fire wood trailer

   / fire wood trailer #1  

Dead Horse

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Feb 2, 2009
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670
Location
New Hampshire
I am trying to come up with a design for a trailer to move split firewood from my various logging yards to my wood shed.

I initially tried skidding the logs to the wood shed from all corners of the property where I source them (mostly cutting spars or blow overs). That was a bit of a pain and made a mess in places I didn't want a mess, but it allowed bucking and splitting right out in front of the shed. The idea is to handle the wood the least amount of times.

So now I am looking for a trailer design that will handle at least a cord of wood, preferably 2.

Any of you fellows have one you like for this task. I would use it behind a tractor, through fields, on logging roads and such, so it can't be too wide, say 6 feet max. I am thinking a couple of axels to handle the load.

Anyone hazard a guess what a cord of wood weighs?

I have a '68 ford 800 dump truck that works for some of the situations, but driving it in the woods and on logging roads is a non starter.
 
   / fire wood trailer #2  
Wood weight is dependent on the species. A cord can weigh anywhere between 2000 and 4000 lbs. Here is a good source of firewood info.
Firewood Information

Hope this helps.

Joe
 
   / fire wood trailer #3  
This is what I built out of an abused Kubota bucket. Use it for measuring when loading the trailer for delivery and for hauling in boiler wood for myself.Have often thought about building a trailer that I could grip with my 3PH grapple and pull it out at the end of the day.
 

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   / fire wood trailer #4  
First question is what will you be towing it with??

Judging from your avitar, you have two smaller tractors. SCUT's or CUT's amybe 25-30HP.

I have a L3400 bota and out trailer that hauls a cord is about all the pull it wants if it is even remotely soft/and or hills. And it has 35 x 12.5 truck tires to make it float and roll easier.

We only have hardwoods around here and it is about 4000lbs per load green and the trailer itslef is ~2000lbs. I don't think I would want a 2 cord trailer. 10k in weight and not nearly as manuvarable in the sticks.

Plus, to haul 2 cord with a 6' trailer, you would need a 14' trailer (assuming 3' sides). 4' sides would almost be too tall to chuck wood over the side. Also a 2 cord trailer takes twice as lon to load as a 1 cord.

As far as how you build it, it all depends on your skills and resources. Are you going to buy steel? Are you good at welding? Will you use old 3/4 ton axles or buy trailer axles?

The 3 that we have built all have truck axles. (ability to us large/easy rolling tires). There is no suspension to worry about. (Simpiler, cheaper, and keeps it lower for loading).

Here are a few pics. If you want more I'll be happy to post.
 

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   / fire wood trailer
  • Thread Starter
#5  
the picture is deceiving.

the gear tractor has 100hp. That pile of chips in front of it is about 4 feet high.

The kubota is a 3710.

I think I am going to go with something like a snow bucket for the big tractor, unless I find a trailer that seems suited to the task.
 
   / fire wood trailer #6  
I guess i mis-understood. I was thinking you were wanting to build one.

Yes the pic is very decieving. If you are looking mor a trailer for the 100HP tractor, I guess a 2 cord trailer wouldn't be too big.

I'm not sure what you budget will allow for but if you can grab a 6x10 or 6x12 10k dump trailer that would be pretty sweet. If you have any trailer mfg's/makers in your area, you may be able th save some $$ and instead of having them put the 12 pump unit in (which is usually around $700+), have them leave that out and just get some HYD hoses and use rear remotes if you have them.
 
   / fire wood trailer #7  
So when I had about a cord of wood loaded on my flat bed a couple of years ago and was pulling it out of the woods with my 4WD ford 1700 going downhill I hit an uneven muddy spot. The trailer started to push the tractor then started to slip sidewise. The closest I have ever come to dumping a tractor. I was seriously thinking of bailing, but fortunately was able to outrun the trailer onto a level spot before the tractor was nosed into a nearby ravine. The point is that being able to pull weight uphill is not as important as being able to control it going down. Assess your topography, or consider how to stabilize and brake the trailer in bad spots.
Mf
 
   / fire wood trailer #8  
A lot of folks around here use a wagon with a mounted grapple for bringing logs out of the woods.:thumbsup:

Patu 915 Grapple Loader

A site showing some of the equipment.

A simple farm wagon should also work. They may not be all that expensive to buy and can be adjustable for length and loaded with forks on the tractor.:D
 
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   / fire wood trailer #9  
I was not aware that there ever was a special designed "wood wagon". Growing up as a kid and cutting wood EVERY weekend we just used hay wagons and piled them up. I see people using all manner of things to haul their wood around here.
 
   / fire wood trailer #10  
I am trying to come up with a design for a trailer to move split firewood from my various logging yards to my wood shed.

I initially tried skidding the logs to the wood shed from all corners of the property where I source them (mostly cutting spars or blow overs). That was a bit of a pain and made a mess in places I didn't want a mess, but it allowed bucking and splitting right out in front of the shed. The idea is to handle the wood the least amount of times.

So now I am looking for a trailer design that will handle at least a cord of wood, preferably 2.

Any of you fellows have one you like for this task. I would use it behind a tractor, through fields, on logging roads and such, so it can't be too wide, say 6 feet max. I am thinking a couple of axels to handle the load.

Anyone hazard a guess what a cord of wood weighs?

I have a '68 ford 800 dump truck that works for some of the situations, but driving it in the woods and on logging roads is a non starter.

I started using a grapple to pick up logs and carry them to where I split and store the wood. It cuts down on the number of times you handle the wood and if you are cutting larger logs, you can carry a significant portion of a cord with each trip.

Sure beats cutting them up in the weeds or mud on the side of a hill. Beats throwing rounds in the back of a trailer or pickup too.
 
 
 
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