Unhitching the chipper whilst chipping.

[Mick Dempsey]

I was ordering a new tow hitch (switching from ring to standard) and gas strut for the GM the other day, and the guy at the suppliers said that he has many tree surgeons on bemoaning the short life of the gas struts on their braked machines. He said that if you're using it for long periods you should unhitch it otherwise the strut is working all the time, leading to premature failure, is this right?

[GreenGui]

Defo. I unhitch anything working for long periods with either the tow vehicle or machine running. Think of all those micro vibrations and the effect they are having on the damper/strut seals

[skyhuck]

Would applying the brake not be just as effective???

[Mick Dempsey]

Surely even then the gas strut is still receiving pressure pulses?

I'm not looking to be right. Just looking for the best course of action.

[V6 WRA]

I often wonder about this, always used to take the GM off so it didn't wear the hitch out!

 

But have left the Forst on a bit more when roadside, for security rather than anything else. Take it off and you've gotta clamp it these days

[Mesterh]

I've never noticed it personally. Worked for a few firms over the years and no one has bothered to unhitch.

 

Although for the price of a gas strut against the hassle of unhitching the chipper all the time I know what I would do.

 

I would have thought speed bumps would be more of a culprit.

[Mick Dempsey]

I've never noticed it personally. Worked for a few firms over the years and no one has bothered to unhitch.

 

Although for the price of a gas strut against the hassle of unhitching the chipper all the time I know what I would do.

 

I would have thought speed bumps would be more of a culprit.

 

I hear you, however all they're saying is drop the jockey wheel and jack it off the hitch ball to avoid the vibes.

Biggest problem I can envisage is constantly forgetting and pulling out the electrics etc when moving forward a metre or so!

[Mesterh]

I was thinking more along the lines of chippers tipping up backwards(had it happen when we have had to chip unhitched, can be quite dangerous, the grief of fitting or using stabilisers) jockey wheels rattling about and dropping, having to chock wheels on slopes etc.

 

But, your probably right, I would be the one constantly driving off, forgetting to plug the electrics back in:laugh1:

[GlobalNewark]

Definitely unhitch, the resination will quickly kill a damper, the trailer manufacturers all recommend this.

[Johny Walker]

Definitely unhitch, the resination will quickly kill a damper, the trailer manufacturers all recommend this.

 

why dont they make a beefed up 1, for chippers then , simples ,or design a tow hitch that is percifick to woodchippers ???