Logistics of firewood hauling and splitting?

NHmitch · Feb 28, 2014

We heat 100% with wood here in New Hampshire, and I am able to heat with about 5 cords or less a winter. I use to drag the logs out, but now I fell the trees, limb, and chunk them, and then I drive the tractor to the trees, and split them in place with my 3PH splitter, and I either stack them in the woods, or trailer the split piles out, ready to stack at my house. I tried hauling the chunked wood out, but that seemed like more work. I do have a much smaller tractor than the OP's, but my new system seems to be easier for my set up, and saves my trails a bit. My trailer is an old Ford Model T frame that I bought from a farm that used it to haul pumpkins for probably the last 60 years. I really like the modified chicken tractor/trailer!

rodsauder · Feb 28, 2014

I got lucky, friend had a big maple that had to come down. I rented a container and had it delivered to house. Now it will get cut split and stacked on skids sit for a few years then go right into the wood furnace.

Verticaltrx · Feb 28, 2014

We are almost done with cutting firewood, saw logs and fence posts for the year and I have to say the log wagon I built (post #222) has made a huge difference. We are building 16 pallet crates for my fathers firewood this year, and if he likes it I'll build some for myself. So our most refined wood cutting system yet (considering we have to truck the wood from our other farm):

1. Fell tree and cut into lengths anywhere from 8' to 16' long

2. Using the skidding arch on the 5045E drag the logs out enough to get them on the forks, load them on the log wagon, small stuff on the forks

3. Pull log wagon out of woods to landing area, using forks on 5045E load the logs into a 2-ton dump truck (it will hold about 4-5 wagon loads)

4. Haul load back to home farm, dump logs in farmyard, and cut them into firewood lengths

5. Split and stack into pallet crates

I've also been cutting a lot of White Oak for milling into fence boards, and Locust for poles, posts, and rot resistant lumber (for some raised bed gardens.)

wmonroe · Mar 1, 2014

Mgrubb47122 said:
Well, I mainly cut firewood just to keep my little 5 acre lot clear and have a couple ricks to burn in our fireplace each winter. I usually sell any excess. The emerald ash borer has devastated our ash trees, so I have had plenty of extras these last couple of years. It's exercise and an excuse to play in the woods with my tractors for me. I use my trusty-dusty Wheelhorse and homemade box trailer to get in and out of the walking trails. For larger trees, I go in with the cub loboy and the 8' trailer or the old ton dump truck. I also have a carryall with a big metal box I can get a half rick in - whatever I want to play with that day. I like sawing at the site because I don't have a big pile of knots, ends, and sawdust in the barn lot that way. We did cut some logs on our farm this fall and I used the 3010 Deere and loader to lift logs on our 14' flatbed trailer and unload them in the barn lot. We had to get them while the ground was frozen, as it has been quite wet this year. That is more handling, but I had firewood I could get to and sell when everyone was running out this winter. - LuggHandles - <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=362948"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=362949"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=362950"/> <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=362951"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=362952"/>

I love the duals on the John Deere rider, did you make custom adapter or was there a factory way to mount them. I bet it is extremely stable going across hills.

Mgrubb47122 · Mar 2, 2014

wmonroe said:
I love the duals on the John Deere rider, did you make custom adapter or was there a factory way to mount them. I bet it is extremely stable going across hills.

I made the original weight adapters, then built a little website and now I sell a few a month. I'm experimenting with the dual wheel adapters now, but finding it takes several size adapters to accommodate all the different wheel widths. Would like to make a "one-size-fits-all" version. Thanks. Mike G.

NHmitch · Mar 4, 2014

Thats a very nice tractor! Are the wheel weights original to the tractor?

Jim L said:
I usually haul my wood with my 57 600 ford tractor. Does what I need for it to do.

NHmitch · Mar 4, 2014

Thats quite a bit of wood for one tree! Thats always nice to have "free" wood. Its very cold here in New Hampshire, -6F/-21C this morning, so I can't imagine how cold it must be for you guys up North.

rodsauder said:
View attachment 363004
I got lucky, friend had a big maple that had to come down. I rented a container and had it delivered to house. Now it will get cut split and stacked on skids sit for a few years then go right into the wood furnace.

rodsauder · Mar 4, 2014

Yup, My young friend is an arborist (Mother Natures Branch Manager) he and his 3 man crew ( me included ) worked from 9am to 9pm to get it all cut, chipped and the wood loaded into the container. It was so cold that day the teenagers actually pulled their pants up!!!