Firewood Trailer

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wazzu

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Oct 30, 2009
84
SW Idaho
I am buying a firewood trailer from my neighbor. It is made from a 1970's 3/4 ton ford pickup bed. It needs new tires for sure but does anyone else use one like this? What do you need to look for on them as far as repairs? Bearings, lights??
 
Is this basically a 3/4 ton truck that the frame was cut behind the cab and made into a trailer? Is yes then it likely has a full floater axle which is good and stout. The wheel bearing are lubed by the gear oil in the rear differential. Make sure the rear axle is topped off with fluid. Check the lights as well. Likely the trailer has no brakes unless they figured a way to use the old drum brakes on the axle. No brakes means your tow vehicle has to stop the whole load itself which can be dangerous depending on load and what your towing with. Lastly if you buy it put up a picture.
 
Please send up pictures. Be sure to include some scenery pics. I have a dream of moving to SW Idaho!
 
Sounds like it's going to be real heavy to move and tow. I hope your not paying much for this. I'd check around for a real trailer.
 
No brakes on it but I will be towing it with my Dodge 3500. This type of trailer is somewhat of an ideal firewood trailer in my opinion and you see a good deal of them out here. I don't think it will be any heavier than my dual axle 16 foot trailer. It think it will work better because it is shorter and more maneuverable and will carry about a cord. The guy said he wants $150 for it, it will need tires and new side racks at least so I guess that's pretty fair.
 
Please send up pictures. Be sure to include some scenery pics. I have a dream of moving to SW Idaho!
It's an ok place to live, high desert climate and the summers are too long and hot for me. It will do though for now until I can move back further North.
 
No brakes on it but I will be towing it with my Dodge 3500. This type of trailer is somewhat of an ideal firewood trailer in my opinion and you see a good deal of them out here. I don't think it will be any heavier than my dual axle 16 foot trailer. It think it will work better because it is shorter and more maneuverable and will carry about a cord. The guy said he wants $150 for it, it will need tires and new side racks at least so I guess that's pretty fair.
IMO an ideal wood trailer has a ramp, to roll up large rounds. Any of those available?
 
I don't use my street trailer a lot. . It's single axel 1200 LBS, 4 X 8 with 14" sides low to the ground. So rolling rounds up a ramp works. This works for me as I pull it with a Honda CRV. Anything bigger would kill the SUV.

With a 3500 Dodge you can pull just about anything.
 
Yeah, I would like to see pics too...
 
I am buying a firewood trailer from my neighbor. It is made from a 1970's 3/4 ton ford pickup bed. It needs new tires for sure but does anyone else use one like this? What do you need to look for on them as far as repairs? Bearings, lights??

Yes.

I hope this helps.
 
IMO an ideal wood trailer has a ramp, to roll up large rounds. Any of those available?
Not really interested in a ramp, I'm not interested in spending $1500 on a trailer anyway. We don't load much green hardwood or green wood in general out here so I don't really need a ramp.
 
I don't know. Most states require brakes on trailers with gross weight above 2k. Sounds like there isn't much room for wood. I use a regular trailer and a small winch and pull logs on the deck. Bucking and rolling works for big stuff. I've got a ram 3500 drw and I wouldn't want to stop and 4k trailer without brakes.
 
Well, here it is. I took it on a 300 mile trip last week and it went really good. Next project is to rebuild the side racks.
photo 2.JPG
 
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Nice! I have been keeping my eye out for something like this.
 
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