Poor Man's Chipper and Truck

[YUKON 659]

I was out blocking up some firewood this morning and snapped a few pictures. Did any of you guys start like this......

Jeff

 

[njarbor]

thats really hot . its better setup than some of the stuff ive seen. one time i went to a job so this guy could see how i climb. i get to the job and hes got a chipper towing behind his station wagon and a trailer behind a ford escort ... talk about being prefessional..i mean weve all gotta start somewhere . but at least buy a truck . the guy had like 1 saw and it barely ran . needless to say i passed myself up and didnt even bother climbing for him . thumbs up on the setup

 

[Stumper]

I have a better truck set up ( a utility bed with framed box for chips and ladder racks on top). That chipper looks a bit bigger than mine. Mine are painted to match one another. Nothing wrong with that rig though!

 

[MasterBlaster]

I guess it dumps, right?

 

[YUKON 659]

MasterBlaster, unfortunately it's only a F150 and it doesn't dump, a real PITA to empty. That's where my 2 boys come in.....young and strong backs Hopefully next year there will be a 1 ton dump in the works.
Stumper, the chipper is a Bandit 65 with a 35 hp Wisconsin. It has it's pros and cons. It would be nice to have a larger chipper but this one does a good job for now.

Jeff

 

[rahtreelimbs]

I've seen a few guys start up this way. One step at a time. Like they say you have to start somewhere!

 

[SilverBlue]

Anyone remember this Pic?

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

Tom needs to post a pic of his school bus converted to a double ram dump.

It is ugly, but it will haul some chip!! and you can park the 4 wheeler bejind the drivers seat

The only truck, aside from an Int' 4700 that i could sit up traght while driving and seeout the window

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Well...OK. I finally got a digi picture of the beauty.

The panel on the right side drop s down and becomes a drawbridge ramp so that the ATV can be driven inside.

I built everything from the deck of the dump bed up.

Tom

 

[rborist1]

:Eye:

 

[NeTree]

Hell, I started with a 1/2 ton Mitsubishi Mighty-Max, a 10 HP chipper, and 2 saws with minimal climbing gear. Man, have I grown since then, but we all have to start somewhere!

 

[YUKON 659]

I'm glad to hear a few others started this way. Actually this set up works pretty good....except for the unloading part I wish the truck could hold a little more weight though...seems I tax the load capacity before it is completely filled. I thought about helper springs....any thoughts? Another issue I have is how do you "low budget" guys deal with big wood on a removal? I haul mine in a 3/4 ton pick up but man sometimes it's quite a chore to get it in the truck and and many loads to haul it away. Maybe a heavy duty trailer?

Jeff

 

[SilverBlue]

YUKON, if your interested there are kits available that will convert your pick up into a dump. Money well spent if it saves you time and energy.

It also helps to have a list of those willing to pick up loads of firewood on site. Some even help to drag brush to the chipper.

 

[mowdenver]

Originally posted by YUKON 659
[ I wish the truck could hold a little more weight though...seems I tax the load capacity before it is completely filled. I thought about helper springs....any thoughts?
Jeff [/B]

I put a pair on one of my trucks, big help on capacity and stability. Still have to watch overloading, tires and braking are a concern.

 

[kf_tree]

just make the extra dump run or 2 a day....an f150 will always be an f150. why dump money into a truck that will never be what you want. just use it the way it is and save for a bigger truck.

trailers are always a good option....no oil change's, cheap insurance. just don't go too big or you'll dog the truck pulling it.

 

[NeTree]

Yuke,

A hand truck with BIG tires helps get the big wood to the truck, and a lifting davit can be fabricated pretty cheaply and easily from a $20 marine strap winch and some channel iron. Keep a splitting wedge on hand to knock big rounds down to a more managable weight; the few seconds it takes to split is way worth the savings on your back.

 

[treeman82]

Jeff, check into tree services who have log trucks. See what they would charge you. I used to use my 16' trailer for getting rid of wood, because you can just roll the logs up the tailgate. However you have to be careful how you distribute the load.

 

[geofore]

F150

The F150 is not a big enough truck, even with the extra springs you hit and exceed the load capacity of the truck not to mention you exceed the braking ability of the truck, can't stop on a hill when loaded. You can take two 150's or buy an F350 which will haul twice the load however you spend more for fuel, plates and ins. to run the F350 so your base price for tree work just went up. Don't cheat on the brakes, you need to be able to stop the truck with a load on. The truck you have does not dump, have you looked into the bed liner that has a crank to move the load out the back, not as good as a dump but cheaper and easier on the back. Good start though, not enough saws in the picture.

 

[YUKON 659]

Thanks for all the input everyone. I appreciate it.
Erik I do have a hand truck...almost worth it's weight in gold!!!! Never heard of a lifting davit...could you elaborate?
Geofore, check out the thread "Bench Full O Saws" in the chainsaw forum for more saws.

Jeff

 

[NeTree]

Lifting davit is something like this...