That's a good price for a solid dump/chipper. I'd jump on that with the intentions of going to a larger chip truck down the rd. One of the considerations is that you will need to make multiple trips to the site unless you have another driver. This seems to me the point where guys decide to go for it and get employees, or to work for others.I tend to do small to medium sized trees, no more than 60' in height and no wider than 36" at the base.
I currently have my personal Tundra... Which is the reason I was leaning towards an F-350 dump truck.
I have been finding the F-250 / F-350 dump trucks in decent condition for around $6500 and chippers in decent running condition for around the same.
The only problem with the mini skid steers is they tend to cost around $20k for used. I just got quoted on a new Bobcat MT-100 with the grapple at $38k, but there is a 4 month waiting list.....
I just want to make sure that I spend my money wisely and get the most production value out of the $15k I have to spend. I hate dragging branches, but I also hate loading big rounds by hand. So not sure if going the route of a chipper or skid steer is the best option.
I use my tractors on many jobs, but they don't have the lifting capacity a skid has, or even many mini's have. That being said they are also lower impact than an 8-12k skid, and they do a lot of work for me, so I'm multiplying my strength. I do a good bit of dirt work too, so I'm not specializing in tree work. I have a skidding winch on my larger tractor that allows me to take on jobs that others would have to rig out without climbing/rigging, so I can do them by myself and charge a little less than others with a crew/more equipment/overhead. Then when I have a stump ground I remove all the chips with my little tractor and I bring in around a 1/2 yard of topsoil to avoid the sinkhole many get after a large stump removal. Many tree guys here do not do the dirt work, grind the stumps and then leave. While I'm limited on what jobs I can take, I offer the dirt work and stick around the job site a bit longer, which obviously makes more money.