monkeybusiness

Isn't that relating to the legal towing weight? ie just because a trailer is plated at 3.5 tonnes gross it isn't illegal to tow it with a vehicle with a maximum towing weight of 2.8 tonnes as long as the loaded trailer doesn't actually weigh more than 2.8 tonnes. I was under the impression that in terms of tachographs it is down to plated weights, not actual weights. As soon as you stick a trailer on the back of a vehicle plated at 3.5 tonnes and raise the gross train weight above 3.5 tonnes (even if both vehicle and trailer are empty) I'm sure you need a tacho unless you are exempted. If I'm wrong I would like to see the link to the exemption letter for my own info.

Ecoplugs ecoplugs ecoplugs. Guaranteed to kill it, dead easy to use, waterproof - it's a no brainer as far as I'm concerned.

It sounds to me as though they aren't charging enough if they sold out by November.

I think you are thinking of Santana. In terms of Ibex, I'm not personally convinced that they are worth their money. You would have to be doing some pretty extreme off-roading to notice any benefit over an equivalent Defender, and could spend a lot less money chopping a Defender about to match the Ibex's abilities. However, if money were no object I'd be tempted by one!

A company I worked for on powerline clearance got sued as they cut trees with a tenant's consent (it was assumed he was the owner). The owner was not happy and got a big pay out.

I tipped a tw150 almost exactly the same way you tipped your GM - pulling out of a junction from a standing start and the inside wheel ran over a half buried rock. If I was doing 10mph when it hit the road I'd be amazed, but it made a real mess (I think the bill was over £2k). It is easily done with any wheeled chipper, particularly the smaller narrow ones IMO.

I've run one for the last 9 years and it has been great. The cab is very very small, and it has had a few electrical problems (windows and heater fan have stopped working and are very expensive to fix), but it has been worked hard and keeps on going! They carry weight extremely well and are good tow vehicles, and the chassis appears to be super strong. It has a fantastic steering lock and can get into places you wouldn't believe. I've put big mud terrain tyres on the back which have made a huge difference off road (it is by no means an off roader, but is a lot better than any transit). Other than the small cab and expensive parts I can't fault it!

If you're a mechanic then get something second hand. Chippers are essentially very simple machines. You obviously know your way around engines, so they are self explanatory. As long as you understand that chippers have moving knives (attached to the disk or drum) that cut against fixed knives, and that both sets of knives need to have sharp edges set a fixed distance apart (approx 1 - 1.5mm is a good benchmark) there is little to go wrong. The flywheel or drum rotates fast and therefore should be balanced (not vibrating) and the bearings should be quiet in operation. Any belts should obviously run in line and be in sound condition. Chipper hydraulics are also very straight forward - there is usually an engine driven pump that runs through a spool block and provides drive to one or two hydraulic motors. Issues can arise with any stress control devices, which are designed to cut the hydraulic supply to these rollers as the engine speed drops (to prevent the machine stalling). Stress control boxes can be very expensive to repair/replace, but can usually be bypassed easily and the machine run without them. The 2 biggest issues you will face if looking at second hand machines is firstly guaranteeing their provenance (ie not stolen etc) and secondly knowing if they meet current health and safety guidelines. The H and S guidelines are important if you are going to let other people use your machine. If you are considering a particular machine speak to the manufacturer with the serial number (if this isn't available walk away immediately!) and they should be able to provide you with relevant info.

Great day out!

These are my favourite photographs ever!

The ground clearance inboard of the track frames doesn't look very good on that TW. And I wouldn't put a TW190 in the same size category as a GM1928 personally - the infeed throat size is more closely matched to a GM1623. The letterbox feed makes a 1928 operate more like a 9" machine IMO. It will be an interesing day when Timberwolf come up with some of their own ideas and stop having to copy other people's!

