billconner
Well-known member
Under 1 acre lot, lots of white pines, a half dozen oaks, a bunch of big locust or ironwood like bushes, and smaller yard waste. Used, under $1000, 18hp, electric start. Worth it? Thanks.
DR chippers
- Thread starter billconner
- Start date
honcho
Well-known member
Is it a chipper or a chipper shredder?
Went looking on the DR website to see what their 18hp machine looks like but the biggest listed was 13.5hp. They claim their 13.5hp machine will handle 5" diameter pieces of wood which always seems to be a bit optimistic for non-commercial machines. I have a smaller 10hp chipper-shredder which is useful but a pain to store and another engine to maintain.
Went looking on the DR website to see what their 18hp machine looks like but the biggest listed was 13.5hp. They claim their 13.5hp machine will handle 5" diameter pieces of wood which always seems to be a bit optimistic for non-commercial machines. I have a smaller 10hp chipper-shredder which is useful but a pain to store and another engine to maintain.
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
I use a DR brush mower pretty regularly and I’m a big fan of their products. Can’t imagine that machine will be lesser quality for you.
OP
billconner
Well-known member
I think it's 2018 or maybe older but found quite a few references on line. 18hp with electric start and 5 1/2" capacity. I'd rather rent a 6 or 8 inch machine with auto feed, but if this used machine is not much more to purchase, it gives pause. I do dislike storing and maintaining a gasoline machine. Listed as chipper. Most of what I have are bushes that were 1 to 2 inches at base, all the way to twigs and leaves. A lot more than just shredder work.
Than you!
Than you!
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I'd rent a bigger machine. But I also hate having infrequently used gas equipment around. Can you plan around renting once or twice a year? If you need the thing every month, renting probably doesn't make sense, but if infrequent, let someone else store and maintain it
At under an acre, I can't Imagine needing it frequently. You'll end up with a cleared lot in no time...
A chipper is a tool where bigger is better and they never seem to handle their rated capacity anyway.
At under an acre, I can't Imagine needing it frequently. You'll end up with a cleared lot in no time...
A chipper is a tool where bigger is better and they never seem to handle their rated capacity anyway.
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PelicanPines
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I co-rent a machine with a friend every year... it's not worth "owning another machine" and all that comes with it. If you plan on using it 5 or 6 times a season... maybe...
On the nice side... free mulch !!! anytime you want some.
On the nice side... free mulch !!! anytime you want some.
OP
billconner
Well-known member
I should rent. If I owned one I might use it some or lend it but chances are I won't "need" one more than once or twice the rest of my life.
My problem will be towing the size chipper that makes the work easy - 8" and auto feed. I asked about delivery and pick up at or an excavator or skid steer to level a garage site - $228. So then I think but a truck and trailer but that is a whole other level. Meantime, I'm search for companies that will either chip it or haul it away.
My problem will be towing the size chipper that makes the work easy - 8" and auto feed. I asked about delivery and pick up at or an excavator or skid steer to level a garage site - $228. So then I think but a truck and trailer but that is a whole other level. Meantime, I'm search for companies that will either chip it or haul it away.
RTM
Well-known member
I have a Tazz K33, much smaller than that, and only 1/3 acre. I use mine several times per year, but its a chipper shredder. I don't have the energy to run it for a full day anymore, after an hour or two, I'm pooped. I usually will trim one day, shred the next. But at 3" max capacity I'm working much harder than you would be. I use mine for branches, leaves etc. My nearest rental place that owns one is over 1/2 hour away, much worse on the weekends. I can't store a huge one, mine barely fits in the garage.
I have 7 cedars, 2 sequoias, 1 giant Monterey cypress, and lots of bush rows, and Eucalyptus dropping leaves and branches on my property. A year round effort to keep up with around here.
I have 7 cedars, 2 sequoias, 1 giant Monterey cypress, and lots of bush rows, and Eucalyptus dropping leaves and branches on my property. A year round effort to keep up with around here.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
If you have county/city yard waste drop-off, a small trailer might be a better investment. Just haul it off and be done.
