The Big Beaver® formula is:
Maximum Strength with Minimum Weight
As you can see in the picture below, our unique tree removal system is crafted for maximum load. Special steel, high tech hydraulic and electrical components, and extraordinary engineering and manufacturing assure the most bang for the buck. This is not a piece of standard logging equipment, and is not to be used in this capacity...ever! It is the highest form of technology designed and made EXCLUSIVELY for the Tree Care Industry, Utility Industry, and Disaster Recovery Industry. In these arenas, trees are taken down or removed in several sections or pieces; safety, not production is the most important factor. *see footnote
The Big Beaver® utilizes a light weight saw head attachment called the BeaverHead™ to work on the telescoping boom of a 360°rotating telescopic forklift. The unit is outfitted with additional hydraulic, electrical, and safety components specially designed for the Tree Care Industry and giving it the nickname "The Big Beaver"®.
The Big Beaver® will trim and remove pieces of the target tree to heights of close to 80'. Three steering modes enable the Big Beaver® to maneuver easily in the tight spaces (see picture on Features page) often encountered in tree work. It can move over sprinkler systems and driveways with ease when using only six Trac Mats.
How the Big Beaver® Removal System Works
"Prepping" Vertical Trees
The Big Beaver® Removal System is the fastest and safest system for tree removal on earth. It can be used alone, or even faster with a little "prep" by a trained professional bucket operator or climber. The prep simply involves removing limbs that may be in the way of the BeaverHead™ fitting tightly for a safe cut. Once a top is on the ground, limbs can be safely trimmed off. If a whole tree chipper is on deck, no trimming is needed and the top can be fed directly into the waiting chipper. No "chunks" cut by the Big Beaver® Just a standard log (8'-16') for sale to the mill...not trash to the landfill. The Big Beaver® can also feed limbs to the chipper, load logs on the delivery truck, or load storm debris on the trash trailer. The 3 pairs of grab arms can grab up more debris or logs and carry it to the street than a skid steer.
Notice picture above top had been prepped.
Cutting Hardwoods
There is usually no "prep" needed when trimming or removing limbs on large canopy trees (like old growth oaks) with low angle and often horizontal limbs. Simply lock on, cut, and remove. The BeaverHead™ works like a robotic hand forming angles horizontal or vertical you can only believe when you see it work. A perfectly horizontal oak limb right over the home is no challenge at all. Like any pic you cut, you have to use good judgement as to how large a piece to remove. But the difference using the Big Beaver® is the patented Anti-Tip-Over system that all but totally eliminates the type of disaster we see when too large or out of balance piece is cut using a crane. And add to that no human life is in danger if a mistake should occur.
Making The Cut
When ready, the BeaverHead™ is positioned on the log or limb to be cut. Every function operates on its own switch to eliminate accidental releasing. Patent pending hinges are located on the top and lower grab arms to insure conformity to a possible crook. (see picture on right). When the arms squeeze the target piece, the hinged configuration reduces possible tensions in the piece that would have caused the saw to bind as it passed through the tree. The lower grab arms not only hold the machine stable for safety, but also serve to keep some of the weight of the vertical piece off of the saw. Once the saw has made the cut, the lower arms are released slightly to determine how the cut piece is going to behave. If necessary, the powerful patent pending rotate system can set the piece up for balance before releasing the lower arms and lowering the piece safely and slowly to the ground. On smaller trees the lower arms are often not needed.
The Big Beaver® will also trim limbs for freefall where desired. The saw is designed to cut while traveling both directions to avoid a "gravity bind" when free falling limbs on either side of the tree.
Ropes & Rigging Eliminated
How much time would you estimate the average tree company spends strapping, buckling, tying, tying off, feeding through pulleys, lowering, and then untying? Owners of a Big Beaver® can honestly brag: "We'll be coming down with the first whole top while the other guy is still strapping on his gear." Not only is the major human danger removed, but so are time costly ropes and rigging. production, Production, PRODUCTION = profit, Profit, PROFIT!
Other Advantages
There is nothing like using this system to discover how many other benefits come along. When using a crane, trees that are being left can really get in the way, often making removing with a crane impossible. With the Big Beaver® you are removing tops and pieces from underneath the tree instead of above it, so you can easily maneuver around, under and through other trees and landscaping that are not being removed. And there is no dangling or "swinging" pieces like with a crane that can hit and damage buildings, other trees, or even workers. The operator has complete control. The days of riding up on a steel ball popping limbs off with your hard hat will be all but gone! Safety is actually first in our case and not just a bunch of hot air. The Big Beaver® is only 8' wide and can easily fit in places that a crane or bucket truck can not go.
Clean up is much less labor intensive as most of the mess is located in one spot where the chipper is fed.
How difficult is the Big Beaver® to learn to operate?
- Prior experience in tree removal, operating a crane, an extended reach forklift, or a tree felling machine (the feller buncher) in the logging business is best.
- Personality of the operator. An even tempered individual with proven decision making ability is essential. A "let's try this and see what happens" operator is not the choice.
- Depending on the individual, training to minimal efficiency will take 2 to 4 weeks, with optimum skill at about 3 to 6 months of experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can I install a BeaverHead™ on my crane?
A. Due to boom strength & design, this is not feasible or safe.
Q. How high can it reach?
A. Almost 81'
Q. What other attachments are available?
A. A 40' rotating man basket turns in into a 105' bucket; a 14' jib turns it into a crane.
Q. How much does it weigh?
A. About 40,000 pounds.
Q. What is the travel speed on the road?
A. About 25 MPH
Q. How large a diameter tree will it cut?
A. Up to 36" but slightly larger is possible.
Q. What is the price?
A. Please call for a current price quote.
Q. Can I buy a used Big Beaver®?
A. Yes. We will sell and install a new BeaverHead™ on a suitable used telehandler.
Q. How does it perform on hilly terrain?
A. Very much like a crane or bucket if cribbing is safely utilized.
Q. Will I need a large & expensive tractor and lowboy trailer to haul it?
A. A 22 ton tag along trailer with a pintle hitch can be used.
*You will remove trees faster than you have ever imagined, but care must be taken to keep safety above production! The only problem most will ever encounter will be the same problem in every other form of tree work...getting in a hurry or getting greedy.
WARNING! No one should attempt to equip any crane or telescopic handler to remove trees themselves. Over 6 years and 11,000 removals were performed in the R & D stage of the Big Beaver®. This highly technical and customized machine is equipped with patented safety features and other critical features which are patent pending that are essential for continuous safe removals.
