used chipper advice pull/pto/brand

[Christopher M]

I am looking at getting a used chipper for my property, it is 20 acres and I have large fallen branches regularly with storms and lots of cutting trees/cleanup. My budget is $4000 which in my area (middle TN) seems to come down to either a 2004/2005 woodchuck wc12 wc12/A (not sure of difference) with 600-800 hours or 2009/2010 Mid Soutth WC412 models. I also found one 2004 bandit 1290, but with 1000 hours.

I have a newer 35 hp tractor that I have considered getting a woodmax WM-8-H pto chipper at $3000 , but most of what I read here people recommended an older tow behind would be better? thanks

 

[user 159780]

I have a similar situation where a BC1000XL chipper is dedicated to our property.

One issue to consider...maneuvering a pull behind machine on your lot. Here the paths cut in by the log skidder are wide enough, but it requires considerable effort to drag branches to the machine. At first glance it seemed easy enough. But with leaves on the branches the size, weight and interference with the surroundings requires considerable work/time to knock down the size for it to be manageable.

With a PTO machine I could get the chipper a lot closer to the material.

Are you planning to leave the chipper parked in the woods or tow it back to a shed? This year it's left at the work site, too much time lost towing it in and out of the woods.

In my area $4K would get you a machine that would require considerable wrenching. Maybe find a gas chipper for that price, but those that I have rented were too slow for my purposes.

If I owned a 35hp tractor in VG condition the WM would be my choice. WM has an outstanding reputation and it would be reliable.