Can it be done with a standard chevy pickup and a 5x10 open trailer? Would the weight be too much? Trailer rated for 2000lbs, Truck bed for 1000lbs ??
Transporting a cord with a Pickup
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firecracker_77
Minister of Fire
isn't a cord of oak 4,000 pounds? not sure, but i wouldn't want to damage the trailer with one trip.
maxed_out
New Member
red flag.....sure it can be done but I wouldnt. depending on species and dryness your talking 4000lbs +- for a cord. I bet a cord of fresh cut oak would be closer to 6500. With me murphys law always seems to magically appear when corners get cut. keep it safe and you'll sleep better.
Kenster
Minister of Fire
Rule of thumb is about 1/3 cord well stacked in a six foot, full size bed. That right there is really testing your truck if it's oak and really green. And that leaves over 3000 pounds in your trailer. No problem with space in the trailer. If I figure correctly, and you need 2/3 cord (85 cubic feet) in your trailer, if it's well stacked it only has to be less than two feet tall. 5 x 10 x 1.7 feet tall = 85 cubic feet. So the real issue is weight and I think you're asking for trouble putting over 3000 pounds in your little trailer.
midwestcoast
Minister of Fire
Sure it can. Either in 2 safe, easy trips or one stressfull, dangerous, possibly very costly trip.
It makes a big difference whether it's seasoned or green wood. Species also a big factor, but dry weights for hardwoods are generally in the 3-4000 lbs/cord range.
wet weights can be up around 6000 lb/cord easy.
It makes a big difference whether it's seasoned or green wood. Species also a big factor, but dry weights for hardwoods are generally in the 3-4000 lbs/cord range.
wet weights can be up around 6000 lb/cord easy.
bluedogz
Minister of Fire
Everyone else gave more detail, so I'll be simple and direct... Don't.
Or... do it in 2 trips at least.
Or... do it in 2 trips at least.
!
bogydave
Minister of Fire
Depends on the wood. How wet or dry it is.
Green Spruce, cedar, fir; about 3k/cord
White oak 5500 green, 4200 dry (20% moisture)
A reference for wood your area; Weight green/dry & BTU:
http://www.jerseyfirewood.com/AboutUs/FirewoodFacts.aspx
Green Spruce, cedar, fir; about 3k/cord
White oak 5500 green, 4200 dry (20% moisture)
A reference for wood your area; Weight green/dry & BTU:
http://www.jerseyfirewood.com/AboutUs/FirewoodFacts.aspx
Bigg_Redd
Minister of Fire
Thistle
Minister of Fire
Some years back I owned a '89 Chevy 3/4 ton 4 x 4 8 ft bed with 1 ton overload springs on it,4.10 rear axle & 10000GVW rating.Was a great hauling beast, but even with 350 engine it never got over 17MPG on the highway,10 or so in town.Routinely hauled a cord stacked in back,with stake sides to the top of cab.Had 3 ton of crushed limestone & 1 1/2" river rock in it several times,barely leveled the springs out.Even with all-weather tires that werent real aggressive,when empty it rode like a steel-wagon on the rough roads around here lol
SolarAndWood
Minister of Fire
It is real easy to overload a 5x10 trailer that is rated for 2000 lbs. Speaking from experience, blow outs on single trailers full of wood suck especially on the Interstate.
bioman
Feeling the Heat
Im going to do it in 2 easy trips...less fear of blowouts, etc....Maybe Ill find a nice used dumptruck over the winter/spring....that woudl be sweet...
Justin M
Feeling the Heat
Ramcononer said:
Or just get a trailer that is rated to handle enough weight to fit a whole cord in it. Your truck shouldn't have a problem towing it as long as it has trailer brakes.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
Ramcononer said:
Very easy with that set-up. I can get a cord with a s-10 and a 4x8x3 foot trailer. I have 20x20 concrete slab so I know what is brought in every time.
I'm with jay, this should work if the trailer isn't pushing down on the bumper too much but you are going to be pretty much limited out.
I have a 96 f-150 as a wood hauler. It has the 8 foot box and standard springs. A few weeks ago I brought 2 full truck loads of med to large maple rounds home. In looking at the springs fully loaded, I had about 1.5 inches of room before the bump stops would have touched. After splitting and stacking those 2 loads came to 1 cord exactly.
