Vermeer BC600XL should you buy a chipper?

I go over the pro's and con's of this chipper. Why you should buy a chipper and what it is capable of doing. No doubt it's probably the most environmentaly friendly machine around. Very fuel efficient. Well designed.

[@josetapaia3945]

Thank you for sharing this video! It's very helpful for me to make a decision to get one.

[@JourneymanRandy]

I'm happy this helped you. I'm guessing you have a chipper now? Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@josetapaia3945]

@@JourneymanRandy Hello, I don't have one yet. But I just started looking for one. I hope to get it soon! Thank you.

[@andrewford80]

Nice. Well presented video. Looks like a quality unit. Thank you

[@JourneymanRandy]

Thank you for watching.

[@JourneymanRandy]

Update; As of the last year the auto feed stopped working. I priced a new brain box and they sell for around $600 Canadian. I haven't coughed out the cash for one but it doesn't surprise me. It is around ten years old. I will update if I get one. I should check all wire connections first. Could be a corroded wire connection.

[@arr2ro]

Buy a auto feed plus is better and you can set up the rpm

[@JourneymanRandy]

Thanks. I would like to. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@arr2ro]

Can you make a video of how is the axle set up? I will like to install a wider axle to my wood chipper, mine is the same one just with the small wheels? Please?

[@JourneymanRandy]

I will try. Maybe this spring. Thanks for watching.

[@arr2ro]

Just to see how looks on the axle instead

[@JourneymanRandy]

Ok.

[@arr2ro]

@@JourneymanRandy or if you can send me some pictures if you don’t mind?

[@toma1642]

How do you find towing the chipper behind the dump trailer?

[@JourneymanRandy]

Tom A Not a problem. I don't even notice it but it's impossible to back up. Also I keep my blades very sharp. Thanks for watching.

[@Harmussin]

great Videos, thanks, Randy! any more information on the larger wheels? did you extend the axle yourself? big job? have a bc600 as well and hate the wheels on it and would like to do the same. thanks!

[@JourneymanRandy]

When I bought the chipper it had the axle on it. I believe Vermeer sold a kit. It might still be available. If it isn't you should be able to get an axle from a trailer retailer. Just order the correct width and you need fenders. Thanks for watching

[@Harmussin]

@@JourneymanRandy hey thanks a lot for the info, I don't mind the little chipper, we put a 39 horse Briggs on it and it works fantastic

[@JourneymanRandy]

Any time Gavin. I'm happy to help. Thanks for the nice comments.

[@arr2ro]

@@Harmussin still strong the engine ?any side dawns?

[@tonypiekarski8695]

Anyone who has an outdoor wood burning boiler may need a wood chipper to supplement the fire in the boiler with wood chips and logs

[@rlawn]

I'm right now using a 14' dumb trailer for doing my tree removal jobs. I can fill that trailer full with a 30' maple tree and have room to spare. With the amount of time you spend feeding the wood 6" wood chipper is it worth the time? vs filling the trailer and dumping it.. I like the thought of the chipper and i guess with the smaller branches that's where it would save on space. any thought to share on that. Thank you and nice video I do like the vermeer 's

[@JourneymanRandy]

I find I can do many small tree trimming jobs and just keep adding to the pile in the truck or trailer. I pile the wood on top and it's easy to take out. I live in a cold area, firewood is great to have so I don't chip hardwood even many soft woods are good to burn. I believe its seven loads of beaches for one chips. Mostly I would have to pay to dump brush and I can always find a place to dump chips free. Thanks for commenting

[@rlawn]

@@JourneymanRandy Thank you for your input. I keep seeing people trying to put 4-6" through it and seeing that it just makes me think that takes too much time but as you put it keeping those aside and just using it for the small branches. thanks you

[@scrapmanindustries]

I too also use a 14' dump trailer for the brush. I try to cut up as much firewood as I can. down to like 3-4" usually. sometimes I get lazy and put thicker pieces in the brush pile but mostly its all just smaller stuff. I was in center city Columbus the other day taking down 2 dead maples. I really didn't feel like running all over the place with as much traffic as there was in that area. so I rented a chipper since the rental place was a mile down the road and I wanted to test one out. I wanted to get the bc700 but all they had was the bc1000. what would have been 2 loads of brush and countless amounts of jumping up and down trying to cram it all in turned out to be 1/4 load of chips. it was a lot easier on the body as well. usually I get twigs smack me in the face and whip me all over when I'm jumping on the brush in the trailer. with the chipper I just walked over gently slid it into the feed roll and it started to eat. I even chipped stuff that was a lot thicker than I normally put in the brush just cause I was trying to see what it would do. now I feel like I need to sell a bunch of stuff in order to get one. it was way more efficient than what I normally do. if just the rental company didn't charge an arm and a leg for it. I would suggest to you to go and rent the model you are looking at buying the next time you have a big job. that way you know what your getting into and if they cost is going to be beneficial in your situation. also you don't need anything fancy to tow one or chip into. I just raised my dump bed up and shot everything into that. most people seem to think you need a top but that is not true. you can even tow the chipper behind the trailer if you know a good welder.

[@JourneymanRandy]

I would not want to do tree removal without my chipper. It's probably the most environmentally friendly machine ever. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@romansh1357]

I need to fix my auto feeder

[@JourneymanRandy]

Hi Roman. I need to fix mine too. It stoped working and the new control box is $600.00. It might be more than that now. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@expatconn7242]

What was the cost of that chipper?

