How do you finance a stump grinder, chipper or bucket truck?
A tree crew’s equipment runs from a $6,660 walk-behind stump grinder to a forestry bucket truck listed at close to $250,000. Here’s what each one costs in 2026, what the payments look like, how long you can finance it, and what to check before you buy a used truck.
On this page
How does a stump grinder or chipper loan work?
You send the quote or listing, the funder pays the seller, and you make a fixed monthly payment while the machine works. It’s written one of two ways:
- An equipment finance agreement (EFA). That’s what most people mean by a stump grinder loan or chipper loan. You own the machine, the funder holds a lien until it’s paid off, and terms run 24 to 84 months.
- A lease. 24 to 60 months, ending in a $1, 10% or fair market value buyout. The fair market value lease usually has the lowest payment, and at the end you can buy the machine at market value or hand it back.
The application starts with a soft credit inquiry, and you’ll usually hear back within 1 to 2 business hours. A clean application-only file, with no tax returns or financial statements, can be approved in as little as 30 minutes. Program details are on our tree and forestry equipment financing page.
What makes a file stronger? Credit around 600 or better, two or more years in business, money down on an older or private-party machine, and a recognized brand that holds its value.
How much is a wood chipper or stump grinder in 2026?
New grinders with a published price run from $6,660 to $37,877. The big ones don’t list a price. Chipper prices go up with size. The clearest new prices come from city purchase records in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Bastrop, Texas:
| Machine | New | Used, listed asking price |
|---|---|---|
| Small grinder, 13 to 27 hp (walk-behind or compact tracked) | $6,660 (Barreto, 13 hp) to $25,326 (Toro STX-26) | $10,000 (2016 Vermeer SC292) |
| Mid-size grinder, about 30 to 40 hp | $27,755 (Barreto 30SGB) to $37,877 (Toro STX-38) | $13,800 to $29,950 (Toro, Vermeer and Rayco, 2018 to 2024) |
| Large grinder, 60 hp and up (tracked or tow-behind) | Dealer quote | $22,000 to $55,999 (Vermeer and Bandit, 2004 to 2022) |
| 6-inch brush chipper | Dealer quote | $9,500 to $17,499 (Vermeer BC700XL, 2014 to 2019) |
| 9- to 12-inch chipper | $52,632 (Vermeer BC1000XL, Little Rock, 2025) | $23,999 to $38,500 (Vermeer BC900XL and BC1000XL, 2016 to 2023) |
| 15- to 19-inch chipper | $92,052 (Vermeer BC1500 with winch, Bastrop, 2026) | $28,300 to $89,980 (Vermeer BC1500 and BC1800XL, 2015 to 2025) |
New: prices listed on Toro’s site, an online dealer’s Barreto prices, and city purchase records for the Vermeer chippers (Little Rock, March 2025; Bastrop, May 2026). “Dealer quote” means no published price. Used: listed asking prices on Vermeer’s used-equipment site and Boom & Bucket, not appraisals or offers. Checked October 2026.
The biggest chippers cost a lot more. Ann Arbor, Michigan, was quoted $245,115 in May 2026 for a 21-inch Vermeer BC2100XL with a winch.
A $6,660 walk-behind is well under our usual $15,000 minimum. That’s fine. Put it on one agreement with a trailer, a used chipper or the truck.
How much does a forestry bucket truck cost?
New forestry bucket trucks listed for $167,499 to $247,505 in the dealer inventory we checked. Used ones list for much less:
| Truck or machine | Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| New compact forestry bucket truck | $167,499 to $175,098 | Terex LT40 on a Ford F-550 or Ram 5500 |
| New overcenter forestry bucket truck | $176,625 to $247,505 | Terex XT PRO 56 to 60/70 on Ford, Freightliner and International chassis |
| Used forestry bucket truck with chipper body | $32,000 to $127,500 | A 2003 GMC with a Terex XT boom to a 2024 Ford F-750 with an Altec LR8-56 |
| New chip truck | $95,771 to $146,296 | Most new 2025 to 2027 Ford F-550 to F-750 chip trucks listed |
| New mini track loader | $42,980 | Toro Dingo TX 1000, Toro’s listed price, bucket extra |
Dealer listings on Custom Truck One Source, Boom & Bucket and Comvoy, and Toro’s listed price. Listed asking prices, not appraisals or offers. Checked October 2026.
