Rima WC68 Wood Chipper $1,999.00

[ultrarunner]

Luck of the draw a lot of the time with the Chinese items. I bought a 3pt chipper a while back and ended up working on it more than using it. Put it on Craig's List and people were just about fighting over it. The metal was soft as a sneaker, never so happy to see a machine go. Bought a Brush Bandit and never looked back.

Bandit 65?

At one time I was on the hunt for a used one but slim pickings so most ends up in the gulch to rot…

 

[1savoy]

1savoy; I understand your dilemma - it sounds like a dump trailer would be a good fit for you.
I just wanted to say that it's really disappointing to learn just how "large" of a pile of branches it takes to make any size of a chip pile!! You'll have what seems like a hugh pile and chip it up into a small little clump of chips. That's what I've found anyway. I still love having my chipper and use it fairly often but I never really get a large pile of chips when done.

Hey Gregster,

Thanks for the advise and sharing about the quantity of wood chips you actually end up. I've wondered if what I would be chipping would leave me decent amounts of wood chips. This is where I'm really torn. A chipper would be very handy and the wood chips would be nice to have, but in the long run spending the money toward a dump trailer would probably be the smarter choice. The Rima chipper at $1,999.00 isn't too much of an investment, but a Woodland Mills or WoodMaxx starts pushing $4k by the time you get it to your door. There are quite a few companies that build trailers around here so prices are decent. The nice thing in Oklahoma is we do not have to register or have inspections on trailers, so there is no added cost to have one other than a little maintenance from time to time.

This is one of the dump trailers I keep looking at but haven't taken the time to stop by and look at it in person. This model doesn't have the three way tail gate, but I don't think I would use that option very often and this would fit the bill. It isn't the most heavy duty 6x12 10k trailer option out there, but I would not be using it commercially. Just residential use.

Here is a snip of what the "Okie Dirt" is that the brush we haul off is turned into. There is a pile at Operation Pride you can manually load anytime they are open and then they also load certain days and it's all "free" (paid for through our taxes). I would like to haul in a fair bit of the Okie Dirt for under many of the trees where the roots are exposed from erosion.

Sorry for another long post and I really appreciates everyone's help and input.

 

[Gregster613]

Hey Gregster,

Thanks for the advise and sharing about the quantity of wood chips you actually end up. I've wondered if what I would be chipping would leave me decent amounts of wood chips. This is where I'm really torn. A chipper would be very handy and the wood chips would be nice to have, but in the long run spending the money toward a dump trailer would probably be the smarter choice. The Rima chipper at $1,999.00 isn't too much of an investment, but a Woodland Mills or WoodMaxx starts pushing $4k by the time you get it to your door. There are quite a few companies that build trailers around here so prices are decent. The nice thing in Oklahoma is we do not have to register or have inspections on trailers, so there is no added cost to have one other than a little maintenance from time to time.

This is one of the dump trailers I keep looking at but haven't taken the time to stop by and look at it in person. This model doesn't have the three way tail gate, but I don't think I would use that option very often and this would fit the bill. It isn't the most heavy duty 6x12 10k trailer option out there, but I would not be using it commercially. Just residential use.

View attachment 4006735
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Here is a snip of what the "Okie Dirt" is that the brush we haul off is turned into. There is a pile at Operation Pride you can manually load anytime they are open and then they also load certain days and it's all "free" (paid for through our taxes). I would like to haul in a fair bit of the Okie Dirt for under many of the trees where the roots are exposed from erosion.

View attachment 4006743

Sorry for another long post and I really appreciates everyone's help and input.

1savoy, IMO you're better off with the trailer. You will get a "usable" clump of chips (at one time) from your "free" place and all far faster than trying to make your own. The trailer, you will soon find out, will be used more often than you realize too! I wouldn't skip on any expense buying the trailer. Think of all your possible needs and get everything once when you purchase. IE; spare tire, tiedowns, tarp, 3 way gate, small box for all essentials, etc., etc. It's your $$ I only want to help you spend it - once and done!! Greg

 

[1savoy]

Hey Greg,

Thank you for the great info. Makes a ton of sense and I have gone back and forth a few times on this. I think you have swayed me that the trailer is the way to go Question on the 2 way gate. Would you skip the Norstar I showed due to the lack of it? It comes with the tarp and tie downs. I like how it is setup to put a 2x6 sidewall cap on easily. My Big Tex 18' trailer uses the same size tire and wheel, so I have a spare tire and wheel, actually 5 spares as I keep an extra set of 4 tires and wheels for that trailer plus the spare. I wish it had the 2 way gate, but wasn't sure if it was a show stopper and/or something I would use very often. The trailers, like a Lamar, in the same size and capacity with 2 way gate jump up a bit in price. I hear you though if you think it is worth it to get one with the 2 way gate, "buy once cry once" I do really appreciate your great info. Happy Labor Day.

 

[Gregster613]

Hey Greg,

Thank you for the great info. Makes a ton of sense and I have gone back and forth a few times on this. I think you have swayed me that the trailer is the way to go Question on the 2 way gate. Would you skip the Norstar I showed due to the lack of it? It comes with the tarp and tie downs. I like how it is setup to put a 2x6 sidewall cap on easily. My Big Tex 18' trailer uses the same size tire and wheel, so I have a spare tire and wheel, actually 5 spares as I keep an extra set of 4 tires and wheels for that trailer plus the spare. I wish it had the 2 way gate, but wasn't sure if it was a show stopper and/or something I would use very often. The trailers, like a Lamar, in the same size and capacity with 2 way gate jump up a bit in price. I hear you though if you think it is worth it to get one with the 2 way gate, "buy once cry once" I do really appreciate your great info. Happy Labor Day.

No, there is nothing at all wrong with the trailer you are looking at! I was just suggesting that you really think it through and get any/everything that you might "later" wish you had!
Neither am I trying to talk you out of buying a new chipper if that's what you want! I just was pointing out realities that come with the chipper. I have a lot of trees I trim so lots of branch piles at times - but - very little actual chips come from that! Yet I do use the chipper and enjoy it when I do! That's me and YMMV. Good luck in your decision.

 

[1savoy]

Thank you again for you sharing your experiences. I didn't get the feeling you were trying to talk me out of anything, but your honest feedback is very beneficial for me to figure out what makes the most sense for me.

I think a chipper would be nice to have, for convenience, but not sure if it makes sense to tie up that much money for now. I'll probably keep an eye for a good used unit, if one comes up. It is nice to know you end up with very little chips from your piles, as I think I would have the same problem. Any larger limbs will be used for firewood, which would cut down on my chips.

As far as the Norstar dump trailer, it checks off almost all of the boxes. The 2-way gate would be nice, but not really at the upcharge it seems to bring. I really don't think I would need the spreader option. I have a land plane for maintaining the driveways, so I think if I need to spread gravel/stone, then I can spread as best as possible with the barn door rear gate and then finish up with the land plane.

Just my thoughts and I guess I will know better once I make a purchase. Thanks again for all your info and recommendations.