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babzog

babzog

Member
Oct 25, 2011
231
Eastern Ontario, Canada
So,

I'm trying to sort out a priority list for equipment purchase. I've already got a good saw and safety gear. My transport rig is my wife's minivan (Sienna LE with 3.5l V6, tow package which incl tranny cooler is installed) and an old but still solid 4x8 utility trailer. My woodsplitter is a standard splitting maul and a bacon & egg breakfast.

A scrounge today from somewhat far (60km) netted me about 6 cords, half of which I've brought home now, the rest next weekend. I've got some serious rounds to split and I figure I'll be hauling and splitting at odd times of the year (IOW, whenever the scrounge gods call).

The dilemma I'm facing tonight: A truck and trailer combo would have halved my trips. A splitter would let me get on with the task of c/s/s.

I've spotted a 3/4ton truck in what appears to be good shape, with over 400,000kms on it, for about $1k. A decent (non-Chinese) splitter is going to be that or more on the used market. Truck carries maintenance, repairs, insurance and gas and will sit most of the time until a scrounge or dump run is required. Some small scrounges can be done with the van and trailer (saves $$ on gas), but I'd like to avoid putting the miles on the van if I can. A splitter can be rented on a weekend basis so I can save my ibg lads and rent a splitter a few times a year.

Questions, questions. So, what do you think is a more critical piece of equipment to secure - transport or processing - and why?
 
Like you said, you can rent a splitter & get allot done in one day or get warmed up swinging the maul.
Old 3/4 ton is gonna be a gas hog & require taxes, license, insurance etc. but haul more wood & tow a larger trailer & be setting allot.
Van pull a bigger trailer?
Better ask the wife & see what she thinks.
Rent a big truck (U-haul) &/or trailer for one day & haul it all in one load. No taxes license etc that way but not able to go on a scrounge at the spur of the moment.
Tough one.
 
I suggest a larger trailer. 6x10 with a ramp. Don't go too far from home. Don't take such big loads. The little ones add up and don't cause as much bodily or equipment injury.
 
OK. . . I can see half-@$$ing your way through the first season, but if you're going to cut your own wood you need a truck. Period.
 
bogydave said:
Like you said, you can rent a splitter & get allot done in one day or get warmed up swinging the maul.
Old 3/4 ton is gonna be a gas hog & require taxes, license, insurance etc. but haul more wood & tow a larger trailer & be setting allot.
Van pull a bigger trailer?
Better ask the wife & see what she thinks.
Rent a big truck (U-haul) &/or trailer for one day & haul it all in one load. No taxes license etc that way but not able to go on a scrounge at the spur of the moment.
Tough one.
Click to expand...

If you rent a truck from U-haul, make sure you tell them you're moving furniture with it. They get a bit upset if you use their vehicles for other things.

Having a truck on hand to scrounge at a moments notice would be sweet and it's no big deal if you have to wait a few days to rent a splitter once you get it all home. My 1 ton gets used for things other than wood hauling pretty regularly so it's easier for me to justify the expense of keeping the truck around. Trust me, gas is the least of your expenses if your're considering a part-time vehicle although I'm sure once you have a truck you'll use it more than you think.

My vote is truck then splitter since you can rent a damn productive splitter for a day/weekend and get many truckloads of wood split. Work on the tough stuff and if everything leftover is easy, you can whack it by hand.
 
Sounds like you can get the wood easily enough--a truck would bring extra insurance and maintenance costs plus a place to put it when not used. And, in my experience, old vehicles that suddenly become unused fade quickly.

BUT, for me it would depend on the amount of wood you burn. For example, I burn just under two cords/year, which I pick up here and there over the course of the year and c/s/s as I go. If you're burning more, and NEED to transfer more, than a truck may be worth it. If that 6 cords will keep you busy for a few years, than I'd buy the splitter without question.

S
 
My vote is for anything that saves wear and tear on the body -- I hand split for many years, even when I had a splitter; would move 4' - 8' logs by hand; carry huge rounds out of the woods; and the list goes on. I would gloat over hand splitting in below 0F temps wearing just a flannel shirt and gloves. Then the shoulders starting giving me trouble, along with hand and finger joints. Now I wish I always had used the splitter and other body labor saving equipment. Don't risk your body to save a buck. Your body parts need to last as long as you do. Tools, trucks, etc. can wear out and are fully replaceable.
 