Need a crane instead of a bucket? See our boom truck financing guide.
How much is the monthly payment on tree care equipment?
For an established business at an assumed 9%, these examples run from about $779 to $4,463 a month:
| Example | Price | Term | Monthly payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walk-behind grinder plus a used 6-inch chipper | $24,500 | 36 months | About $779 |
| New mid-size tracked grinder | $38,000 | 48 months | About $946 |
| New 12-inch chipper | $52,000 | 48 months | About $1,294 |
| New 15-inch chipper with winch | $92,000 | 48 months | About $2,289 |
| Used 2024 forestry bucket truck | $127,500 | 60 months | About $2,647 |
| Crew setup: new chip truck, 12-inch chipper and tracked grinder | $190,000 | 60 months | About $3,944 |
| New overcenter forestry bucket truck | $215,000 | 60 or 84 months | About $4,463 or $3,459 |
Example payments for established businesses at an assumed 9%, no money down, payments in arrears. Prices are round amounts near the listed prices above; the crew setup assumes a $100,000 chip truck. Terms past 60 months are for EFAs only. Illustrative, not an offer.
Stretching that $215,000 truck from 60 to 84 months cuts the payment by about $1,004, but you’d pay about $22,786 more in interest.
How long can you finance a stump grinder, chipper or bucket truck?
Usually 24 to 48 months for a stump grinder or chipper, since they’re run hard. Trucks hold their value longer, so a new chip truck or bucket truck can carry up to 84 months on an equipment finance agreement, or 60 on a lease.
| Machine | Usual term |
|---|---|
| Stump grinders and brush chippers | 24 to 48 months, shorter if used |
| New chip trucks and bucket trucks | Up to 84 months on an EFA, or 60 on a lease |
| Used trucks | Usually shorter, based on the truck’s age at the last payment |
| Grapple trucks and log loaders | Longer terms, because they hold their value |
Terms depend on the machine’s age and remaining useful life. All financing is subject to credit approval.
As a rough guide, a used truck that’ll be ten or more years old at payoff goes on a shorter term, and a clean maintenance history matters as much as the odometer. On a used grinder or chipper, send the hour meter reading and any service records with the listing.
Can you finance a used bucket truck or chipper from another tree company?
Yes. Dealers, auctions and private sellers all work, another tree company included. A private sale adds a few steps:
- A lien search on the seller’s exact legal name.
- An inspection or appraisal on bigger items, like the truck.
- Funds paid straight to the seller, never through you.
- 15% to 25% down on a private sale. Used from a dealer, expect 10% to 15%.
Then check the parts that wear: the drum or disc, knives and clutch on a chipper, and the cutter wheel and teeth on a grinder. On a bucket truck, ask whether the boom is insulated and for the latest annual inspection report. Terex Utilities says insulated booms need a dielectric test every year under ANSI A92.2, and they should be retested after repairs to the insulated sections. The 2021 edition of the standard also requires a major structural inspection after 15 years and every 10 years after that. Looking at a 2010 truck? Ask to see it.
Buying off Facebook Marketplace? Our Facebook Marketplace buying guide covers lien checks and common scams.
Can you finance Vermeer, Bandit and other brands on one agreement?
Yes. We finance Vermeer, Bandit, Rayco, Morbark, Altec and other brands, new or used, whether you buy from a dealer, at an auction or from another tree company. We look at the whole crew:
- Used machines and trucks from an auction, a dealer or another tree company
- A mixed crew on one agreement, like a Vermeer chipper, a Rayco grinder and an Altec truck
- Seasonal or skip payments, or a first payment pushed out
- Small machines bundled to reach the usual $15,000 minimum
Already have a dealer quote? I’d send it to us before you sign. You’ll usually hear back within 1 to 2 business hours, and we can price the whole package, truck and all.
Can tree equipment payments follow storm season and the slow months?
Often, yes. Many programs can push the first payment out, or lighten or skip payments in the slow months, and a deferred first payment is common when the equipment goes to work before it’s paid for.
Tell us how your money comes in. If winter’s slow and storm cleanup brings in most of your revenue, I’d ask for a payment schedule built around that before you sign.
What paperwork do you need to finance tree care equipment?
I head operations here, so this is the list I’d hand you. The first two are usually all a first response needs:
- The quote, listing or auction lot number.
- The serial number or VIN, plus the hours, or the miles on a truck.
