About the Landscape Juice Network

Founded in 2008. The Landscape Juice Network (LJN) is the largest and fastest growing professional landscaping and horticultural association in the United Kingdom.

LJN's professional business forum is unrivalled and open to anyone within within the UK landscape industry

LJN's Business Objectives Group (BOG) is for any Pro serious about building their business.

For the researching visitor there's a wealth of landscaping ideas, garden design ideas, lawn advice tips and advice about garden maintenance.

Chipper, tipper or trailer?

Hi

I have a growing gardening business which i have been running for 4 years and i am finding that i am getting an increasing amount of hedge and tree work.  i currently have an l200 pick up which is proving to be a bit small for the waste on some jobs.  just wondering what peoples thoughts are on investing on either a chipper, tipper with mesh sides or trailer to handle more waste?  I can only afford one of these options this year.

Thanks

Alex

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • PRO

    Hi Alex, having run most combinations, my advice would be thus:

    If you have space, security measures and a way of getting rid of unchipped waste at a reasonable price, this may be the best option as it gives versatility to use the trailer for other things, eg picking up a few fence panels etc.

    Smaller chippers can be slow to process waste and only drop it on the floor meaning it has to be picked up and reloaded onto the vehicle.

    However, for a trailer you may need (depending on your age and vehicles etc) a B+E (commonly known a trailer test) class on your driving licence.

    I had a big towable chipper shredder for last season and found it worked well when used in conjunction with the tipper truck I had at the time, but having changed the business model slightly, I have since sold it and the truck.

    • Hi Adam

      Thanks for the reply, how have you changed your business model? just wondering if i should focus more on one type of job ie lighter maintenance rather than trying to take on every job that comes my way?  this would mean tailoring my kit a bit more.  having said that a trailer is pretty essential for most jobs and a ramp would certainly help my back.  I only have a single garage for storage but could probably just squeeze in a small trailer.

      • I passed my test in the early 90s so can drive a trailer

  • Hi Alex,

    It really depends on how much waste you are getting through, but take a look at the C80 or C150: http://www.camon.co.uk/products/chippers-shredders. Adam's advice looks good on the towable chipper with tipper truck combo, but I guess it really depends on your budget and requirements. Feel free to email John: johnb@tracmaster.co.uk if you need further info on any of our CAMON models, or ask me and if I don't know the answer I will find out for you.

    -Stewart

  • I have an Ifor Williams 8 x 4 cage sided trailer and it works well for me. You could probably fit it into your garage. I got the one with the ramp at the back and in hindsight I wish I could have stretched to a tipping trailer. It's not too much of a problem with unprocessed waste but if I ever decide to get a small chipper and chip into it unloading will be a pain, so I'll likely need to upgrade the trailer then too. For general garden waste I'm fine as I am, but I'm starting to get more tree work, so a small chipper and chipping into the trailer could be useful in the future.

    • PRO

      A quick tip someone may find usefull - when using caged trailers (esp IFW GD 85's),  for green waste etc, go buy 2.5 sheets of 8*4 3mm ply, some cable ties or 'hooks' and 'line' inside of cage. Makes dragging green waste out dead easy using something like a 3 prong cultivator. When not in use, store on trailer floor.

  • I use a 10 x 6 tipper trailer with high mesh sides, doing general maintenance. I find it is tipped most days as I take a fair bit of grass away during the mowing season. The size means I can have the ride on mower in it along eith a lot of grass. It also holds 6 cubic meters of woodbark and can tip 3 tons of soil/stones easily.

  • Hi Alex

    I think a trailer will give you more options and maybe a bit more security for your gear if it has caged sides.

  • caged trailer and maybe swap the l200 for a tipper van later on

This reply was deleted.

LJN Sponsor

Advertising

PRO

How Do You Qualify A Sales Lead?


I don't know about you, but our phones and emails are starting to get busy with enquiries. I've learned over the years that it's all too easy to answer the phone, arrange a consultation and then spend a couple of hours with a prospective client…

Read more…
Comments: 0