Floclimber

Not very much. from what i've heard they're lower quality and/ or slower.

Hey tree fellas! I run a small arb business with 2 -3 guys 5 days a week and gradually growing, occasionally sending a second team out. Have got by with my Timberwolf 125 for several years now and ready to buy a 2nd larger faster hungrier chipper. The 125 is fantastic for its light weight for not sinking into the ground when offroad, manovreability by 1 man, easy to tow and park in small spaces. On the downside, the infeed rollers are frustratingly slow on any medium + sized conifer job. Also slow when i want to chip over 3.5 inch wood. Having more logs than I now need, I could do with chipping most timber upto 6''. Recently I have been pushing it with 4 and 5'' branches which simply puts too much stress on the little machine when throwing that at it regularly. So, cutting to the chase - my current interest is in the ST6 D, A530 and possibly the ST6P (petrol) if I can be convinced it's not significantly slower than the Diesel version. Correct me if I'm wrong...As the ST6P uses GRP panels in areas, ofcourse the + point is light weight BUT it could crack, not as robust as the Diesel. As most of my work is in the country side, I don't think I need to be concerened about emmisions which are gradually becoming an issue in big city's. I beleive the Jensen could be more reliable as they are very solid in the engineering. Though to my memory of using the ST6 years back, it chips faster like a hungry beast. 7'' is also an option but 8'' is getting on the heavy side. The sub 750kg chippers are a bonus to tick all the legal boxes for my subbies towing, but not essential. I've considered the tracked options as they will be useful for occasional off track work, work positioning and pulling medium sized back leaners over. BUT for the occasional usefulness - it's probably not worth the hassle of dealing with parking the trailer out the way in towns and small drives etc. also more weight and fuel towing. Points for and against the FORST ST6 and JENSEN A530 and other options in that league such as TIMBERWOLF or BANDIT would be MUCH APRECIATED along with reasons and experience. CHEERS lads