- Service records, and on a bucket truck, the latest annual inspection and dielectric test reports.
- The seller’s legal name on a private sale, for the lien search.
- Your insurance agent’s contact information.
You’ll usually need to insure the equipment and name the funder as loss payee, and lenders verify proof of insurance before funding. My background is in commercial insurance operations, so here’s my advice: call your agent before you sign, and ask for a certificate naming the funder as loss payee.
How does a new tree service qualify for chipper or truck financing?
Through programs that work with startups. A business under a year old is underwritten as a startup. Between one and two years in business, the field narrows, but it’s still workable. These make a new tree service’s file stronger:
- Personal credit of 700 or better.
- Tree work you can prove, like years climbing or running a crew for another company, or an arborist certification.
- A down payment.
- Working capital left after the purchase for fuel, insurance and a slow first month.
- A recognized brand with a dealer nearby and resale value.
I’d start with the machine you’ll run every day, usually the chipper, and add the truck once you’ve built a record of on-time payments. The payment examples above are for established businesses. Our guide to startup equipment financing covers what programs look for.
Frequently asked questions
How long can you finance a stump grinder?
Usually 24 to 48 months, since stump grinders get run hard. A used grinder often gets a shorter term than a new one, because the term depends on the machine’s age and remaining useful life. If a walk-behind grinder comes in under the usual $15,000 minimum, it’s typically financed with a trailer, a chipper or a truck on the same agreement.
How much does a wood chipper cost?
Used 6-inch chippers list from about $9,500 to $17,499, and used 9- to 12-inch machines from about $24,000 to $38,500. New, a 2025 Little Rock purchase request priced a 12-inch Vermeer BC1000XL at $52,632, Bastrop approved $92,052 for a 15-inch BC1500 with a winch in 2026, and Ann Arbor was quoted $245,115 for a 21-inch BC2100XL. Used prices are listed asking prices, not appraisals or offers.
Can you finance a used bucket truck?
Yes, from a dealer, an auction or another tree company. The term mostly depends on how old the truck will be at the last payment, so an older truck usually gets a shorter one. A private sale adds a lien search, an inspection or appraisal, and funds paid directly to the seller, with 15% to 25% down typical. If it’s an insulated boom, ask for the latest annual inspection and dielectric test reports.
Can you finance a stump grinder under $15,000?
Usually as part of a bigger deal. Our usual minimum is about $15,000, and a new walk-behind grinder can cost less than $7,000. Add a trailer, a used chipper or the truck to the same agreement, and it’s one payment. For example, a walk-behind grinder and a used 6-inch chipper at $24,500 together come to about $779 a month over 36 months for an established business, at an assumed 9%.
Can you finance a Vermeer or Bandit chipper?
Yes. We finance Vermeer, Bandit, Morbark, Rayco and other brands, new or used, bought from a dealer, an auction or another tree company. A mixed crew can go on one agreement, and smaller machines can be bundled with a truck or trailer to reach the usual $15,000 minimum.
What credit score do you need to finance tree care equipment?
Many established-business programs start around a 600 FICO, and two or more years in business opens the broadest set of programs. A business under a year old is underwritten as a startup, which typically means 700+ personal credit, relevant experience and working capital left after the purchase. The score alone rarely decides it. Cash flow, the machine and money down count too.
Does Section 179 apply to a financed chipper or bucket truck?
Usually, yes. For 2026 the Section 179 limit is $2,560,000, phasing out above $4,090,000 of purchases, and bonus depreciation is 100%. New and used equipment both qualify. A machine on an equipment finance agreement or a $1 buyout lease is deducted like a cash purchase if it’s placed in service by December 31. On a fair market value lease you deduct the payments as rent. Confirm the treatment with your tax advisor.
Price your tree equipment.
Put the price, term, down payment and structure into the Quote Builder and see an estimated payment, with no credit pull. When the numbers work, one short application matches you with a dedicated funding professional who manages the deal from application to funding.
This article is general information about financing stump grinders, brush chippers, forestry bucket trucks and other tree care equipment. It is not tax, legal, or accounting advice, or a commitment to finance. Prices shown are prices published by manufacturers and dealers, public purchase records and listed asking prices, not appraisals or offers. Tax and accounting treatment depends on your contract and your business; confirm with your CPA. All financing is subject to credit approval and underwriting.