Chipper Advice on PTO Chipper

[N80]

We use a lot of mulch. Until recently mulch was free from the county. Unfortunately they stopped their mulch program (backwards rural county can't get anything right and when they do they eventually mess that up). Purchasing mulch at the volume I want is very expensive.

Anyway, looking into pto driven chippers. I have a 45 hp tractor (about 40 hp at pto).

I don't really need one for material disposal. I need it specifically for mulch production. Material supply is not an issue. I cut my own firewood and there are always downed trees on my property.

So I guess my question is this: Will a pto chipper fill that need? If so, I am interested in recommendations on brands, models, features, things to avoid etc.

Thanks.

 

[sea2summit]

I've got a woodmaxx MX9900 that I've got thousands of pounds of chips through, probably 40-50 yards of raw material at this point. I put the chips in with my pigs for about a year then let it compost for about a year. It's held up well.

Having said that, if I was to do it over I'd probably shop around for a self powered unit. They seem to be only slightly more expensive on the used market and their capability/throughput are significantly higher.

 

[N80]

So you're saying the self contained units are more capable at a comparable but somewhat higher price? Or do you have to go way higher on price to get that better capability?

I am not familiar with self contained units other that the DR Chipper-Shredder (brand) types or the big units the tree guys use. I have assumed a pto unit would have significantly more capability than any DR Chipper type model and that the units the tree guys use would be crazy expensive.

 

[nyone]

Have you contacted any local arborists/tree companies and offer a free chip dump site?

How many yards are you needing each year?

 

[sea2summit]

So you're saying the self contained units are more capable at a comparable but somewhat higher price? Or do you have to go way higher on price to get that better capability?

I am not familiar with self contained units other that the DR Chipper-Shredder (brand) types or the big units the tree guys use. I have assumed a pto unit would have significantly more capability than any DR Chipper type model and that the units the tree guys use would be crazy expensive.

Think something like a Vermeer, Morbark, or Bandit. Off the hop they'll usually have dual feed rollers which is a huge advantage over a single commonly found in a self feeding PTO chipper, the capacity will also often start at 12" vs 4-9" for most PTO units. On the second hand market around here they can be had from 6-12k.

 

[N80]

@nyone My property is out in the sticks. I doubt anyone would be willing to dump there but I will certainly make some phone calls. And I have no idea how many yards I need. Was filling up a 10'x6'x3' trailer about twice a year but could use even more than that. So, all-in-all not a huge amount but my daughter who lives nearby would also want even more than that.

@sea2summit Sorry, should have stated budget in original post. My budget is probably around $2000 and most anything larger than 9" would be firewood.

 

[plowhog]

Purchasing mulch at the volume I want is very expensive.

Using a wood chipper to generate mulch in volume is going to be very labor intensive.

I have a Woodland Mills WC-88 that gives me good service. But producing chips in production level volume would be a very different deal.

 

[plowhog]

Was filling up a 10'x6'x3' trailer about twice a year

OK that's not too bad. I have a dump body bed on a 1-ton pickup, and a dump trailer, and I fill them each numerous times per year. Probably close to equivalent.

 

[sea2summit]

@nyone My property is out in the sticks. I doubt anyone would be willing to dump there but I will certainly make some phone calls. And I have no idea how many yards I need. Was filling up a 10'x6'x3' trailer about twice a year but could use even more than that. So, all-in-all not a huge amount but my daughter who lives nearby would also want even more than that.

@sea2summit Sorry, should have stated budget in original post. My budget is probably around $2000 and most anything larger than 9" would be firewood.

That's about 6.6 yards a load.

Yeah, 2k budget helps with recommending the right unit You're looking at a used gravity feed PTO unit I would imagine. Just stick with a solid name brand I'd stay away from cheap units like DR, find someone that specializes in tractor implements not little implements who happens to make on you can power with a tractor.

 

[N80]

Thanks guys. Good info. Since this is something my wife wants more than I do the budget could probably be stretched a bit. Agree about the DR brand. Watched the video on their web site on their PTO unit and it looked like it was going to shake itself apart.

Not too worried about the labor. I tend to wander from one chore/project to the next. Plus, if my daughter wants chips, she and her husband can chip them.