PTO Chipper

[Boxman]

First post so please be gentle🙈

Not a “commercial” but own 13 acres of woodland in North Wales & at 5& the bumping & lumping is starting to tell (plus my two lads have left home so no more help on tap).

I am buying a MF 47hp tractor & a couple of bits to go with it (flail & splitter) & was originally going to buy a road tow chipper (hire one locally every 3 months or so) but I have been looking at the PTO versions from Rock Machinery (everything over 4” is logged to burn).

Anyone any advice as to their effectiveness/reliability/robustness?

Its a tricky one for me as I can’t afford to make a mistake as hopefully we are selling our business & having more time but that means anything I buy has got to both do the job & satifly the Boss.

Edited August 7 by Boxman
Killing wife is not appropriate

[PeteB]

Everything has a place in the market and Everything has it's pro's and cons.

 

Consider this, buy something that will have a wider marketplace if you change your plans, or, do consider a used towed or even tracked if the budget allows as this doesn't tie up the tractor when you might want to tow a dump trailer or even if the terrain is too hard! Buy a proper, professional piece of kit that will do 10/tenths of your requirements all the time. 

[Boxman]

The problem with that is (being totally new to the “chipper market”) buying used is a risk as it seems in reality unless I can spend £10k plus then I am buying from less reputable sources. The Venom is new with a warranty for half that.

just wondering if anyone has used one, in reality it’s only going to get used for 3/4 days a month.

[GarethM]

47Hp might be a bit underwhelming for all of your implements, as I bet that's engine not PTO. So 47 engine, 35 PTO ok for farming including old school baler etc.

 

Rotary topper will be fine but a flail is probably asking for trouble, 10Hp a ft was the old rule as they need lots of power.

 

Chipper is possible, but it's probably cheaper to find a decent tow one with a brand name.

 

All depends on budget and how good you are mechanically.

 

Also be careful of the weight, guessing MF135 or similar ?. That's about half the weight of my small TP130 chipper!.

Edited August 7 by GarethM

[Steve Bullman]

8 hours ago, Boxman said:

anything I buy has got to both do the job & lady!

A 4” chipper won’t be anywhere near big enough to fit your missus in

[GarethM]

6 minutes ago, Steve Bullman said:

A 4” chipper won’t be anywhere near big enough to fit your missus in

Nor will your parole officer accept you've joined a Fargo appreciation society.

[GA Groundcare]

10 hours ago, Boxman said:

First post so please be gentle🙈

Not a “commercial” but own 13 acres of woodland in North Wales & at 5& the bumping & lumping is starting to tell (plus my two lads have left home so no more help on tap).

I am buying a MF 47hp tractor & a couple of bits to go with it (flail & splitter) & was originally going to buy a road tow chipper (hire one locally every 3 months or so) but I have been looking at the PTO versions from Rock Machinery (everything over 4” is logged to burn).

Anyone any advice as to their effectiveness/reliability/robustness?

Its a tricky one for me as I can’t afford to make a mistake as hopefully we are selling our business & having more time but that means anything I buy has got to both do the job & lady!

 

Tractors and PTO chippers can sometimes be hard work in dense woodland. Tracked chippers are far superior, more manoeuvrable and doesn't tie up the tractor either. We just happen to have a few tracked chippers for sale also...!

[Boxman]

2 hours ago, GarethM said:

47Hp might be a bit underwhelming for all of your implements, as I bet that's engine not PTO. So 47 engine, 35 PTO ok for farming including old school baler etc.

 

Rotary topper will be fine but a flail is probably asking for trouble, 10Hp a ft was the old rule as they need lots of power.

 

Chipper is possible, but it's probably cheaper to find a decent tow one with a brand name.

 

All depends on budget and how good you are mechanically.

 

Also be careful of the weight, guessing MF135 or similar ?. That's about half the weight of my small TP130 chipper!.

It’s an MF 1547

[Treemover]

I run a kioti ck3510, and its rated at 35hp; so if your aiming for 47hp, you will most likely have a bigger framed tractor. 

Ours runs lots of stuff, and even gets hauled into farm stuff, but I would say a very underated tractor. A lot of chippers are 45hp so your not going to be far behind. 

Secret is finding stuff at the right price. I bought a chinese rotovator and it went 50m and broke 6 blades. I sold it and bought a howard and still havent changed a blade, and I have been in quarries. A pto chipper if you can find one sh wouldnt be a bad buy, and some are bought and sit parked 364 days of the year. 

[PeteB]

Our 6" originally had 25hp through her, 47at the engine is likely to be around 37 at a guess. All the manufacturers talk is a fanciful guess against a go on a dyno. I've known 50hp to be underrated to fit the class while looking good yet another stating 50hp to snag buyers but it was barely 47...?