Pros & cons to owning a tracked chipper

[Matthew Storrs]

It's really not a problem, it seems your thinking of the smallest negatives instead of thinking of the massive pluses to having a tracked machine.

 

True, but perhaps you really need the kind of work for a trackie to make it work for you, if 80% of your jobs is based on being on a roadside or on someones driveway, then you,d probably be better off with wheeled. Large rural gardens/countryside work/woodlands- tracked machine all the way.

Im unsure of the latest prices but I think a tracked machine is near enough 10k more than equvilent wheeled, you,ve got to quite a bit of above works to actually pay for itself.

Just being devils advocate...

[Hodge]

I can back my chipper on its trailer into or onto most driveways, I work on the side of the road a lot too, it's really not a big deal, as for cost, when I bought that machine it cost me£400 a month in finance, that was in the recession of 08, I managed to pay it off though and will finance my new Timberwolf vtr when it's made.

[Mountain man]

True, but perhaps you really need the kind of work for a trackie to make it work for you, if 80% of your jobs is based on being on a roadside or on someones driveway, then you,d probably be better off with wheeled. Large rural gardens/countryside work/woodlands- tracked machine all the way.

Im unsure of the latest prices but I think a tracked machine is near enough 10k more than equvilent wheeled, you,ve got to quite a bit of above works to actually pay for itself.

Just being devils advocate...

 

Ten grand would buy a very decent grinder, from a business point of view that could make a lot more sense.

[Matthew Storrs]

You can do pretty much anything with a tracked machine that you can do with a wheeled machine but not vice versa, But if you spend most of your working days on driveways and roads why bother forking out an additional 10k... I really think that most tree companies working in cities mainly will benefit little from a tracked machine compared with folk who work out in rural areas.

[simonm]

Problem we have is we do a mixture of work, down driveways or site clearance so if you look at it that way then i should have both! Leaning towards the tracked side as is more versatile

[Johny Walker]

here you go.

[josharb87]

From a users perspective, the trailer choice makes the biggest difference.

At one company i used a tracked greenmech on a tipping trailer, it was pants for small jobs as far too high if left on the trailer, although versatile being able to chip on the trailer on bigger jobs.

At another, a tracked tw190 turbo, on a plant trailer, much better as lower, still a pain compared to a road tow as you couldn't really stand at the side to feed as well as a road tow, and being up on the ramp to feed, could be awkward if you wanted to chuck and run a gnarly piece in.

I reckon (although not tried or tested) the smallest, lowest plant trailer possible, with a cut down ramp (like Johnny walkers on here) would be great as you could back the chipper up a bit on the trailer so the whole hopper hangs over the back of the trailer. Should be a much safer feeding position?

 

Edit like the Johnny walker above haha!

[benedmonds]

Th I can get my hands on a new timberwolf 190tftr at 30 grand tomorrow,

 

It depends on the type of work you do.. For £30K you could get a decent 10 inch chipper! Or a landrover and a 6 inch.. I would rather have a big chipper and hire in a tracked machine when needed. I have hired in a tracked machine a few times in the last few years, and each time it reminds me I hate chipping with 6 inch machines. If you have a 4x4 there are quite a few of those chip on site jobs you can also get to.

[simonm]

here you go.

 

What trailer is that Johnny? looks like my Indespension plant trailer only smaller.

[Matthew Storrs]

here you go.

 

Same trailer I had with mine, built like a tank:laugh1:

 

 

why have you cut the runners (that stop the machine tipping off the trailer) down?