Great machines - I've got one that we've put over 1000 hrs on in less than 3 years and it has been amazing. Good strong bits of kit that chip well (as in drag bushy/thorny/awkward shaped stuff in and throw it out the other end) and can get over terrain no other chippers can touch. Get one on demo and draw your own conclusions! As for the disk blades, the 1928 has 4 (2 sets of 2) and it isn't unusual to get 300 hrs out of a set before they require re-sharpening. There is also amazing backup available over the phone from Greenmech - on the odd occasion that we have had a problem it has been diagnosed and a fix explained by Mac or Jason. I don't think there is a better all round tracked machine available - the Bandit 75 looks a good alternative but there would be jobs that I'm certain you wouldn't get it to that you could track straight up to with the GM. Having the ability to take the machine to the job transforms the way you look at challenging work sites.

Contact ebay, let them deal with it. I'd want my money back personally.

What sort of money is the tracked 75?

Some mates and I bought 4 from the APF 3 years ago and they are all still going strong. Not the most exciting saw in the world but I haven't personally heard of any issues with them. The 560xp is a better saw on a smaller bar (15-18''), but I have to admit there have been problems with at least 50% of the ones I personally know of.

I went last year for the day and could have happily spent another day seeing things I didn't manage to get around to - it is a fantastic show!!!

Fantastic - unfortunately there are too many people willing to buy 'cheap' kit, which gives the scrotes an easy market to fill. Great result here though!

Just bear in mind if you go working for yourself it can be more tax efficient than being employed as you get to put all your expenses (within reason) through the books, thus reducing your tax liability. However, this works both ways as you subsequently (on paper) earn less money (the less profit you show the less tax you pay) - it can then become a lot harder to get a mortgage (or even remortgage when your current plan comes to an end). I'd say if you are looking to buy a house or remortgage in the next couple of years then stick with employment personally.

Good luck - my first hand experience of your company and product has been great, I can't recommend you enough!

I'd suggest a cross-brace between the top of the centre pins if it doesn't get in the way of the chipper's discharge. I've got the same trailer with standard (slightly lower than yours) high sides that we line with ply and regularly brim with chip and it barrels out a bit in the middle when full (I suppose your profiled sides would add a fair bit of rigidity though to be fair). It's a heavy tow when fully loaded, and it has never failed to tip no problem if the battery is charged! I've tipped a 3.5 tonne load of stone without it breaking a sweat, and also easily tipped when mounded up with beech rings (don't know what that weighed but it was super heavy!). Best trailer available IMO, and those sides look great!

Speak to Arbinsure (Bartletts) - I've just renewed with them for the second year and they were by far the cheapest. They also paid out for a machinery claim with no quibbles - I can't recommend them enough! I used to be with Trust and will always offer them my business at renewal time as they were good to deal with but they couldn't touch the price this time round (although everyone's business is different of course - they may be cheaper for the next man).

They look good but £330 is an incredible amount of money (I've never been one to scrimp on footwear due to price but that seems bonkers to me).

That's a great truck - if you get it sign written like your Canter it will look amazing! I run a couple of Ivecos (non 4x4) and parts can be dear but they are generally good strong trucks that don't tend to go wrong much. Any machine is better if used regularly - I'm sure the issues you've experienced are due to lack of use. Nice work - very jealous!

I've always worn them and think they are ace (super comfortable from new, hard wearing, waterproof) but the last couple of pairs have split in the sole where the steel insole is. I don't know if this issue has been addressed - if not I don't think I'll buy another pair (to be fair to Haix they replaced them under warranty without any quibble, but the replacements have now done the same and I'm too embarrassed to complain again!).

I've got a milemarker on a Defender and I have to say it has plenty of pull but I don't think it is very well made - I doubt I'd buy another. I bought a chipper with a Warn 9000 fitted which was a lot better than I expected, and have since fitted a Winchmax (cheap eBay jobby) to another chipper that is absolutely amazing! Very well made (the only poor bit is the remote switch, easily replaced) - I can't recommend them highly enough. You could buy 6 of them before you covered the cost of a new hydraulic set up... I can only imagine your wiring loom disaster was caused by incorrect fitting somehow - this isn't meant as a dig by the way. There isn't a lot of technical wiring in a winch, you just need good leads to the battery and a 12v supply to the solenoid.