Log Cart ideas

[ToltingColtAcres]

Bringing wood into my house is a two step process. I leave my 12 cords in my "wood shed", and then a couple of times per week I bring my 10 cf wheelbarrow out, load up with wood, and leave it on my back porch. From there, I carry a load or two in a day, depending on how much I'm burning.

Been doing this for a couple of years now, and while it works, I find using the wheelbarrow to be a major PITFA. Since all my splits are about 16", I can usually fit one row of splits in an e/w configuration in the wheelbarrow and then few splits n/s. Of course, I always attempt to load it up as much as possible, to minimize the number of trips I have to make, but this usually means when I pick up the arms of the wb to move it, logs start rolling off the front. I've thought about adding in some

Using a larger cart in conjunction with something like a yard tractor isn't really an option, I don't have the space -- this is something I have to do "by hand", so to speak. The WB is pretty much the perfect size, other than the fact in order to get enough wood so I'm not going outdoors every single day to bring a load back to the house, I have to load the thing so high that pieces keep falling off when I lift the handles to move it back to the back porch.

So, I've been toying with other ideas... I like the concept of these (below) but clearly something like that is way too small for what I have in mind... I probably bring 2-3x that amount of wood over in a single load in my wheelbarrow now, so using something like that, I'd still be making daily (if not more) trips to the wood shed to 'restock'.

But, building on that design ...I was toying with the idea of taking something like a tubular steel log rack and adapting it with some large pneumatic swivel tires from tractor supply, which would allow me to roll out the rack to the wood shed, load it up, and then roll it back... but, there, most of the racks I've seen are pretty flimsy tubular steel and likely wouldn't hold up to such adaptation.

I'm curious what other people have done in similar situations, short of just stacking all 12 cords next to the back porch

 

[DougA]

If you fabricated something like your photo but twice as deep and a bit higher with decent tires, it might work. Most people run into problems trying to plow through snow with a push/pull cart. I ended up using a wheelbarrow for a few weeks when the tractor could not get through the snow with a full wagon load and it is a huge PITA.

Maybe someone could invent a pneumatic tube that runs from the wood shed to the stove - just like Elon Musk says he wants to have for sound barrier breaking trains that will go across the nation. PM me when that is on ebay.

 

[BrotherBart]

I have one like in the pic that never gets used for anything but a wood rack. Dang thing is too heavy.

I have two of these Lindemann carts that are a pleasure to use from shed to house. Got them three years ago when Lowe's was clearing out winter stuff for $19.99 each.

(broken image removed)

 

[ewdudley]

It's pretty hard to improve on the wheelbarrow concept. Transferring a lot of the weight onto the operators feet helps with traction and control. If you have the strength and skills to operate a wheelbarrow, I would suggest rebuilding a good quality wheelbarrow with a rack designed for firewood. Two, three, or four wheels is too unwieldy unless you have clear paved surfaces.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1416&bih=855&q=firewood wheelbarrow&oq=firewood whe&gs_l=img.1.0.0j0i24l4.2191.5405.0.8744.12.11.0.1.1.0.118.1115.5j6.11.0.msedr...0...1ac.1.62.img..0.12.1131.JPWT0ws5Z3k

 

[JRHAWK9]

I have -THIS- one. I extended the sides by 15" by using the built in provisions.

 

[ToltingColtAcres]

I was toying with the idea of building something like this, only difference have it 34" wide, eliminate the rear uprights and extend the "bed" up the handles to allow for more wood, and use two front wheels for added stability. Might be a project for the summer, but, I already have a dozen other things to do when the weather breaks, would be easier to find something I like, will work, and just buy it.

 

[BillinTX]

I have 2 of these carts. I've had them since the 90's, still going strong.
This one has a piece of sheet metal added to catch some of the fallout.

 

[WarmGuy]

I have this cart (from Home Depot):

It's great. The woman helps loading too.

The advantage is that you can just throw the wood into it.

