Yorkshire Brummie

Rare treat today - A hot Lincolnshire sausage and egg baguette with Brown, set me up to finish this sweaty conifer job that I cocked up big style with the price, and the access to get rid of the cord....... Live and learn :-/

Your set up looks great Josh, thanks for all the info and ideas you gave me. I will post a piccie when done.

Don't you just love the noise those Trucks make as they push through the gears, Nice pics :-)

Would both fit 2m3? I'm not sure whether the Pro tipper is out of my league price wise, if you could give me a price for both, I guess handballing chip from chip box maybe my only viable option. Thanks Peter

Thanks Peter, that sounds promising. My trailer should hold about 4m3 and still be legal. What sort of prices are we talking for one of your chip boxes on a Ranger?

Hi Peter, I have been asking around for people's opinions on chip boxes/tippers for Ranger double cabs. Are you finding the load capabilities warrant the conversion costs? I have a TW150 and TT85 but wanted a compromise for smaller jobs so I could chip straight into back of pick up. My concern Is I would be full in no time. Is 1.5 m3 the absolute max? What does that equate to in average 6" chipping time? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Ps. I need the 4x4 for the yard, I would get stuck with a tranny.

Hi Josh, How you getting on with your Chip box? Still pondering whether to have one built on my Ranger double cab. Got a TW 150 and a TT85 trailer, but want to avoid double journeys on small jobs if I can. Do you think it is worth the expense for the amount of chip you can hold? Have you had it rammed full yet? More than 1.5m3? Any other thoughts/ideas would be appreciated, Cheers

I think that makes sense, and surely if we are all building the cost of a days work around expense of running vehicle, chipper, saws, insurance etc theJob HAS to pay. What do you Guys do if you think the job is a real full day for 2 men for example, but you are pretty sure you will have to break into the following day to go back and pick up some cord or finish off. Do you just quote your "day rate" or do you add a bit as insurance, and not worry it might make you that bit more expensive!

Did my tickets 10 years ago, found the courses good and the examiners fairly hard on me but fair. The CS units gave me confidence and knowledge, but I think what sticks in my mind the most, was the common sense and safe working practice advice from an old farmer mate of mine who set me on my way. He had no tickets of any sort but years of experience working sharp hand tools and early chainsaws pre. chain brakes etc. There is no substitute for learning the right way, and in my opinion if CS examinations were kept at a high standard, it would benefit us all. The Cowboys would stick out like a sore thumb. I guess it is naive for me to say why don't Arb insurance companies demand to see proof of tickets before covering, and it made illegal for a anyone to employ a contractor to carry out Arb work without the relevant quals! Cloud cuckoo land I guess.....

Mmmm I think I slept better at night when a bit skint but all the worries were someone else's at knocking off time. I guess the ones who have it right, make the money as Boss and switch off when it's down time. Quality of life versus the money..... I still think the wrong side of £9- for skilled labour and graft ain't good though

Switch on my 7yr old Stihl also went but still a good machine till it also got nicked , screwdriver through van door while I was cutting a hedge 20 yards round corner ! Replaced with a Husky cos it was all dealer had and although maybe a little Tinny compared to Stihll it does the job. If you've got the brass backpack's got loads more nuts.

Got my TT85 tagged on to my Ranger insurance with NFU, wasn't expensive and cover seems pretty comprehensive.

Mmm, this thread seems to have answered or confirmed a few of my worries. I have been making a reasonable living for a while trimming Mrs Miggins's Bush, but of just late been asked to quote on some "Bigger" jobs. At the moment I seem to have "lost" more of them than won. We strive to do it the right way, Full Ins., tickets, PPE, etc etc. Although inexperienced in quoting for what I consider "Big" jobs, I feel I have been pretty skinny most of the time cause I really want the job for experience knowing I 'm probably working for nearly nowt but it will boost company profile and it beats hedgecutting and weeding! Do you think Mrs Miggins's hedge really warrants more of a payday than a decent takedown?!

Thanks Guys for your replies, I think it has helped me assess what my set up works with which is probably a decent gravity fed on my trailer for now, Cheers Ian

Hi Guys, We are a small Garden and Tree firm who are doing more and more Arb work. It will probably never be on a large scale but I am seriously thinking about buying a Chipper. I have a couple of jobs that I will have to hire one for which is eating nearly all the profit margin. I have a Ford Ranger doublecab with which I tow a TT85. So..... do I buy a tow behind, two journeys and tip into trailer? Or put greedy boards and chip into pick up? Or do what my budget is more suited and buy a good gravity fed and bung it into trailer or back of pick up? Is there such think as a "good" gravity fed? Green Mech CS-100 OR Jo Beau MS400 -500. We are a 2 man team , things are tight, but I don't want to end up buying a white elephant! Have read all the forums and are still not sure... Any experience or advice would be really appreciated.

Bought an 07 Ranger a couple of months ago. Touch wood it's all good, it had just had a new clutch (dual mass fly wheel?) at 60k. It tows my 15 year old plus?! TT85 which I bought off Ebay. Haven't towed with trailer weight loaded to limit yet, but seems sound enough. Selecting Low range makes shunting trailer up hill a little easier, which maybe in a Landy you wouldn't need to do?!

I'm a bit new to the forum etc, so bear with me. I've read the whole thread, and still probably none the wiser. I'm a Gardener/Tree Man. Had my NPTC tickets for about 10 years because I got bored gardening and fancied working with trees. Finally plucked up the courage after all this time to go for it with the tree work. I've had an employee for 6 months, the business is growing, slowly but the accountant seems happy. Only problem is, I tied myself to the wall stumping up for HMRC's money for previous tax year, managed to do it... just. This year I have made some big purchases - truck, trailer etc and although I have turned over more money, I''m waiting with baited breath to hear what the accountant says I will owe. Nothing hopefully, otherwise squeaky bum time. Accountant says it should be peanuts because of expenditure, but it still doesn't help when you are trying to expand (on a small scale) yet still trying to guess what money to put away each month for Mr Osbourne, in case he comes knocking! The joys of self-employment. I guess if I bust my leg up a tree I could still do some weeding!