Chipper Pequea vs Goossen chippers

Bob_farmer · Jan 19, 2006

Does anyone use the new Pequea C-5 chipper or the Goossen CS5400PTO chipper/shreder? I am down to these 2 for purchase, but they are $$$$. I would buy the Goossen chipper/shredder if it had an automatic feed on the chipper (and if that did not put it over budget), but it does not. My use is clearing about 6 acre of small to very large briar, grape and poisionous vines and assorted small trees (cedar, invasives, ...). I am sure the Goossen will do everything that I need, but I do not want to stand there holding all of those branches and trees. It will slow things down too much.

The Pequea could possibly be the best alternative to a shredder. It is a 4 bladed high speed rotor (1800 rpm I think). So can I shove all of the small sticks, twigs, and vines and thin briars in there without it getting clogged?

jeffinsgf · Jan 19, 2006

Bob, I have a Goossen and rented big hydraulic feed units a couple times before I bought mine. Here are my thoughts on the subject.

When the blades are sharp, trunks will self feed. If anything, you have to hold them back a little. Even after a couple of days of nearly constant feeding, it still only takes moderate pressure to feed 3 - 4 inch trunks. When you really have to push to get the big trunks in, it is time to take a break and sharpen the blades (not a real big chore).

1-1/4 inch and smaller brush disappears in the shredder just as fast as you can throw it in. This is what surprised me when I first started using the machine, and what really convinced me that I had made the right decision. Power-fed units feed the little stuff at the same rate as the big stuff. Well -- it goes a little faster, because the engine doesn't lug as much, but the difference is minimal. Tackling equal size piles of brush, I think my Goossen would hold its own with a Vermeer 5025 (think that's the right model number) in terms of total time needed for the job. It is a little more work, but not much. I found with the rented Vermeer that I didn't have to push the stock, but I had to guide it and make sure the feed unit was happy. If you're dealing with stuff that is viney and small, I think the Goossen shredder section would be faster than a power fed unit.

Sorry, not familiar with the other unit you're looking at. I say get the Goossen -- with the blower -- and don't look back. You'll love it.

Bob_farmer · Jan 20, 2006

Jeff,

Do you have to baby sit stuff in the chipper, or can you drop and go to grab your next batch? My concern was not so much pushing it through as much as having to stand there and manage it. I suppose that I can cut things into smaller sections that will handle better in the gravity fed chopper, but lots of people here make valid complaints about manual feeding. This is 6 or more acres too, some very dense. I was out looking at some of the mess that I have to grind, and I think that the shredder is could possibly save me as much time on the small stuff that I loose on the big stuff.

Right now the Goossen is in the lead. If I were looking for a straight chipper, the Pequea would be it.

jinman · Jan 20, 2006

I have a Bush Hog brand chipper-shredder that's really a Goossen painted red. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Like Jeff, I really do like the shredder feature. I cut cedar limbs right off the trees and feed them into the chipper until the small branches start to go in. Then, I drop the tops into the shredder and in a flash they are shredded and gone. Just don't get a vine wound around you while you are feeding it. When the shredder takes something, it will take you with it if you hang on. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

EDIT: Oh yes... one additional thing. Whatever chipper you get, plan on wearing ear protection. The Goossen for sure makes lots and lots of noise.

jeffinsgf · Jan 20, 2006

Mine is a Bush Hog, too. Don't know why they dropped the private label deal -- the quality is just like the other Bush Hog implements I have seen -- bulletproof and built to last.

Bob, I would say that most stuff in the chipper needs to be watched and guided. A trunk of substantial length will snag on the hopper and not feed by itself. I'm working on my cedars just like Jinman says -- feed the trunks until you get down to the needles and small branches, then toss the whole lot into the shredder. I believe you have seized the salient issue. The time you spend babysitting the chipper is made up by the speed of the shredder on the small stuff.

I have some work to do with mine next week. I'll try to talk the wife into shooting a few pictures while I'm chipping.

hans2 · Feb 2, 2006

I had a Goosen that I traded in because I can burn my brush piles where I live now. I think I paid about $2200 used and got about $2000 when I traded it in.

Like the other guys are saying the shredder part worked like a dream. When operating I wore the chainsaw hardhat/hearing protection thing and NO ring, watch or gloves. The shredder part sucks branches and small limbs in way faster than the eye can follow; its not unsafe, just wicked fast. I found it safest to lob the bottom of the branch in the general direction of the shredder bin. The Goosen loved to eat Cedar and any other wood that didn't branch at right angles. Evil branching trees like Mulberry needed to be trimmed to fit into the hopper. Only a maniac would attempt to "stuff" anything into the top of this machine.

The chipper portion performed about like I expected with green wood, but was a lot of work when feeding dry wood. The chipper was rated for 4-5" but I found 3 or 3 1/2" to be more realistic.

Mine had the blower and chute attachment which I think would be a definite must. I don't like handling stuff 2x. The chips add up very quickly when using the shredder. It also had the leaf sucker and 15-20' hose but I never tried this feature out

I do wish I still had it for when I help friends or church on clean up days.

Bob_farmer · Feb 3, 2006

I have ordered the Goossen (couldn't find any used ones). It should be here in a couple of weeks. I have lots of briars, vines, cedar, vine chocked cherry and ash, and some sumac, russian olive and other invasives. I will try to post some updates on how it performs. My chipping demand will only be limited by wife demands.

jeffinsgf · Feb 3, 2006

Bob, I've been giving mine a workout this week on cedar saplings, multi-flora rose and grapevine. You did get the blower, didn't you? From the sound of your project, I don't think you want to rely on a grain scoop. The blower clogs if you feed 1 inch saplings into the shredder instead of the chipper, so watch that. The manual says you can go up to 1-5/16", but take it from me, you'll be digging stuff out of your blower if you push that to the upper limit. It is a great machine. Let us know what you think after your first couple of sessions.

jwilliam33 · Feb 2, 2009

I have a slightly used Pequea C5 for sale if you are interested. It has worked very well for us, we're just going a different direction. I have pictures available.