DangerTree
ArboristSite Operative
Would like to here comments or experiences with 12" chippers
Whats the best 12' chipper
- Thread starter DangerTree
- Start date
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Said it over and over in here, I love my Vermeer BC 1000xl. 
Small, compact, lightweight drum style chipper. Used on weekends only but always ready to roll. When I first bought it, used, it had some issues that were straightened out and has not had a breakdown in over 2 1/2 years. Just over 1000 hours on it, the motor a bit less considering the previous owner replaced it 1 year prior to me buying it.
Small, compact, lightweight drum style chipper. Used on weekends only but always ready to roll. When I first bought it, used, it had some issues that were straightened out and has not had a breakdown in over 2 1/2 years. Just over 1000 hours on it, the motor a bit less considering the previous owner replaced it 1 year prior to me buying it.
DangerTree
ArboristSite Operative
Thanks for the reply Capetrees I'm looking to purchase a new 12" chipper. I have heard many good things about the Vermeer 1000xl and a few dislikes too. Some folks have mentioned a trend towards plastics a feature not found on the Vermeer 1200xl. That may or may not be a bad thing as plastics need no painting but tend to be less durable overall. The unit you have is older is it before the plastic exterior?
Consider a Bandit 200xp. 80hp John Deere Engine. It's the best machine I ever bought, and that includes any truck, tractor, mower, or chainsaw.
13 years on mine, and almost no repairs whatsoever. No cracks, Nothing re-welded, all hydraulics except one valve and a couple hoses are original. The hydraulic control module went out a couple of years ago. Engine has never been worked on except for regular maintenance.
Except, of course, parts broken by abuse. Heck, we rolled it once, and had it fixed the next day. Almost upside down, it still didn't hardly get hurt.
Make sure that you get the hydraulic lift cylinder for lifting the feed rollers, and the "live" hydraulic unit. When I bought mine, it was an option. Without engine-powered hydraulics, if the disk is not turning (plugged up chute?), then you cannot lift the feed roller. Newer units are probably different now.
You can even get them with a winch on the back. I wish I had bought that option too.
Unless you are doing all removals, the 80hp engine is lots and plenty. The autofeed lets you feed anything that will fit down the throat without plugging up the chute or killing the engine.
13 years on mine, and almost no repairs whatsoever. No cracks, Nothing re-welded, all hydraulics except one valve and a couple hoses are original. The hydraulic control module went out a couple of years ago. Engine has never been worked on except for regular maintenance.
Except, of course, parts broken by abuse. Heck, we rolled it once, and had it fixed the next day. Almost upside down, it still didn't hardly get hurt.
Make sure that you get the hydraulic lift cylinder for lifting the feed rollers, and the "live" hydraulic unit. When I bought mine, it was an option. Without engine-powered hydraulics, if the disk is not turning (plugged up chute?), then you cannot lift the feed roller. Newer units are probably different now.
You can even get them with a winch on the back. I wish I had bought that option too.
Unless you are doing all removals, the 80hp engine is lots and plenty. The autofeed lets you feed anything that will fit down the throat without plugging up the chute or killing the engine.
Any of the Morbarks in that range kick some serious tail. I love the (tornado/beever?) we have at work. Does a great job chipping and what I really like about it is how it feeds, it just keeps pulling the brush in and the feed shoot is big for its size. We also have a few older 13's floating around at work. They do a nice job for how old they are and still make the company good money. The one climber has a 13 of his own with the john deere diesel, he just raves about that engine.
DangerTree
ArboristSite Operative
Thanks for that so far the winner is Bandit 250xp with all the trimmin's but I'm sure we will have a few more comments!
Bigus Termitius
Addicted to ArboristSite
Who's your closest dealer?
Lots of nice 12" chippers, but I'm going with vermeer due to my proximity to the dealership and my relations so far with the dealer.
Lots of nice 12" chippers, but I'm going with vermeer due to my proximity to the dealership and my relations so far with the dealer.
DangerTree
ArboristSite Operative
The closest dealer is in Vancouver about 5 hours from here. Vermeer is also in Vancouver BC Canada that is. I live in the North Shuswap up in the hills.
DangerTree
ArboristSite Operative
You post that you have a woodchuck are you replacing it or are you upgrading or just adding to the repair list?
