Looking to make taking wood inside easier

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laxin213

laxin213

Burning Hunk
Sep 18, 2014
154
Buffalo NY
Hi guys. I have a bad back so I'm looking to make easier work out of something that in the past wouldn't give me any trouble.

I'm trying to take wood from my stack to the fireplace. I've got about 50' to carry it, and I don't have a tractor. What I'm doing now is loading it into small plastic bins or the canvas firewood bags and carrying them in the snow.

Anyone have a better way? I was thinking I could slide the bins on the snow with something like a long metal hook. I've used one years ago working at a grocery store to move milk crates. This is the closet thing I could find (pictured below). I live in buffalo so we get lots of snow i'd like to make it easier on me with the snow making the job easier

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1418315763.779311.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1418315773.898753.jpg

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1418315785.054520.jpg
 
Meant to attach a picture of the bins too

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1418315905.049528.jpg
 
if i were you i'd be looking at a sled of some type and heavy duty clothes line type pulley setup to pull it it. (or get the dog to pull it)
 
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Wouldn't a loop of rope attached to the corners of the bins also work and save you $$?
 
muncybob said:
Wouldn't a loop of rope attached to the corners of the bins also work and save you $$?
Click to expand...

they would probably dig into the snow and cause resistance, maybe falling over, that would be annoying.
 
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mass_burner said:
if i were you i'd be looking at a sled of some type and heavy duty clothes line type pulley setup to pull it it. (or get the dog to pull it)
Click to expand...
russb said:
A sled, like this: http://www.amazon.com/Shappell-JSR-Sled-Upsable-8-Inch/dp/B002RWBPRQ

This is how I bring wood in from my Mom's stacks in the winter; she lives in ME.
Click to expand...

I have a sled like this and it works very well and holds up better than I thought. Mine is about 10 yrs old and hasn't worn through or cracked yet. I can also fit me and my 2 kids in it when a proper sledding hill presents itself.
 
I would put the bins in the sled, pull the sled up to house & carry the bins to stove.

I throw mine in a tractor cart & park it under the 2nd floor deck. Once the snow hits and I can't drive to the remote stacks, I burn from the 2-3 cord that is stacked under the deck.

 
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Prof said:
I have a sled like this and it works very well and holds up better than I thought. Mine is about 10 yrs old and hasn't worn through or cracked yet. I can also fit me and my 2 kids in it when a proper sledding hill presents itself.
Click to expand...

Yeah they're tough; Mom has two, a big one and a smaller one, they both must be about ten years old. I don't know about the exact one I linked to, but something along those lines will be worth the cost if you live in a snowy area. We've towed kids on snowmobiles, gone sledding with them, hauled the horse doo-doo around, and obviously, as I said, used it for firewood as well.
 
russb said:
We've towed kids on snowmobiles, gone sledding with them, hauled the horse doo-doo around, and obviously, as I said, used it for firewood as well.
Click to expand...

not at the same time I hope : )
 
Thanks for all the replies guys.

The sled is a great idea, but the problem I see with it is I have 5 steps to get up in the house. I would load it up and then I couldn't lift it and carry it up steps. I could unload and do arm fulls but the bins are sized so that I can bring them up steps ok, or take them up a step or 2 and rest. I could drag on the sled and then load into the bins but I think that's making it too complicated. Thanks for the sled idea though it does seems like it would work great
 
The bins in the sled idea sounds good. You may be onto something there. Thanks mustash
 
laxin213 said:
Thanks for all the replies guys.

The sled is a great idea, but the problem I see with it is I have 5 steps to get up in the house. I would load it up and then I couldn't lift it and carry it up steps. I could unload and do arm fulls but the bins are sized so that I can bring them up steps ok, or take them up a step or 2 and rest. I could drag on the sled and then load into the bins but I think that's making it too complicated. Thanks for the sled idea though it does seems like it would work great
Click to expand...

mustash29 said:
I would put the bins in the sled, pull the sled up to house & carry the bins to stove.
Click to expand...

Or, if you don't load them too much and the stairs aren't too steep, you might be able to pull the sled right up the steps. A plywood ramp would help
 
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Good idea as well. With the pulling hook it seems like something I would buy strictly for this but with a sled it could have w variety of uses. And a larger sled may go up the deck steps especially if I could bolt on the top of the deck like a ratcheting strap like a boat trailer has. Thanks guys
 
OP - post a picture of your stairs and doors.

I keep a stack right next to my back door. I can usually lean out the backdoor in my underwear and grab a few splits. Any way you can stack next to your door?

Maybe we can help you devise an assisted list or track to get a box up the steps.
 
I would be tempted to pull the sled of wood with a cheap little electric winch/pulley setup, and to build a ramp for the stairs to pull the sled all of the way up. Of course one would have to work out the finer details. Maybe try to set up a permanent loop so you could send the empty sled back to the pile via the winch pulley system. Talk about getting wood to your house easily.
 
I guess it depends on what your back likes and doesn't like. Mine does not like carrying loads over uneven ground.
I've used similar bins for years but I would not carry them across the yard, especially in deep snow. One slip & I'd be out for days to months.
I second the sled. I'd load bins in the sled, then fill the bins, haul to the deck, then lift bins onto the deck one at a time (assuming it's only about 3' off the ground), climb the stairs & then take each bin into the house.
I would much rather put one of those covered racks on the deck though (or a smaller one) so I could fill it from the sled every week or 2 & then just carry bins in as needed from there.
 
Big, heavy duty sled that your bins will fit in x2 or however many here have said so. Look at sporting goods stores for Ice fishing/deer dragging sleds. Spend a little and go heavy duty - they are black(no clue who makes them) and will last lifetimes vs. kids toys that will fall apart and frustrate you.

Prep your trail through the snow for more efficiency. Lumpy, bumpy trails and a sled are not as fun.
 
thnks for the replies guys. I will post a pic of my deck and stairs. I always wanted one of these corded winches, and I could anchor a large round eyeloop at the top of the deck, or in one of the trees that are right next to the deck, hook up the winch and a tow strap for added length and hit a button. It would be slick.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200455486_200455486
 
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Bin or bins on a sled or garden cart. I like that electric winch thing - looks like it would be pretty slick.
 
You could build or buy a wagon that can be pulled across the yard from your stacks, then let the winch pull it up the stairs. Small tires won't go up the stairs well so perhaps some aftermarket 13" or 14" trailer tires. Or maybe some of those spare tires that come in the trunk of many cars - can find them at salvage yards.
 
laxin213, Thanks for posting a link to that portable winch. I never knew such a thing existed.
 
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