Moving large amounts of (split) wood long distance?

[Badfish740]

Over the past four years or so about five cords of firewood have accumulated at my parents' place about 40 miles away. They had some trees taken down, neighbors have had trees taken down, etc...and my dad made sure all of the wood was left there. I've been keeping my splitter down there and was slowly chipping away at it. Now it's finally done-the question is, what's the best way to move it 40 miles? The wood is real mix-oak, ash, black walnut, maple, etc... It's all pretty dry, so I'm going to figure on an average cord weight of 4,000lbs, which means I have about 20,000lbs of wood to move.

One thought I had was to rent a 24' box truck-I can get one locally for about $100 for a one day rental. The payload of the truck is only 12,000lbs though, so I'd need two trips. $150 for the truck (figure $250 or so after taxes, other fees, insurance, etc...), then about $85 worth of diesel fuel, so I'm looking at about $350 to get it up here in one weekend. Plus pizza and beer for my dad, FIL, and two BILs who have agreed to help that day. My only other thought would be to try to hire a tandem dump for the day-obviously I can't drive it myself, but it would only need one trip and unloading would be a bit easier because the driver could just dump in my driveway. I'm all ears for ideas...

 

[BobUrban]

all in a day is a BIG task if you are loading and unloading yourself by hand - even with a small crew of beer and pizza help!!

For me it comes down to how soon I need it to burn and if it is a burden where it is at? I have hauled 3-4 Cord of oak from my parents place about 30 miles away but did it in pieces. I just stack it there and take a truck/trailer load when I can until it is done.

If you really need to get it out of there you are looking at a serious days work and may want to look into renting a large dump trailer with a lot of payload and a truck that can tow it. That way you can dump it and go back for more. There is a lot of work/time loading and unloading a panel truck.

 

[Andy S.]

I have no alternate to your plan for the big haul. If it were me, I'd abandon the big haul plan. Assuming you have a p/u truck (or something with a hitch) since you got the splitter there, I'd take the truck or borrow a trailer and make a bunch of small trips. Now you've got no need for help, no need to buy pizza and beer and an expectation that your mom will feed you while you drink your dad's beer while you visit after loading up.

Firewood, a belly full of mom's cooking, a beer or three with dad and the time spent with them that would otherwise not be spent all for a few extra gallons of gas. No-brainer from here.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

So it would cost you $350 to do it yourself.....I bet here in nj, I could hire 2 guys with a truck and have them do the work for less than that. I would look into that if I were you....look around and make some calls, people need work....

 

[bob95065]

Do you have a pickup? Do you go there often? Bring a load home every time you go. If it were me I would have hauled a load home every time I went to split but it's too late now.

 

[D8Chumley]

I'm with the dump truck idea, if you can get it close enough to the pile. Maybe even raise the body with the tailgate locked and bed secured so nobody gets hurt, fill it up so its not as high to throw it? Or maybe if you have a local small roll-off dumpster guy, have him drop a 20-30 yard can and come get/move it when you are loaded?

 

[JustWood]

Rent a 40yd rolloff dumpster. Should hold 6-7 cord.
My company rents them out all the time for this. We set them at a woods site , renter fills and we haul it to his house.

 

[D8Chumley]

40 yarder is overkill for 5 split cord, no?

 

[Highbeam]

All of my wood gets hauled 50 miles from my woodlot to my house. I do it one pickup load at a time. No big deal to haul two or three loads per day. So in one weekend i could move 5.

If you're in some sort of hurry could you rent a dump trailer? Our rental yard has them and unloading speed is fast that way.

 

[mustash29]

Roll off dumpster. No idea how much they go for but the last log load (40' tractor trailer) I bought in early '12 cost me 600 for the wood (including the wood guy cutting it on site) and 250 for delivery.

Or find yourself a REALLY powerfull catapult.

 

[STIHLY DAN]

If this has been split and accumulated over the years as you say, the wood should be seasoned and weigh 1/2 the amount your thinking.

 

[mustash29]

Where are you located? Maybe a member near you has access to a large hauling vehicle???

 

[Badfish740]

Problem solved-called up my buddy whose father-in-law owns an excavating company about 20 miles south of my parents' place. He'll let me borrow a tandem, I just need to pay for the fuel. My friend can drive it because he has his CDL from driving for his FIL in college. It will definitely make unloading easier!

 

[Highbeam]

You mean a dump truck? A tandem bicycle? How do plan to load it?

 

[1kzwoman]

You mean a dump truck? A tandem bicycle? How do plan to load it?

My guess would be tandem axle dump trailer. Still wonder how it's loaded.
5 cords isn't a lot of wood in my mind but my backs not doing the moving...this time

 

[D8Chumley]

I'm guessing 10 wheel dump truck

 

[Badfish740]

You mean a dump truck? A tandem bicycle? How do plan to load it?

I thought about it, but not a lot of cargo room....

Yes, a dump truck. As far as loading he thinks we should be able to prop the tailgate open as far as it will go and toss wood in. Every so often one of us will have to go in and move wood toward the front to make room.

 

[paul bunion]

I thought about it, but not a lot of cargo room....

Yes, a dump truck. As far as loading he thinks we should be able to prop the tailgate open as far as it will go and toss wood in. Every so often one of us will have to go in and move wood toward the front to make room.

As I recall a tandem axel dump is about 17 yards. A cord of wood stacked neat is 4.75 yards. It is doubtful that you will be able to fit all 5 cords into it. And it is not going to be fun tossing wood up into that thing when it is full. I think the roll off suggestion was the best.

 

[Ashful]

Sell it up there, use the money to buy new down here. Cash is more portable than firewood.

 

[JustWood]

As I recall a tandem axel dump is about 17 yards. A cord of wood stacked neat is 4.75 yards. It is doubtful that you will be able to fit all 5 cords into it. And it is not going to be fun tossing wood up into that thing when it is full. I think the roll off suggestion was the best.

Agreed .
I run 5 cord loads in 40 yd'rs daily. Granted the load is below the sides (FMCSA law) but a tandem dump ain't gonna fill the bill.

 

[Badfish740]

As I recall a tandem axel dump is about 17 yards. A cord of wood stacked neat is 4.75 yards. It is doubtful that you will be able to fit all 5 cords into it. And it is not going to be fun tossing wood up into that thing when it is full. I think the roll off suggestion was the best.

Sell it up there, use the money to buy new down here. Cash is more portable than firewood.

And here I thought my dad was doing me a favor...oh well... He's had people offer to buy wood when they come in to buy mowers, etc...but getting a decent price would probably be more hassle than its worth. I'll see what other kind of equipment my buddy has access to. His FIL has trailers, triaxle dumps, roll-offs, etc... I just asked for a tandem thinking it would be enough. He'll let us use pretty much anything he isn't using at that moment for a job as long as we pay the fuel and bring it back in one piece.

 

[Jags]

Another vote for the roll off. Best of both worlds. They drop the box - you fill at whatever rate you can - they pick it up and drop off at your house. Easy Peasy.

 

[D8Chumley]

I'd be hesitant to "prop" the gate open and work in and around that. If you have to go that route might I suggest raising the body and throwing several chains to it to keep it open. Even then I wouldn't get between the open gate and the back edge of the truck. That's how people get dead

 

[Badfish740]

I'd be hesitant to "prop" the gate open and work in and around that. If you have to go that route might I suggest raising the body and throwing several chains to it to keep it open. Even then I wouldn't get between the open gate and the back edge of the truck. That's how people get dead

Roll-off it is... Did I mention that I'm never going to do this again?

 

[D8Chumley]

Colin Powell said " Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement" True story lol