imparticular?

 

[Husky288XP]

The 200 XP with the wide feedtable and lift cylinder matched with a big caterpillar diesel is the cats ass.

 

[Tree Machine]

Th 6" model is a brush tiger, have them put a third knife in the disc and an oil flow adjustment to slow the infeed wheels if you want. Autofeed plus is more than a plus.

 

[Koa Man]

The problem I have with Bandit is the feed plate is too low. It is much easier on the back if the feed table is just a little below the waist. On the Bandits I have used, but not owned, 90, 150, 200, and 250s, all of them had a feed table about half way between my knee and waist. If it was 10 to 12 inches higher it would be great, and I am not a tall guy. I also think they make their machines a bit more complicated than others.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

very good machines, terrible company.

 

[a_lopa]

i wouldnt be buying a big h/p machine a competitor of mine just went bust one of the comtributing factors was his 18" chipper was to heavy literaly/and used to much fuel,your there to make money alot of tree guys seem to forget this.

rich id suggest a 9"bandit 80hp

 

[Tree Machine]

Yummm.....

 

[rbtree]

Only problem with the Model 90/95 Bandit is that they are much harder to find used than the 12 inch models. Eli picked up a 92 150 for about $6k, which was a screaming deal. Iron Technics here in town had gone through it, and replaced whatever it needed. all Eli did was paint it. The chipper is not light though, unlike a 90 or 95.

 

[rahtreelimbs]

The climber that I work with is thinking about buying a chipper. He has alot of experience with Bandits doing line clearence work. The 9 inch model is the one that he is considering. I was surprised that I couldn't find a Bandit website.

What is so bad about Bandit as a company?

Btw this is a new chipper he might buy!

 

[a_lopa]

heres my 10inches rich!!lol make sure he gets the lift/crush

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

The feed plate being so low is stupid, unless you're 3' 6" tall, and the lift/crush option means you need one guy to just stand there and work the controls while other guys feed the brush in (all hunched over because of the low feed table).
Two thumbs down for the poor user friendliness of the machine.

 

[rbtree]

The feed plate being so low is stupid, unless you're 3' 6" tall, and the lift/crush option means you need one guy to just stand there and work the controls while other guys feed the brush in (all hunched over because of the low feed table).
Two thumbs down for the poor user friendliness of the machine.

Bull hooey. I like the low table, it makes it easy to get heavy loads in. and, only with wood over 6 or so inches do the wheels need lifting. The crush option is great for feeding gobs of brushy stuff all at once...it'ss rarely needed tho. Sure, a Vermeer 1250 will grab big wood by itself, but other than that, the Bandit blows it away.

 

[Kneejerk Bombas]

Whatever...

 

[rebelman]

reliable, dependable, nice chip, feed table just right height When you approach dragging brush One feed wheel does fine. No complaints after thousands of hours,

 

[Koa Man]

I like the low table, it makes it easy to get heavy loads in.

I have extremely high respect for you rbtree, but I strongly disagree on the low feed table. When dragging or carrying brush or logs to the chipper, a guy will be standing straight up and not crouched over, with the load either on his shoulders or around his waist level. If the table is just slightly below the waist, it is easy to just drop it on the table. Then you do not have to bend down to push it in. On the Bandits I have used, and I have over 75 hours of chipping with Bandits, I needed to bend my back to push brush and logs into the feed wheels. On my current Woodsman and Discone and previously owned Morbark, all of these were slightly below my waist and I don't have to bend my back to feed it. I tell you, my back would be hurting after a chipping session with Bandits. All of the chippers I have looked at...Woodchuck, Salsco, Rayco, Morbark, Woodsman, M&M, everybody, all have their feed tables about the same level. Only Bandit has that back breaking low table. Thumbs down on Bandit feed tables.

 

[a_lopa]

mikes pissed at the big/high feed tables hes bending over,definite thumbs down to vermeer

 

[rbtree]

Well, my back hurts a little all the time, and it ain't from having to bend over a bit chipping.

There are other advantages for the low table, as in winching logs and carrying logs with a timber carrier (sweet hook) . And, the lower the feed table, the less lift of the other end of a large log is required to get it to feed. And, less lifting is good when tossing huge tarp loads in with two people.

I'd a darn sight rather have a too low table than a too high one...like my buddy's way too high feed that is side mounted on his chip truck. This is an old chuck and duck.

 

[Redbull]

I have a 16" 1992 Bruch Bandit that I paid $4600 for. I have not had to do a single thing to it in the year that I've had it. Granted, it doesn't run on a full time basis, but I still like it. I've also ran Vermeers and Wood Chucks. I like the Bandit better.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

I'm with RBTree in my love of a low table. lower the better for me. Ive had 250Xp and 280HD Xp, having also used the 90, that would be my choice for general treework - if you can get one.