TriumphFan
Well-known member
Rent one instead. You'll be surprised how fast you can chew up branches with a self feed commercial chipper. Why buy one and then have to store it and maintain it. Once the bulk is done I just keep a burn pile and burn it instead.
OP
billconner
Well-known member
Yes, leaning toward trailer (have) and town "transfer station" at which there is no charge for brush. But I do have a lot of dead white pine - mostly branches fro probably 30+ trees - that I thought would make good mulch.
sportfan
Well-known member
I worked with a guy that used to run a tool rental business. He said don't waste you money on these home owner type chippers . He said rent a commercial chipper when you need it.
scooby074
Well-known member
use the money to rent a proper self feeding chipper. I have an old Troy Built chipper shredder that is basically useless. Because of the narrow throat, you have to basically limb the tree before it will feed. Waste of time.
Ton ton
Well-known member
The bigger Diesel powered chippers are fun to use.
got that one on a 100 acre farm. it's not been without its issues, but it gets regular use (couple times a week) for the past 20 years. anything bigger doesn't fit down the trails.
DR's support is good, and as their product lines age you can see that they learn from experience. We try to stay away from things without oil pumps, they just don't last as long.
this one - briggs flat twin, AFAIK 4" capacity as sold:
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OP
billconner
Well-known member
Related: If I chip all that I cut and cleared, lots of shrubby bushes and wild grape vine, and spread it out, am I reseeding it? Will it be worse than it was? Just in several days things cut or brush hogged are already recovering. Maybe herbicides have a place but am not a big advocate of better living through chemistry. Just wondering if hauling is better than chipping when it comes to preserving the "park" like appearance. Lots of compliments and not close to being finished with cleanup.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Any seeds will certainly be distributed. You won't be be destroying them in a chipper
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RTM
Well-known member
Wild vines will probably regrow, I know I can’t get rid of my Mountain BlackBerry, so any cuttings get hauled away, as do weeds, and certain succulents. To kill weed seeds, you need any efficient and hot compost pile.
Ton ton
Well-known member
The cycle of weeds continues. It's really hard to predict what is going to happen without me being there in person.
OP
billconner
Well-known member
Makes me lean towards hauling it away.
I figure I can haul out an unused lawn mower and kind of whack stuff once a month. Maybe use up all those part bottles of round up.
I figure I can haul out an unused lawn mower and kind of whack stuff once a month. Maybe use up all those part bottles of round up.
Whenever I see pics of these homeowner level chippers, the large branch being shoved into the machine is always devoid of the smaller branches.
OP
billconner
Well-known member
bas157
Well-known member
I have a 10hp one that the main body looks similar to that one, but mine is 10hp and not road towable. Haven't used it much (got it late in the fall), but when I have used it, its worked good. Mine was used but only $275, which was a great deal, most I see are selling for more like $700 or so but don't think I've seen an 18hp one for sale. It is much quicker at chipping than my ~25 old MTD chipper/shredder. Pretty sure that unit was actually made by MacKissic, as they had been the OEM mfg for DR chippers, but are not anymore.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
An old girlfriend of mine had a DR and she was unhappy with it. She's a farm girl (the reason things didn't work out since I was 21 before I ever even saw a live cow having lived my entire life up until that point in downtown Pittsburgh, PA). Sue had bucks so just went out a bought a Vermeer. One thing about Sue is that she didn't screw around. Wanted to dig some trenches to put in French drains so she bought a Kubota backhoe. Gotta love a girl that makes her mind up and then just does it. Damn good backhoe driver too by the way. Me being a metalhead (Black Sabbath & Metallica fan) I just couldn't handle the C&W music she liked. Great girl we were just from different planets.
quickfarms
Well-known member
I have one that I haven’t used in many years. I found it was faster to load a trailer and take it the county landfill that uses tub grinders