[@JourneymanRandy]

Vermeer don't make that model anymore. The BC 700 is around $20000 new. I paid $8000 used that is Canadian$. I think it was three years old. I only wish we bought a bigger one. I find that Y branches have to be cut to go though. Other than that it was a good buy. Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@victortreeservicevictortre4760]

can you try to feed one palm frond my friend?

[@JourneymanRandy]

I live in an area where we don't have palm trees.

[@michaelhilber8284]

If the palm fronds are bone dry, brittle, they go through chippers great. As far as green, stringy ones, they could be a problem.

[@victortreeservicevictortre4760]

Ohhh I see ok thanks

[@skyrim547]

I have 6 inch wood chipper with 100hp

[@JourneymanRandy]

That is a lot of horsepower for a six inch. Is it homemade?

[@paanimunatu8224]

where can i order the belts for vermeer bc600xl

[@JourneymanRandy]

Hi Paani, I would do a search for the nearest Vermeer dealer. If its to far away they should be able to ship to you.

[@victortreeservicevictortre4760]

would it chipp palm fronds my friend?

[@JourneymanRandy]

It should. it has a 6inch capacity and it spins very fast. My chipper has never blocked on me yet. Keep the blades sharp. Thanks for watching.

[@BAKERHUSKIE]

What is the ratio volume?

[@JourneymanRandy]

I'm not sure what you're question is. Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@dozerspjful]

Rpm drop stops infeed rollers?? Not motor

[@JourneymanRandy]

I probably meant the hydraulic motor that runs the in feed roller. Thanks for watching Steve

[@CliffsideStables]

What’s the price point on this model? New vs used pricing?

[@christschool]

A new one is about $17,000. I bought a used one with 5 hours on it for $8,000, however, that was unusually good buy. You can expect to pay $4000-$5,000 for a decent used one with a lot more hours on it than mine.

[@JourneymanRandy]

Everything christschool said is accurate to me. I wish I would have got a bigger one. The BC600 isn't available now it's been replaced with a 7" still to small for me but good for a landscape business. Good luck.

[@CliffsideStables]

Lifes Journeyman: What are typical maintenance issues I should expect with one of these? $8-17k may be a bit much for a 38 acre property.

[@christschool]

Cliffside, I'll pipe in on that and the OP might have additional thoughts as well. There are certain maintenance schedules that need to be done, but not too regularly if you're just running it on your own property (greasing points, oil and filter changes, hydraulic fluid changes etc.). You can google for the operators manual and it will show you all these. Vermeer will actually send you all this information for free, including the service manual and CD's of their how to videos, even if you didn't buy the equipment from them. You'll also need to make sure to have your knives sharpened when they become dull (cost about $20 in my area). You may need to replace a belt after maybe 100-200 hours? ($50-$100). If you're storing it a long time between uses, I'd make sure to use a fuel stabilizer if it will be outside (mine is stored inside my garage all winter and there were no fuel problems this spring). If you buy used, the ones with the larger tires give you more flexibility when taking it through the woods. Also, many of those models also have the electric brakes, which are nice to have when towing. There is a logic board that controls the hydraulic feed. Its located in the front compartment where the battery is. If that goes out, it will cost about $200 to replace it. Mine was in almost brand new shape, but it was a very unusual find and I drove 16 hours round trip to buy it. Equipment trader websites will give you the best shot at finding one that meets your needs and price point. Be prepared to drive if you want the best deal at the lowest hours. So far I'm extremely happy. I tell my wife its the ultimate "man" tool. When that engine fires up and that wheel grabs a tree and destroys the whole thing in seconds, its a real adrenaline rush. If you're just using it on your property, I'd be surprised if you had many maintenance issues at all. These things were designed to run all day 5 days a week and to sit outside. They are very heavy, about 2000lbs. Keep that weight in mind and make sure your tow vehicle can pull it. One last thing, if you're like me and like to change out the blades to take them to be sharpened, make sure to have a breaker bar (18 inch length and 5/8 socket size I believe) and a torque wrench. If you buy new blades, they were $80 from Vermeer for me. Blade changing is very easy with the above tools.

[@JourneymanRandy]

Thanks for commenting and watching

[@thewildmitch9863]

This is the exact machine used in the movie Fargo to dispose of "Little Buddy." kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqqzmaZ6Ztt7fc0

[@LifesLaboratory]

No, it isn't... unfortunately.

[@Bradgilliswhammyman]

auto feed is the only way to go for a commercial operation...

[@JourneymanRandy]

It is. Thanks for commenting and watching Ken.

[@alexmatthews2332]

Or a bigger chipper with a diesel engine. If the rpm stays up there's not a big need for auto feed. I have clogged my bandit once and that was feeding relentlessly with white pine. It never slowed down but the shoute couldn't keep up.

[@JourneymanRandy]

Hi Alex. I 100% agree. Our original chipper was a 30hp Kubota diesel and it was great, fuel efficient and reliable but after 25 years the PTO broke and we had a big contract we had to deliver on. This chipper was the one we could get quick. It has worked out well but I always wanted a 10 inch 50hp or something close. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@alexmatthews2332]

@@JourneymanRandy they really do last a long time for the work they're doing. My model 100 is from the late 80s! The engine is replaced with a 70hp White/Hercules. That's probably the best running engine I own it always, always starts and sips fuel.