Mr Chips: If you are considering buying a chipper and you are in the tree service business a chipper should make the difference between time wasted and time saved or profit and loss.

Most tree service companies understand this but still go out and buy fancy pickups and try to save money on the chipper. I suggest you get the best chipper for the type of work you do and the fancy pickup should look after it's self.

For a landscaper that does lots of pruning I like the Carlton Model 1260 with either a Vanguard 35 HP V-Twin or Hatz 35 hp engine. The Model 1260 has a 12" wide opening so it can take up to 6" dia. limbs or tops even with the limbs on and with over 30 hp it has lots of snort to put it into your truck in short order. The Model 1260 is also easy to get around.

For a tree service that needs a bigger chipper but still compact a Carlton Model 1790 with engine options from 50hp to 100hp will work well. Again, you have many choices so you should consult with your dealer or ask Mr Chips which will be best tool for your application.

For the tree service company that wants the ultimate all round chipper the Carlton Model 2512 has always been the champ. These larger chippers can be equipped with engine options 80hp to 140hp. There is no substitute for the right tool for the job. Northland would like to help you find that tool.

Mr Chips: There is no substitute for the right tool for the job and your Bandit dealer will be able to fine tune your chipper to meet your needs. Here are some suggestions.

1. Engine. As you are considering a relatively large hand feed chipper, I suggest you go for all the horsepower that your budget can stand. Diesels are cheaper to operate and are more gutsy than gas but some people don't like to work around diesel engines. More power will increase productivity.
2. Auto feed. If you will be using inexperienced people often or if say the chipper will be rented, this option is a must and I suggest that you go for reversing auto feed. If the chipper is to be used by an experienced crew, spend the auto feed budget on more horsepower. In my experience, Carlton chippers outperform their competitors comfortably with the same horsepower so if you can have a Carlton chipper and extra horsepower you will have an edge on the competition.
3. Twin Hydraulic lift on top feed wheel. This is a great option if you expect to do material that is large in diameter or is long and heavy. As well as lifting the feed wheel to make it easy to feed large diameter material, it can be used to apply down pressure on long heavy material.
4. Winch. Again it depends upon the type of work you do but a winch is great, not only for dragging those extra large limbs to the chipper but also for bundles of smaller limbs. One owner told me that adding a winch to his chipper improved the morale of his crew as well as their efficiency. I suggest that you include the remote control for the winch.
5. I really like Carlton's hand crank discharge, it is simple, inexpensive and effective. If the chipper will be used between several trucks you may want to consider ordering Carlton's hand crank height adjustment as well.

Carlton offers many other options, to many to go over here, check with your dealer and please let me know how things work out.