You can manually lift the feed rollers on that unit by using the tongue jack. If you unpin the side springs, it makes it easier to lift. Just make sure that you pin feed roller unit (or put a block inside between the rollers) before you go sticking your hand or head between the rollers. Too many times, I've had to saw out a chunk from the inside of the throat that twisted and got stuck just as it was going up against the disc.
sgreanbeans
Treeaculterologist
Morbark
I have had 3 12"morbarks, 2-290's and I have a 200 municipal now, thing is beast! Built very well, the sub frame and axles are beefed up a bit more than the Vermeer. I had a Vermeer 1250 and hated it, always clogging.
I have had 3 12"morbarks, 2-290's and I have a 200 municipal now, thing is beast! Built very well, the sub frame and axles are beefed up a bit more than the Vermeer. I had a Vermeer 1250 and hated it, always clogging.
Mikecutstrees
ArboristSite Guru
My BC 1000 has been an excellent chipper. Has about 1700 or so hours on it. No Major problems. We put about 200-250 hours on it per year. Mine is early 2000's. It has the deluxe package which is nice to have with the extra gauges. Any of the mentioned chippers would be good depends on the distance for service and the deal you can get on one. Good Luck
Mike
Mike
arbor pro
Addicted to ArboristSite
I sold my bandit 200+ last year to upgrade to a vermeer 1800. My bandit had the 80hp cummins and was a good chipper but the infeed chute was way too small causing lots of trimming of wide crotches. if you get a 12" chipper, my 2 recommendations are to get a wide infeed chute and as big of motor as possible if the machine does not come with autofeed. 80hp is a lot until you start feeding big stuff through it. if you're going to regularly feed 8-9" stuff through it, either go with a bigger chipper or at least a bigger motor around 110hp.
I also used to own a vermeer 1230A with a 110hp JD engine. Had no problems and it fed 12" material great. Liked it much better than the bandit 200+ but it was an older bandit with the narrow infeed. I'm sure the newer wide infeed machines are much better.
Love my vermeer 1800 even though most of the time it is only eating brush and smaller logs. Just so much easier to feed and maintain than any other chipper I've ever owned and operated. Makes a big chip though but that's fine for the rancher who takes them from me...
AP
Last edited:
All true. But that hydraulic cylinder does so much more than just lift the feed wheel, which it does in moments, rather than minutes.
1. Big diameter logs are easy to feed: lift wheel, insert log, lower feed wheel. Can't do this with a manual feed.
2. Sometimes a big bundle of brush is too large for the feed wheels to pull it in under spring power alone. Hydraulics to the rescue! Push down on the feed wheel, increasing the severity of the bite. Down the chute it goes!
3. What if your jack is busy holding up the chipper tongue when you need it?
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Yes. It is very annoying to get a log caught in the throat. This happens worst when you are feeding firewood sized bites that hang up once they are past the feed rollers.
My bandit doesn't plug up when it is dull. If you let the knives get too dull, it just quits chipping. Small logs take too much time and horsepower, sometimes the feed rollers can't force the wood in when it is really dull. Naturally, we try to avoid this problem.
It doesn't plug until you do something stupid like obstructing the exhaust chute or running it too slow with the autofeed turned off. It plugged on us once when the belts failed and the disk wasn't turning up to speed.
Bigus Termitius
Addicted to ArboristSite
Jury is still out on that one. I'd like to have a backup in the wing, however, upgrading makes better sense to me in the short term. I'm almost finished with the woodchuck restoration project, preping to sell. My old row area manager is starting his own row gig and likes the woodchucks, so I might sell it to him and put the funds toward a vermeer. A 1000 would work, I'm partial to the 1400/1500, but I want the 1800. Chances are, I'll be happy with a decent 1250 for a year or two.
Deerhunter1966
ArboristSite Lurker
02 250 xp Bandit
has 3900 hrs, have had some minor problems, but we pound the thing. Would probably buy at least a 15" with a winch for the next one. Have rented a new Carlton, and ours kicks its ass. We have a 116 Cummins. They can have the John Deere. Would only look at Bandit, Morbark or Vermeer.
has 3900 hrs, have had some minor problems, but we pound the thing. Would probably buy at least a 15" with a winch for the next one. Have rented a new Carlton, and ours kicks its ass. We have a 116 Cummins. They can have the John Deere. Would only look at Bandit, Morbark or Vermeer.
treeslayer
Addicted to ArboristSite
MORBARK......
coolbrze
ArboristSite Operative
We just bought a new '10 Bandit 250XP w/ the Deluxe Option package & winch w/ a 142 Hp Caterpillar diesel and love it. It's a HOSS!!!