 

[CountryBoy19]

I use a cart similar to BrotherBart, but not quite the same. The problem I have with the cart BB posted is that it's a uni-tasking tool. IE, it only does one thing, and that is firewood transportation/storage. I can't stand having a uni-tasking tool that takes up that much space when not in use. I use a normal furniture dolly similar to the one pictured below. It can be used as a regular dolly (who can't make use of a dolly every now and then?), and for firewood you just flip out the kick-stand (rear wheels on the one pictured) and flip down the extra "cargo holder thingamabob" and you can now fit more wood than you would ever be able to safely move by yourself.

 

[RichVT]

How about a sled? I use one of these:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/KL-Industries-Sport-Sled/7679262

Holds a good amount of wood and slides well enough on grass if there is no snow on the ground.

 

[macattack_ga]

I do the same as the OP.

Stacks --> Porch w/ 2-wheel 10CF wheelbarrow; 1/3 cord every other week burning 24/7.
Porch --> Inside w/ 2 totes daily at least.

I plan on building a 20x20x20ish veneered plywood box with casters to move from the porch to the stove. Should help with the fallout too.

But from the stacks... still working on that. Palletized & FEL maybe?


The woman's idea of helping load.

 

[stephiedoll]

Battery power as it's uphill to the back yard.

 

[stephiedoll]

For larger loads.

 

[velvetfoot]

That electric wheelbarrow is interesting.

 

[Osage]

For larger loads.View attachment 156065 View attachment 156066

You need to fill that trailer up to save on trips.

 

[stephiedoll]

Cargomaxx, found it on Craigslist. Works very well with lots of power.

 

[CTYank]

I have one like in the pic that never gets used for anything but a wood rack. Dang thing is too heavy.

I have two of these Lindemann carts that are a pleasure to use from shed to house. Got them three years ago when Lowe's was clearing out winter stuff for $19.99 each.

(broken image removed)

I got the version of that cart that Northern Tool sells for ~$30 a couple years ago. Really simplified things for me. Toting 16-inchers, it fits right through my entry door without having to open the other half. It'll easily carry a lot more than any wheelbarrow I've seen.

When I bring it in, I just park it inside the outer door, next to a 14" bandsaw. As desired, I carry a bag-full through another door to the stove, or buzz a bag of splits as desired for carrying in. Relatively speaking, a wheelbarrow is way sub-optimum, especially considering the space it takes up. Don't need no steeenkin lectric-motor neither!

 

[kevin j]

I've several versions of dumps or platforms built onto old snowblower frames so there is engine and drive wheels and multi speed gearbox.

I converted my wheelbarrow to two front wheels. Much more stable especially when parked.

But for rough ground or running on planks its hard to beat a good old fashioned one wheel traditional wheelbarrow.

 

[midwestcoast]

I've used & abused this lil yellow wagon for about 5 years now. Was about $80 at a big box. About 2 loads will last me a week of burning. I generally stack well over the side rails. Easier on my back and lawn than a wheel barrow.

I can't find a pic of it loaded with splits, but suffice it to say I can fit a lot more than most wheel barrows, and it's fine to pull across my flat yard.

 

[Hills Hoard]

I have this cart (from Home Depot):

It's great. The woman helps loading too.

The advantage is that you can just throw the wood into it.

I have been looking for an alternative to the wheel barrow and found something pretty similar to this here in OZ. Are these things durable?...I will be thrashing mine pretty hard and was worried about the strength of axles etc.

 

[Hills Hoard]

Battery power as it's uphill to the back yard.View attachment 156064

Haha...brilliant!

 

[mark cline]

Battery power as it's uphill to the back yard.View attachment 156064

This is how I stack in my wheel barrow. It puts the weight over the front tire, reducing the weight on the handles.

 

[stephiedoll]

I'm extremely lazy, so I just cram as much in as I can. Heaven forbid I just make 3 trips instead of 2. Looking at the picture I could have fit tons more on it. Shame shame on me.