How far would you go?

[mattjm1017]

How far would you go for free firewood?
I live a pretty good ways away from everything and am having trouble finding free wood near me. All I seem to be able to find is stuff that's 40-60 miles away so nothing I can go out and grab on the way home from work and nobody seems willing to hold stuff over to the weekend I suppose they dont trust a stranger to actually come and get the stuff. So in my frustration I decided to see how far yall are willing to travel for free wood that and Ive never started a poll before.

 

[USMC80]

no more than 20

 

[Elderthewelder]

I recently went 23 miles (actually went there twice) for some really choice wood
I think my max would be about 30 miles, depending on what kinda wood it is and accessibility to the wood when I get there. If i can park right next to it that is a major plus
those are the 2 questions I always ask the person before I go

 

[blujacket]

10

 

[ScotO]

I've gone 50 miles for several cord of black locust..........but I was getting PAID to take it!!

 

[hobbyheater]

20 /30 miles

 

[mustash29]

Depends on:

Pics, quality, quantity, ease of access & how much is your time & fuel worth to you?

Around here loads of log length can be had for 100 - 120 / cord of green hardwood, mostly oak. That is generally a good deal for me, because I don't have to FAF (find, acquire, fetch) or beat on my truck or trailer.

A few years ago a co-worker bought 180 acres that was previously logged. It came with a tri-axe dump site truck, excavator & 2 large dozers. He begain clearing fields, for pastures and for a landing strip. The large one was 100 x 300 yards, so he could put in a helo pad.

I had it down to a sience, 3 hr round trip to go 20 miles, winch sticks off the piles, cut, load S-10 6' bed to the gills, 20 miles home, back under deck, roll chunks off the truck through the splitter and into a dump cart, push cart 20 feet and stack. A whole day of that (3 trips) would net me about a cord +, 130 - 150 cuft stacked. For that cost it was just as easy to work a day of OT and buy some log length, and not beat on my small truck, winch or battery. It was stressing me out because he had free wood that was offered to me, but work was so busy, we were very short handed & OT was unlimited.

Being that I work 12 hr rotating shifts & AVERAGE about 52-55 hrs per week all year long, my off time is precious and limited. I'd rather be in the woods cutting instead of sitting behind a bunch of computers, but that pays the bills and keeps the health insurance available.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Around these parts one of the most popular things to do on weekends is, "Head north!" I've seen folks go north to their cabin or camp site and then take a load home many times. We're talking 150+ miles one-way. We've also seen pickups and even small trucks with larger trailers behind and loaded to the hilt with firewood. Seems a bit expensive but....

Methinks the pole should have also allowed shorter distances. I remember going 5 miles one time but that was many, many moons ago.

 

[Locust Post]

I voted for 20 but may go a bit farther all depending on the situation. I can't think of a time ever going much farther than that now. But that said, cutting firewood is just one of my favorite things to do so I don't crunch all the #s because I don't care. I could spend much more money on other things so if there was some good firewood to cut 30 miles away and I had the time I may just do it.
If I could find out when Scotty was leaving on vacation I would drive a long ways for some locust.

 

[lumbering on]

If its on the way home from work...

 

[Bigg_Redd]

How far would you go for free firewood?
I live a pretty good ways away from everything and am having trouble finding free wood near me. All I seem to be able to find is stuff that's 40-60 miles away so nothing I can go out and grab on the way home from work and nobody seems willing to hold stuff over to the weekend I suppose they dont trust a stranger to actually come and get the stuff. So in my frustration I decided to see how far yall are willing to travel for free wood that and Ive never started a poll before.

I didn't vote, but the answer is "It depends."

1) How much wood?

2) How close can I get my truck to the wood?

3) Is it poplar or cottonwood?

I'd do 60+ miles easy if there's a bunch and I can get my truck near it - If there's a whole bunch I can borrow my dad's flatbed and haul 3 cord.

 

[JustWood]

I was just in your neighborhood to the north 10 miles about 3-4 months ago buying equipment and there was more logging slash than you could shake a stick at. Drive some back roads.

 

[mattjm1017]

I was just in your neighborhood to the north 10 miles about 3-4 months ago buying equipment and there was more logging slash than you could shake a stick at. Drive some back roads.

Where about were you? There's some leftover logging stuff right down the road from me where they logged a cypress swamp but there's no way for me to get to it its in the middle of the swampiness and I don't know the owner of the land.

 

[JustWood]

Between Suffolk and Franklin N and S of 58 on the side roads. A few places right along 58. Tons of land clearing going on.

 

[BrotherBart]

The poll didn't include 1,000 feet. Been heating the joint for 30 years off of these five acres. Can't picture driving somewhere for the stuff. Of course I made mortgage payments on every "free" split I have ever shoved into the stoves.

 

[red oak]

I voted for 20, but in reality I rarely go that far anymore. Between my own land, my cousin's and mother's, and National Forest, I've got enough wood for a lifetime within 10 miles. But if I needed to, and could haul a lot like Bigg Redd said, I would go further. It doesn't make sense to drive 60 miles to fill up my little Ranger.

 

[oppirs]

Only 1/2 mile. Won't vote.

 

[clemsonfor]

I have driven 55 miles but that was were I worked so I filled up there. Now I go about 20 miles to get wood.

 

[Thistle]

Didn't vote,it depends though.About 90% of my wood I get by keeping parents 10 acres neat & tidy,that's roughly 3-4 cords yearly dropping snags,cleaning up deadfall & the occasional storm damage.Its approximately 1 hour west of me,with gas,equipment costs/maintenance etc that costs me around $80/cord.But its better than any gym membership you can buy + the conversation & time spent relaxing is priceless.

The remaining 10% I get from local CL scrounges,the occasional paid tree removal or pruning job + a small local tree service brings me certain stuff that he knows I'd be interested in.

I'd normally not go more than 20 miles one way to a private address,unless its something really great. Like 20"+ Black Walnut,Cherry,White Oak or some extra nice Mulberry/Honey Locust for the Alaskan mill

 

[mattjm1017]

I see I didnt make my poll clear I meant up to so anywhere from 1 foot to 20 miles ect but i see what yall are saying. I wish I could walk out back and cut trees but theres only fields behind me. Just wood thanks for the tip Ill take a drive up 58 I dont go up towards franklin very often. Im talking about craigslist posts theres tons of them but theyre so far away its hard for me to justify going for it.

 

[Woody Stover]

It doesn't make sense to drive 60 miles to fill up my little Ranger.

I've just got a car and 5x8 trailer, and don't like to load it too full with wet, heavy wood so I don't go more than 10 miles. I go after quick-dry like soft Maple and Cherry that I don't have a lot of here. In summer I go after pretty much anything good, and go in the woods here in the winter when I don't have to fight the brush and bugs.

 

[Paulywalnut]

Locust.ash,oak,50 round trip
Maybe depends on quanity too.
Is it cut in 17inch pieces? Is it split?
Too many variables sorry didn't vote.

 

[Jacktheknife]

We went as far as 80 last year when we were really hard up. Now we typically dont go more than 35 miles, but thats only 7 from work.

 

[bogydave]

40 (80 RT ) if it's good birch & I can get a trailer load (a cord + )

 

[Pallet Pete]

I have gone farther as long as I have a trailer. A tank of gas is cheaper than 45-75 a face cord when I can haul a full cord or more in one load.

Pete