benedmonds

We are currently still looking at replacing our TW 250, which is a great chipper. We have tried the TW 350 the Vermeer BC230 xl and the Bandit 90xp (I think). All were good machines ... Front runner in my mind at the minute is probably the vermeer. Waiting to see a jensen..

Ours wallows like a boat if fully loaded..

Ditto. Ours has a wide cab, loads of room, tows 3.5 ton. Amazing turning circle. Carries weight well.

Where did you get your monthly tips?

I paid by card, so the bank said I could not stop it! I thought that was safer then direct debit... I have since realised, it was an old card as I broke mine luckily.. Anyway they can't take the cash..! But a quick google of the company finds nothing but BAD reviews and warnings.. I guess I only got the invoice when the card was rejected... I am now expecting threatening letters if other internet posts are anything to go by. Good idea to replace your card regularly. I might start doing that as it is easy and free. Last time I did it I think I even carried on with the same pin..

Don't go near!!! Sneaky, cheating......! Signed up for some advertising on the back of a local indian restaurant menu. Thought it was worth a try. It wasn't! Didn't have a call in the 2 years. Forgot about it, then get an email telling me it is rolling into year 3. Now two years ago I signed an agreement for two years but on the back point 14 in the small print is that if I don't cancel the order within 12 months in writing by recorded delivery it will roll on. My bank says it can't stop the payment! I am seething!!

If it's shiny Ben will want it...

I am very fond of ours, but unless I have to go off road or use the winch I'd rather take the 6 ton iveco or 3.5 ton isuzu. Especially if towing a big trailer... The loaded LR 130 with our 2.2 ton chipper is horrible while the Iveco and Isuzu are fine.

Pro's: its a Landrover Con's: it's a Landrover If you need it, there are few substitutes, with the exception of a few very expensive (mog, iveco 4x4) or old and ex military vehicles(rb44), but way too small for general domestic arb IMO.

I have never driven a freelander but as I am now covering a lot of miles I have been looking for a vehicle with decent MPG. Parkers states the TD4 achieve much lower 32-37MPG. The 1.8 only 27 MPG. There are not many vans that will do 50MPG and I don't think there are any 4x4's. The 4x4 VW caddy is about the best and that is low 40's.

Get three guys dragging. Least damage and probably the cheapest option..

We run a 6 ton iveco, 3.5 ton izusu, and 130 Land rover. I don't know how anyone runs a business with a LR as their main vehicle. I love mine and is invaluable when you need it.. With two tucks on site you can send someone to tip while filling the other and tow a big trailer and chipper to site. Logs and chip are also kept separate. Multiple vehicles also mean you can work (if not quite as efficiently) when your truck is in the garage etc..

Last pic shows the die back from the top, (if you turn your head sideways) the sapling was only a few years old.

Looks familiar... http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/arb-trucks/43669-7-5-tonner-ibex-6x6.html

Just clearing and area in the garden and found this self set ash.. Some one tell me I am wrong:thumbdown:

Has anyone done the L3? Our apprentices did the level 2 with Dart last year. I have to admit wasn't overly impressed.. but they want to keep learning and I am keen for them to learn more...

I have one in my garden and have lots of seedlings from it, they are all over the garden. Most purple, some green. I have recently seen a seedling growing up a few hundred meters away in a verge. Squirrels nicking the nuts..

Chip is worth between £3-£30 a tonne. Give stobarts a ring. They might be able to provide a BIG chipper, either at no cost, or still pay you a bit..

What else can I try.. We've tried the bandit and pretty good, well built. We have a TW 250 which is a good machine and have a 350 coming on demo? Contacted vermeer Who else should i consider?

The one off costs do add up but to me the biggest cost is time. If my apprentice is in a tree, you generally are going to have an experienced climber (often me) on the ground. The job will take longer often allot longer, but as an employer you still have to pay the same but can't charge more. The guys who work for me are now getting to a level where they can be sent to do jobs on there own and we currently have enough work so I can send them to a job for a day, that might take a experienced crew 3/4 of a day. It means they are earning less as a team, but gaining experience without me having to watch them.. It has taken a couple of years to get to this point.. Training climbers in small firms is a bit of a catch 22, decent climbers will climb lots as they will earn, but you need to climb lots to become a decent climber. Unfortunately inexperienced (slow) climbers don't get to get the experience as the margins aren't there in many instances... and when they become experienced they bog of and set up on there own!

I have not owned one but from what I have seen of springer spaniel s they are best as a working dog. Lots of energy and powerful for their size. . I am sure some make great family pets and all breeds can. But in my experience some are better suited..

My guys are good .....mostly... and the advantage of training your own guys is that you can teach them to do it the way you want it done. The issue is that they will probably bog off once fully up to speed and finally really useful. If my guys do bog off I think I'll look for trained guys (or gals). You might want employees to work as hard and care as much as you do, but unfortunately I think that is very unlikely..

It's probably cheaper to use freelancers. Apprentices are very expensive.... They don't realise it, but the time it takes to train them adds up...

A pre 97 licence (with C1E (107)entitles you to drive a vehicle with a trailer, with a combined weight of 8.25 tonnes. That means with a 7.5 toner you would only be able to tow a small chipper, which is pointless if you have a big truck. Our 6 ton iveco tows a 10 inch 2.2 ton chipper, fully rammed with chip it will be overweight. I would be surprised if a 7.5 tonner would legally carry any more as they are a much bigger vehicle. If you have your HGV, I'd go bigger, I bet operating cost are not much more and you could get a half decent crane!

I had a TT before the labradoodle, he was nuts!!