So, w/ 1/2 cord in the back of the truck if it's an 8 foot box, there wasn't much room on the springs left. Again, a 1/2 cord on that trailer would fit, but it had better not push on the truck too much.
I'd say if you want to drag a full cord around you'd be better off w/ a 3/4 ton if you are needing to go long distances and that is your reason for wanting to move so much at one time. If you are close to your wood source, then the obvious thing is to make more trips.
Also, if you are running things maxed out, make sure you have tires w/ extra plies in them.
pen
I have a 96 f-150 as a wood hauler. It has the 8 foot box and standard springs. A few weeks ago I brought 2 full truck loads of med to large maple rounds home. In looking at the springs fully loaded, I had about 1.5 inches of room before the bump stops would have touched. After splitting and stacking those 2 loads came to 1 cord exactly.
So, w/ 1/2 cord in the back of the truck if it's an 8 foot box, there wasn't much room on the springs left. Again, a 1/2 cord on that trailer would fit, but it had better not push on the truck too much.
I'd say if you want to drag a full cord around you'd be better off w/ a 3/4 ton if you are needing to go long distances and that is your reason for wanting to move so much at one time. If you are close to your wood source, then the obvious thing is to make more trips.
Also, if you are running things maxed out, make sure you have tires w/ extra plies in them.
pen
Pen, Jay,
I don't know if you guys missed it but the OP said the trailer was rated for 2000lbs. Even if 1/2 the cord was in the truck the trailer would be overloaded by far, not to mention the truck. He might pull it off with a single axle trailer rated for 3500lbs but he'd still be running heavy and risking tire issues.
Plus what about the ball? If it's a 1 7/8" then the max is 2000lbs I believe (3/4" shank) and even 2" balls max out at 6000lbs on 1" shanks. Depending on the hitch on the truck it would be very easy to overload the hitch with too much tongue weight too, especially with a single axle trailer.
I moved quite a bit of wood with my Canyon before I got my 1 ton but the biggest loads were always on a tandem axle trailer.
I don't know if you guys missed it but the OP said the trailer was rated for 2000lbs. Even if 1/2 the cord was in the truck the trailer would be overloaded by far, not to mention the truck. He might pull it off with a single axle trailer rated for 3500lbs but he'd still be running heavy and risking tire issues.
Plus what about the ball? If it's a 1 7/8" then the max is 2000lbs I believe (3/4" shank) and even 2" balls max out at 6000lbs on 1" shanks. Depending on the hitch on the truck it would be very easy to overload the hitch with too much tongue weight too, especially with a single axle trailer.
I moved quite a bit of wood with my Canyon before I got my 1 ton but the biggest loads were always on a tandem axle trailer.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
pen said:
Yes your right mine is an old boat trailer with long tongue. There is very little tongue weight, but his trailer is larger so just get use to balancing it out.
MasterMech said:
Exactly, he'd be pushing it as far as what the truck and trailer can do but it would do it. Not that it can't be done, but legally, it's definately pushing it.
If that's what he's going to use, bringing it down to 3/4 of a cord would be a wise move, especially if this is in a well traveled area w/ many folks around and/or the police who may bring a damper onto the operation.
Around my neck of the woods, doing what he is asking would look safe! Some people are nuts.
pen
smokinj
Minister of Fire
pen said:
Crap its not really pushing the truck that much..........May trying to do 70mph with a cord of wood out of the question, but 50-55 mph is no problem. Heck if I am close under 10 miles I will even pull my splitter on the back of the trailer and a cord of wood. Most over think this stuff. I have pulled over 100 cords this way and my breaks are still good. ;-)
If its oak I run 3/4 of a cord but anything else is a cord.
mecreature
Minister of Fire
I have seen Jay do it.
I try stay in front and not get behind him though... :bug:
He even throws some logs for milling on top for good measure.
I try stay in front and not get behind him though... :bug:
He even throws some logs for milling on top for good measure.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
mecreature said:
lol Thats running about 15mph in snow.....I forgot about that day. That was well over a cord.
smokinj
Minister of Fire
CTYank said:
Mine is a singal axle rated at 3500lbs. That pretty much covers any cord of wood. daul axle got to be atleast 5k.
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