How far do you drive to work? I go south of the salt belt every five years or so for a fully depreciated truck that is still good enough to drive to work (my commute is all of 8 miles). I tried the $1000 truck thing and it was more hassle than it was worth. But, $1000 doesn't buy a truck without corrosion issues here and that might be different where you are.
 
Tough decision . . . but I think if given the choice I would go for the truck . . . a) save the wear and tear on the van and b) you can save up the wood and rent the splitter for a weekend and just make one big push.

That said . . . I like Choice C the best . . . buy both . . . but I completely understand the economics of the thing.
 
My commute is about 130km (both ways) so I wouldn't drive the truck to work (maybe once every couple of weeks just to keep it happy). I'd probably give it a small drive once a week at least... I know how rapidly even good vehicles can deteriorate when not driven... it's shocking, really. I'm burning approx 12 cords a year. I could pull a bigger trailer with the van, but then my load would decrease. Van is only rated to tow 3500lbs and I know I'm already exceeding that (how much does a face and a quarter of maple weigh? Plus at least 1000lbs for trailer.). Taking it easy on the rides home, not stressing her as best I can, but I know it's going to take a toll.
 
babzog said:
My commute is about 130km (both ways) so I wouldn't drive the truck to work (maybe once every couple of weeks just to keep it happy). I'd probably give it a small drive once a week at least... I know how rapidly even good vehicles can deteriorate when not driven... it's shocking, really. I'm burning approx 12 cords a year. I could pull a bigger trailer with the van, but then my load would decrease. Van is only rated to tow 3500lbs and I know I'm already exceeding that (how much does a face and a quarter of maple weigh? Plus at least 1000lbs for trailer.). Taking it easy on the rides home, not stressing her as best I can, but I know it's going to take a toll.
Click to expand...

Your 4x8 weighs 1000lbs? :bug:
 
I would opt for the truck first. As simple as "renting a truck" may be, it seems that more often than not the opportunity for wood/scrounge would present itself at a time when renting something would be a hassle. Second choice would be a trailer, you can always make multiple trips w/a truck before investing in a trailer. And as many have said, a splitter would be my last choice as you can plan for splitting times and rent as needed.
 
Faced with the same dilemma, I got a friend with a truck but no splitter. I bought the splitter, now we have both and someone to share the expenses. We've since taken in a third person and bought a dedicated wood truck/snowplow. Purchase price $1500 (a steal). Repairs, upgrades, tires, insurance, registration, about $1200. We're each into this thing $900!



All of my expenses (except fuel) are reduced by 2/3 and I always have someone with whom to cut wood.

It always seemed wasteful that each of my neighbors has his own 27-30 ton splitter which is only used for about 40 hours per year. Many have a dedicated wood truck/junk hauler. Gets expensive that way. Choose your friends wisely.
 
MasterMech said:
babzog said:
My commute is about 130km (both ways) so I wouldn't drive the truck to work (maybe once every couple of weeks just to keep it happy). I'd probably give it a small drive once a week at least... I know how rapidly even good vehicles can deteriorate when not driven... it's shocking, really. I'm burning approx 12 cords a year. I could pull a bigger trailer with the van, but then my load would decrease. Van is only rated to tow 3500lbs and I know I'm already exceeding that (how much does a face and a quarter of maple weigh? Plus at least 1000lbs for trailer.). Taking it easy on the rides home, not stressing her as best I can, but I know it's going to take a toll.
Click to expand...

Your 4x8 weighs 1000lbs? :bug:
Click to expand...

I'm guessing; I don't know. I can't pick it up. It's quite solid and steel all around (except for the floor which was a rotted out steel sheet that I removed and replaced with a sheet of 3.4" ply). It's not a cheapo HD or TSC tin trailer. It's quite old and very rusty but was very well made.
 
babzog said:
My commute is about 130km (both ways) so I wouldn't drive the truck to work (maybe once every couple of weeks just to keep it happy). I'd probably give it a small drive once a week at least... I know how rapidly even good vehicles can deteriorate when not driven... it's shocking, really. I'm burning approx 12 cords a year. I could pull a bigger trailer with the van, but then my load would decrease. Van is only rated to tow 3500lbs and I know I'm already exceeding that (how much does a face and a quarter of maple weigh? Plus at least 1000lbs for trailer.). Taking it easy on the rides home, not stressing her as best I can, but I know it's going to take a toll.
Click to expand...
Did I miss what it is you are driving to work? how far is wife driving (the van I assume) to work?

