HEY GUYS I HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT GETTING A NEW CHIPPER. EITHER THE BANDIT WITH AUTO FEED HYDRAULIC CUSHER AND WINCH OR VERMEER HAS ONLY THE SMART FEED SYSTEM SAME AS THE AUTO FEED BUT IS A 15 INCH VERSUS THE BANDIT 12 INCH. THE COST OF THE VERMEER IS ABOUT 4K LOWER THEN THE BANDIT, I KNOW NOT THE SAME OPTIONS YOUR INPUT WOULD BE A GREAT HELP,:biggrinbounce2:
Bandit 250 Or Vermeer Bc1500
- Thread starter Duffer
- Start date
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treeslayer666
ArboristSite Member
Say No To Vermeer
I made the mistake of buying a new Vermeer bc1400 over the Bandit 250 back in 2003. Dont be tricked into the Vermeer (thinking, ohhh its a 15"). Vermeer breaks and Vermeer does not stand behind their CHIPPERS. Bandits are solid ruged machines they dont break. Take another closer look at the Vermeer and common sence will tell you what chipper to buy.
I made the mistake of buying a new Vermeer bc1400 over the Bandit 250 back in 2003. Dont be tricked into the Vermeer (thinking, ohhh its a 15"). Vermeer breaks and Vermeer does not stand behind their CHIPPERS. Bandits are solid ruged machines they dont break. Take another closer look at the Vermeer and common sence will tell you what chipper to buy.
neighborstree
ArboristSite Operative
buy the vermeer !..better yet, demo them both, then buy the vermeer after you get fed up with bandits feed system
I AM RUNNING bandit right know and the have no problem with the auto feed system. the only thing i find is the price on the new bandit a little costly. The vermeer does not look the same,versus the bandit that's why i need more input from my follows arborsit,
treeslayer666
ArboristSite Member
I ran a used bandit 250 with 2000+ hours for 4 years. No problems at all. The only thing I had to do was change the drive belts. I sold it with 3000+ hours for the same price I paid for it. The brand new Vermeer bc1400 i bought in 2003 I paid $34k. Nothing but problems since day 1.
1. New drum with 200 hours ( ate a knife )
2. New chute with 300 hours
3. Four new heat shields and I need a new one again.
4. Vibration problems, all bolts have rattled out more than once even using extreme duty Lock-tight
5. Replaced all electronic buttons twice ( chute rotation, winch, and autofeed)
6. Three new chute rotation motors.
7. Three recals.
Now my bc1400 has 860 hours on it and the rear main is leaking and the clutch is slipping. Have to have that stuff fixed this winter. Sould cost me around $3k from vermeer notheast.
Tried to trade to a bandit but my bandit dealer will not take my vermeer bc1400 in trade. Same with Woodsman.
Talked to vermeer notheast and they said they really don't want my chipper because "they have so many laying around".
Vermeer Northeast told me they would give me $15k tword a new bc1500 The new bc1500 is going for $46k. My chipper & $31k!!!!!!
I told them to (censored) in their fist. Never deal with Vermeer!!
1. New drum with 200 hours ( ate a knife )
2. New chute with 300 hours
3. Four new heat shields and I need a new one again.
4. Vibration problems, all bolts have rattled out more than once even using extreme duty Lock-tight
5. Replaced all electronic buttons twice ( chute rotation, winch, and autofeed)
6. Three new chute rotation motors.
7. Three recals.
Now my bc1400 has 860 hours on it and the rear main is leaking and the clutch is slipping. Have to have that stuff fixed this winter. Sould cost me around $3k from vermeer notheast.
Tried to trade to a bandit but my bandit dealer will not take my vermeer bc1400 in trade. Same with Woodsman.
Talked to vermeer notheast and they said they really don't want my chipper because "they have so many laying around".
Vermeer Northeast told me they would give me $15k tword a new bc1500 The new bc1500 is going for $46k. My chipper & $31k!!!!!!
I told them to (censored) in their fist. Never deal with Vermeer!!
Ever had a chipper go down in the middle of a job and then have to stack the brush in the truck? Nightmare
Ever had a chipper sit in the shop for a week when you had planned for a crew using that chipper all week? Nightmare
Ever had a Vermeer?
Bandit all the way. Pay the extra now or you'll be paying for it later with the Vermeer.
Ever had a chipper sit in the shop for a week when you had planned for a crew using that chipper all week? Nightmare
Ever had a Vermeer?
Bandit all the way. Pay the extra now or you'll be paying for it later with the Vermeer.
jonseredbred
ArboristSite Operative
gotta agree, the 1400 is junk!!
the 1500? first year machine stay away!!
dealer support is the #1 thing in purchase.
Vermeer Northeast? new salesman every 6 months, whats that tell you?
the 1500? first year machine stay away!!
dealer support is the #1 thing in purchase.
Vermeer Northeast? new salesman every 6 months, whats that tell you?
Thor's Hammer
ArboristSite Guru
Hey Duffer, what's the prices you've been quoted?
