Opinions:Chipbox,Utility or Flatbed

[ozarktreeman]

Just want to get a few opinions from some guys that may have had both or all 3.
Recently lost 55ft,skyworker on rear mount flatbed.Looking to replace,
already have a utility bucket call it shorty 42 ft.versalift on short wheelbase can get that truck anywhere mainly stole that truck only reason for having it.serves as a good toolbox and advertising mainly.
Looking into 60 ft.chip box asplundah probaly. In my area 80% of the time blow chips in woods or vacant wooded lot.Might be nice to have time to time.
Utility could lock all my crap in it and go.And a winch on one would be great.(ropen showed me the great uses for a winch)but can put that on any truck though.
What are your preferences. And I want to stay away from gas rigs.

 

[arbor pro]

If you have a crewman to drive a seperate chip truck, get the rear-mount with toolboxes and keep your chipper operation seperate. Easier access to trees with a rear-mount and you don't have to worry about dropping stuff on the truck. Also nice to have toolboxes. If you are a one-man show and need to get both chipper and bucket to jobsite in one trip or if you travel enormous distances between jobs and need to minimize fuel consumption, get a forestry unit with diesel motor - forget the gas pony motors - IMO, they're one more thing to fix and only necessary if your truck's engine is a gasser.

 

[John464]

If you have a crewman to drive a seperate chip truck, get the rear-mount with toolboxes and keep your chipper operation seperate.

then what do you do with the logs? where do they go? not mixed in with the chips i hope? hauling the wood that will require an extra truck. so thats 3 trucks out on 1 removal. unless the bed of the rear mount can carry logs most ive seen that can cant hold much of a load.

i have a forestry unit and can sometime get by with just two trucks on one job. it also serves as a mobile billboard the advertising alone gets a lot of calls just driving around town. which makes it nice. but if I had a rear mount it would get me closer to the tree. both types have their advatanges/dis

 

[ozarktreeman]

then what do you do with the logs? where do they go? not mixed in with the chips i hope? hauling the wood that will require an extra truck. so thats 3 trucks out on 1 removal. unless the bed of the rear mount can carry logs most ive seen that can cant hold much of a load.

i have a forestry unit and can sometime get by with just two trucks on one job. it also serves as a mobile billboard the advertising alone gets a lot of calls just driving around town. which makes it nice. but if I had a rear mount it would get me closer to the tree. both types have their advatanges/dis

Logs not a problem,dont keep anything other than chips.Usaully firewood guys sweeping in after me to get wood.It goes for nothing around here.Vehicles usually 3 on job.bucket chip truck which is 1 ton ford with high bed,have to pitchfork chips out.and p/u.
Been working out of rear mount 55 ftr for 3 years now.Just wonder what the other side of the fence looks like.Good point on traveling billboard.Will I really lose that much reach with OC rig.or about the same since I will be gaining 5 ft.

 

[tree MDS]

55/60' working height is still surprizing me with my truck every time I use it. in fact I keep underestimating it. Mine is rearmount.

What I can say is its probably closer to somewheres between 5-8' ( I think ALOC told me "probably closer to 10' when I asked them) that you lose with the behind the cab job. Dont quote me on this, this is just my take on it.

 

[arbor pro]

then what do you do with the logs? where do they go? not mixed in with the chips i hope? hauling the wood that will require an extra truck. so thats 3 trucks out on 1 removal. unless the bed of the rear mount can carry logs most ive seen that can cant hold much of a load.

i have a forestry unit and can sometime get by with just two trucks on one job. it also serves as a mobile billboard the advertising alone gets a lot of calls just driving around town. which makes it nice. but if I had a rear mount it would get me closer to the tree. both types have their advatanges/dis

I guess it depends on how many big removals you do and what size chipper you have. If you're saving most of the big wood for firewood and using a 12" or smaller chipper, then a forestry unit probably would work well. However, if you're using an 18" chipper and want to chip everything possible, you would be having to stop working with the boom to dump the chip box every half hour or so. A seperate large chip truck would work better with a big chipper.

Questions for Ozark: 1) what kind of tree work do you do - mostly pruning and small removals or do you do a lot of big removals? 2) What size chipper do you have? 3) What do you do with the logs? 4) What is your typical crew size for pruning and removal jobs?

Answers to these questions will likely help you to decide on which truck setup is best for you.

 

[ozarktreeman]

I guess it depends on how many big removals you do and what size chipper you have. If you're saving most of the big wood for firewood and using a 12" or smaller chipper, then a forestry unit probably would work well. However, if you're using an 18" chipper and want to chip everything possible, you would be having to stop working with the boom to dump the chip box every half hour or so. A seperate large chip truck would work better with a big chipper.

Questions for Ozark: 1) what kind of tree work do you do - mostly pruning and small removals or do you do a lot of big removals? 2) What size chipper do you have? 3) What do you do with the logs? 4) What is your typical crew size for pruning and removal jobs?

Answers to these questions will likely help you to decide on which truck setup is best for you.

Crew size 3 normaly.Half pruning & Half large TD,s.
12in chipper.I do not normally have to deal with wood unless It's trash that no one wants ,pine,sycamore elderwood you get it.

And I honestly could use either setup and be good. But I'm one of those guys where I will be a few feet short on OC rig and say wish I would have bought RM.And visa versa need to Dispose of chips and you know the story.
But good point on having to separate the units in middle of job.

Decisions

 

[Mikecutstrees]

My bucket has an 11' chip body, and my dump has a 9' body. Under body tool boxes on the dump and a bunch of boxes on the chip. We normally chip into the dump but sometimes we will fill the bucket too if we need to drive a ways back to the chip yard. Mostly we use the chip box on the bucket to haul plywood, cones, small amounts of firewood etc. It's versatile. No setup is ever perfect, either it's too much or too little or it sits. Iv'e been looking alot into what truck would work best as an addition and I'm still not sure. But I think more and more another slightly larger chip truck would be best. Good luck.... Mike

 

[ozarktreeman]

My bucket has an 11' chip body, and my dump has a 9' body. Under body tool boxes on the dump and a bunch of boxes on the chip. We normally chip into the dump but sometimes we will fill the bucket too if we need to drive a ways back to the chip yard. Mostly we use the chip box on the bucket to haul plywood, cones, small amounts of firewood etc. It's versatile. No setup is ever perfect, either it's too much or too little or it sits. Iv'e been looking alot into what truck would work best as an addition and I'm still not sure. But I think more and more another slightly larger chip truck would be best. Good luck.... Mike

What kind of truck do you have. And gas or diesel if gas what size motor and are you happy with the performance.