Loader Fire wood season / a lot easier this year

[BIG DOOLEY]

With my 13 year old daughter Josie behind the wheel of the John Deere this week we managed to bring home three loads of wood so far.
The grapple I made has been very helpful lifting and moving larger logs, moving brush and holding logs at waist height while I saw them up.
My daughter drivers the tractor while I stack wood in the bucket. She drives it to the truck and lifts the load over the truck while I stack it in the back.
For over 10 years I have gathered firewood without a tractor or trailer.
I'm glad I have some equipment plus a helper now to ease the workload.
I did a lot of maintenance work on my dooley this spring before firewood cutting.
Brakes, axles bearings/seals, differential fluid,trans fluid/filter, pitman arm, shocks, steering stabilizer, radiator/heater hose/flush system, power steering flush, B&M shifterplus, transfer case fluid, plugs/wires, alternator, starter and 2 batteries to name a few.
Oh yes some new Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires. Wow what a difference they made driving in the woods.
2 more loads of wood and we should be set for this winter.
Tom

 

[creekbend]

Nice looking Setup. Having an extra helper also helps.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Yes indeed just one helper is such an asset.
If nothing more that running the tractor so I can keep my hands on the saw more often.
she great at getting the gas/oil a drink of water...
It is hard to get the kids out of bed and to the woods before the hot part of the day.
She just loves running the tractor so much she will go to bed early so she can come along in the morning.
It is also nice to have someone that can call for help if an accident should happen.
Tom

 

[arrow]

It has to be a great feeling to have your girl so eager to help. I have 3 daughters ( all into their 30's now) and none what you could call a "woods" gal. Strange considering they have a dad who lived in the woods. With your set up, i wouldn't messs with loading the p.u. I'd just dump everything into the trailer right from the bucket and would leave the logs 8' long. Of course this would necessitate not too far a haul from your wood lot to your house and that you could leave the tractor at the woodlot w/o a theft concern till you went back and got it. At any rate, if you would like to unload your truck in about 5 minutes or less, get yourself a pulp or wood hook and leave your logs longer that you stack in the truck. When we had "pallet wood" days (wood we brought to mills who made pallets) we'd leave the rounds in 4' lengths and unload a 12' stake body in minutes with the hooks. Lots easier unloading than flinging these 4 ' lengths up into the truck. Of course we all got incredibly strong having to do this but remained incredibly stupid for not figuring out a simpler way. Boss was too cheap to get mechanized. Gosh i hated "pallet wood" days

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

I considered leaving the tractor at the woods. It is about 8 miles away.
The trails in my parents property are so tight and curving that I have all I can do to drive thru without a trailer.
The dooley fenders and wide turning radius of the truck are not ideal for driving thru the woods.
We like unloading off the tailgate next to the log splitter and stacking in the back yard.
I can pull the truck right next to the wood pile.
I guess I like making all the sawdust in the woods and not in my yard.

 

[arrow]

I considered leaving the tractor at the woods. It is about 8 miles away.
The trails in my parents property are so tight and curving that I have all I can do to drive thru without a trailer.
The dooley fenders and wide turning radius of the truck are not ideal for driving thru the woods.
We like unloading off the tailgate next to the log splitter and stacking in the back yard.
I can pull the truck right next to the wood pile.
I guess I like making all the sawdust in the woods and not in my yard.
View attachment 316319 View attachment 316319

I understand. Being a former logger my mind is always in production mode. I do wood as quickly as possible and never stopped to smell the roses. You are doing it for other more important reasons. I would make a landing near the road however and skid the logs to it so you do not have to take your truck into the woods.

 

[kevin37b]

Your success is a 13 year old that wants to tractor , good job . What is hanging off the front of that truck ? Beautiful place .

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Yes i am not worried about production, just gathering enough wood for heating 1 winter at a time.
Your right a landing area near a trail helps out.
In the past I would use my dads old Super C to drag logs to a landing area.
The new grapple on my tractor lets me carry log sections and stack them for cutting.
The landings are almost always at a spot where i can turn my truck around to head back out of the woods.
I have been clearing out maples around the oaks where my dad and brother like to deer hunt.

 

[BIG DOOLEY]

Thanks,
I am so happy that she is a hands on girl.
She wants to learn how to run my brother in laws latest 4WD CASE IH STEIGER 385 with the articulated steering.
I just used it myself last weekend. What a beast.
The thing hanging off the front of the truck in a homemade brush guard with some extra lighting.
I sometimes have to drive off the trails in the woods to turn my truck around.
One of my friends calls my truck the "Urban Assault Vehicle"
Oh well

 

[rmorey]

You're lucky. My kids cant understand why I dont just install a propane furnace and forget the wood! I do 5 full cords each year. Doesnt take too long.