As to the two chippers, its an insult to the 250 to be compared with the vermeer. The old 1250 Vermeer was a better machine. Then Vermeer started making chippers out of play dough and chocolate.
As to the two chippers, its an insult to the 250 to be compared with the vermeer. The old 1250 Vermeer was a better machine. Then Vermeer started making chippers out of play dough and chocolate.
treeman82
Addicted to ArboristSite
Somebody I know has worked as a mechanic on: Morbark, Bandit, and Vermeer. Spending a good amount of time on all 3 brands. He told me that while working on Bandits and Morbarks he never saw any catastrophic failures unless the machines were beaten to death. On the other hand he said that with Vermeer all he saw was catastrophic failure regardless of how the machines were treated. First hand I saw the difference in how the three brands are to work on. Bandit and Morbark aren't that bad to do things to. With the Vermeer, to replace the belt on those things is a TERRIBLE pain. Not something you would want to do. I've spoken with people who have sold their Morbarks and Bandits because the sales pitch for the Vermeer was so good... they all regretted it in the end. One Bandit dealer took a 1400 on consignment to sell for somebody who bought a 250??? the 1400 is still sitting there, they can't move it.
I think you should buy the Vermeer and then report back every 200 hours of operation!!! Then we will know if the consensus of the Vermeer being a POS is correct.
opcorn: opcorn:
I have a Vermeer 672 stump cutter - not bad, but I wouldn't own one of their new ones!
opcorn: opcorn: I have a Vermeer 672 stump cutter - not bad, but I wouldn't own one of their new ones!
ROLLACOSTA
Addicted to ArboristSite
From what i've heard and read over the years I wouldn't touch a Vermeer chipper.
neighborstree
ArboristSite Operative
i dont know what everyone has agenst vermeer. but my experence with chippers goes as far as.. ive owned
bandit 280 xp
bandit 254 xp
bandit 1590 intimadator
morbark 290
woodchuck wc17
and last but not lease a 1996 vermeer bc1800. i bought it off a local guy with 1600 hours. for 15'000 , it was my third chipper into my buiesness and ive never operated a better machine. it only had a little 118 hp perkins diesel in it.. now when i say i beat the piss out of it, i did, lol...it says 18 inch, so i used it for 18 inch wood. i never had any problem with my chipper. never let me down. unlike many bandits and morbarks have..so i put about 500 hours on it and sold it for 19'500. so i made tons of money with it and made 4500 profit selling it. i dont know about the new bc1800 being its a first year machine, i would stay away from it. only yo give them a year to work out the kinks.. but i would definatly demo both , beat them to death and see what one works best for you..if you enjoy fighting with bandits terrable feed system , buy that..if you like a simple auto feed system that you dont have to back up every minute beacuse its jammed, then go with vermeer. or buy a conehead and make sence of your money
bandit 280 xp
bandit 254 xp
bandit 1590 intimadator
morbark 290
woodchuck wc17
and last but not lease a 1996 vermeer bc1800. i bought it off a local guy with 1600 hours. for 15'000 , it was my third chipper into my buiesness and ive never operated a better machine. it only had a little 118 hp perkins diesel in it.. now when i say i beat the piss out of it, i did, lol...it says 18 inch, so i used it for 18 inch wood. i never had any problem with my chipper. never let me down. unlike many bandits and morbarks have..so i put about 500 hours on it and sold it for 19'500. so i made tons of money with it and made 4500 profit selling it. i dont know about the new bc1800 being its a first year machine, i would stay away from it. only yo give them a year to work out the kinks.. but i would definatly demo both , beat them to death and see what one works best for you..if you enjoy fighting with bandits terrable feed system , buy that..if you like a simple auto feed system that you dont have to back up every minute beacuse its jammed, then go with vermeer. or buy a conehead and make sence of your money
neighborstree
ArboristSite Operative
probly dead haha . dont matter , i made my $$ with it...personally ive head alot of good and not much bad about coneheads, i think im going to demo one soon , ive seen there 24 inch tow behind chipper in action, comes with a 300 hp jd diesel,. thing was huggggge for a tree service doing street jobs lol
JohnH
ArboristSite Operative
I say go Bandit all the way we own 11,250s 2,200s 1 1590, 3 1890s 1 1890hd
1 1850 we also have a morebark, a woodsman and a Sh**box carlton. The bandits are the way to go in my opinion
1 1850 we also have a morebark, a woodsman and a Sh**box carlton. The bandits are the way to go in my opinion
I never had any problem with the auto feed system, and as for as cost goes the bandit dealer called me seeing he knows i been looking thinking of changing,(and had gone to see a vermeer) but what i need to know is do you think a 1000 hours is a lot on my diesel 200. thank The Duffer -dizzy:
twoodward15
ArboristSite Operative
neighborstree, why did you sell the vermeer if it was such a good machine. Not being sarcastic, just curious. Did you buy something else? What machine did you buy?