I made do with a 40"x??" trailer behind a Jeep for several years. it can be done. Best thing I ever did was get a truck, but I use mine for a lot more than scrounging wood. But then I only drive a few miles to work every day.
 
Get a G/F, who just so happens to get turned on watching you split wood by hand. . .Oh! and she has a truck ;-)
 
MrWhoopee said:
It always seemed wasteful that each of my neighbors has his own 27-30 ton splitter which is only used for about 40 hours per year. Many have a dedicated wood truck/junk hauler. Gets expensive that way. Choose your friends wisely.
Click to expand...

+1 Totally agree--I actually went 1/2 on our splitter w/my neighbor (one of the greatest people I know btw). He uses my trailer and extension ladders whenever he needs to, and I use his Kubota B7800 w/every implement available (he runs a tree farm on his adjacent 5acres next to his house) as he is very generous with it. I think I have the better end of the deal. :)
 
MrWhoopee said:
Faced with the same dilemma, I got a friend with a truck but no splitter. I bought the splitter, now we have both and someone to share the expenses. We've since taken in a third person and bought a dedicated wood truck/snowplow. Purchase price $1500 (a steal). Repairs, upgrades, tires, insurance, registration, about $1200. We're each into this thing $900!



All of my expenses (except fuel) are reduced by 2/3 and I always have someone with whom to cut wood.

It always seemed wasteful that each of my neighbors has his own 27-30 ton splitter which is only used for about 40 hours per year. Many have a dedicated wood truck/junk hauler. Gets expensive that way. Choose your friends wisely.
Click to expand...

I like your plan. Please run for President in 2012.
 
babzog said:
I'm burning approx 12 cords a year.
Click to expand...

Holy crap that's a lot of wood. Are those "real" cords (128 cubic feet) or face cords (1/3 of a real cord)?

If it is real cords I would spend that money on insulation and/or a more efficient heater instead of a truck to haul or splitter to split more wood. If it is face cords, then I would get a truck.
 
Danno77 said:
Did I miss what it is you are driving to work? how far is wife driving (the van I assume) to work?

I made do with a 40"x??" trailer behind a Jeep for several years. it can be done. Best thing I ever did was get a truck, but I use mine for a lot more than scrounging wood. But then I only drive a few miles to work every day.
Click to expand...

Oh... I drive my Civic to work, she uses the van. Not much wood hauling happening in the Civic. :) The truck would be for wood scrounging and a couple of dump runs a year. I don't have toys (four wheelers) to haul around and the lawn tractor can fit in the trailer if need be.
 
lukem said:
babzog said:
I'm burning approx 12 cords a year.
Click to expand...

Holy crap that's a lot of wood. Are those "real" cords (128 cubic feet) or face cords (1/3 of a real cord)?

If it is real cords I would spend that money on insulation and/or a more efficient heater instead of a truck to haul or splitter to split more wood. If it is face cords, then I would get a truck.
Click to expand...

Face cords, so a reasonable amount. About a cord every two weeks. From mid Oct to mid April is approximately 24 weeks so 24 / 2 is 12 cords. House is R2000 but it's a big bungalow.
 
Truck. I paid $700 for my 1970 f350 flatbed almost 6 years ago. The old stuff is pretty simple to work on and parts are readily available. As long as you don't care what it looks like, you can keep an older truck going without huge expnese. Insurance is cheap on old stuff too especially when the ins. co. knows it is a third, little used vehicle.

CatherineSt4-30.jpg

DSC05869.jpg
 
I couldn't get by without a work truck. I use it for a lot of things other than firewood but that is one of its most important jobs. Maybe it is the terrain or locations I get my wood from but my wife would kill me if I took her vehicle out in the woods. :bug:

I recommend a splitter too because I have limited time to devote to processing and all the other activities burning wood involves.
 
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