Skid mounted wood chipper

[Long0]

i believe I’ve decided to purchase a chipper. I’ve lived in central Colo my entire life and have always put fallen branches and the such into a burn pile. We then burn the pile typically for New Years when there is 3-8’ of snow on the ground. While this has and still works well, I’m thinking a chipper might be a better choice now.
To clarify, this is not a decision for a commercial application. 40hrs per year roughly on the attachment. I want to keep anything 4” or so over for firewood.

I have 2-1/2 acres, my mother has another 2-1/2 close. My in-laws have roughly the same acreage 4 miles away(as the crow flies. Takes 25min in a pickup). Elevation is roughly 8k so take that into account on my base hp numbers below.

Equipment is a 268b skid
2000 something JD 4300 compact
I also have a 420IT rubber tire hoe but that I don’t believe is in my equation

Now to questions
1-PTO driven chippers. Will a small compact rated at 34hp run one.
2-Is it better to hang it off my skid (74+hp. Not looking up the specs now) as it has much more power. High flow chippers are completely out of my budget.
3-Manufacturers. I see a bunch out there with good and bad reviews. Looking for real experience good and bad.
4-Rotor sizes are all over the place. I don’t understand.

Thanks for your help
Andy

 

[Steve Frazier]

I have a Wallenstein 3 Pt. hitch mounted chipper that is PTO powered on a 74hp New Holland tractor and it works every bit as good as a dedicated chipper unit. I've put 9 inch logs through it and it didn't miss a beat. For your casual use and smaller branches I'd bet your John Deere would work fine with a smaller unit. I can't comment on other manufacturers but the Wallenstein is a well built piece.

 

[Steve Frazier]

I have a Wallenstein 3 Pt. hitch mounted chipper that is PTO powered on a 74hp New Holland tractor and it works every bit as good as a dedicated chipper unit. I've put 9 inch logs through it and it didn't miss a beat. For your casual use and smaller branches I'd bet your John Deere would work fine with a smaller unit. I can't comment on other manufacturers but the Wallenstein is a well built piece.