Have a few questions... PLEASE HELP!

[Shotgun]

Hey all. New to the forum, and I wanna say that it looks like a great place so far!

Here are some of my questions:

Im going to be splitting wood, and a lot of it. Some 50 cords or more. It will be mixed. Some cords will be maple, while some is oak. It will be green, unseasoned wood as well. Does anyone have any ideas on what type of log splitter I will need? Should I go gas or electric? How many tonns of splitting force should I look for in a log splitter? Remember, some of the wood I will be splitting will be unseasoned oak...

Im also in search of a small trailer that can carry a solid cord of wood. Is this ok?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=92174

Is this ok for carrying a cord of wood? Or will I need to find a better one?

Please help me out guys, and thankyou in advance.

 

[Jacob J.]

On the splitter, I'd go gas and go for a medium quality unit. If this is a one-time job you don't need the highest end splitter.

On the trailer, I'd cruise craigslist and your local ads and look for a good used larger trailer. Those Harbor Freight trailers are junk.

 

[Shotgun]

i can get my hands on a 14 ton hydraulic mount PTO log splitter. Here are some specs:


Log capacity: 24" long x 16" diameter and up to 100 lbs.
Maximum rated pressure: 2500 PSI
Operating configurations: horizontal
Splitter rating: 14 ton

Is this alright?

Thanks again.

 

[Jacob J.]

Sounds about right. Are you cutting wood for an OWB or indoor stove? Are you going to be manhandling some pretty large pieces?

 

[Shotgun]

Well, im splitting the wood into firewood that will be for indoor stoves. So a 14-tonn splitter should get the job done, even for unseasoned oak? Also, what should the capacity of the trailer be? How many pounds should it hold?

 

[Turkeyslayer]

To carry any amount of green wood you will want at least a 3 ton trailer with both axles braked. There is a sticky thread in the firewood forum that has wood weights. Of the top of my head I would say a cord of green white oak is about 5000lbs +/-.

 

[Turkeyslayer]

Here is a link with both wet and dry weights http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/heating_cooling/firewood.html

 

[Shotgun]

Thanks turkey slayer. Can you give me a link that has some trailers that can safely carry a cord of wood? Thanks so much.

 

[Turkeyslayer]

Depends on what you are towing it with, and what you want to do with it other than wood. Dump trailers are really nice but can be pricey, and are heavier for towing. A flat deck is cheaper and lighter but must be unloaded manually. Look on your local craigslist or kijiji for deals on trailers. Here is a link to a trailer site with some nice trailers http://www.bigtextrailers.com/trailers/tandem_axle.html

Also if buying a flat deck I would recommend getting at least a 16' trailer that way you can haul a car/truck on the back if need be. Get both axles braked, and when looking at trailers, I personally prefer the cross members under the deck to be tubing, where some of the cheaper trailers use C channel. Cheaper trailers will also have more spacing between the cross members.

 

[Turkeyslayer]

Like I said before, if you have the truck to pull it get at least a 3 ton trailer. With moving 50 cords of green wood I would be more inclined to get a 5 ton trailer. Just my 2 cents.

Or if you had the wood all ready to go, rent a trailer.

 

[Shotgun]

thankyou so much turkeyslayer. i cant thankyou enough. my internet is acting a little wierd and will only let me visit this, and like five other sites, so research is hard to do tonight. lol. so how much do these trailers run for used and new?

 

[Rookie1]

Id do like Jacob said and check CL or tradin times. You should be able to find a good one way cheaper than new. As for capacity it depends on what you hauling. Heres a pic of something that should be close to what you want.

 

[Turkeyslayer]

thankyou so much turkeyslayer. i cant thankyou enough. my internet is acting a little wierd and will only let me visit this, and like five other sites, so research is hard to do tonight. lol. so how much do these trailers run for used and new?

I just bought this trailer from a custom builder around my area and paid $3000 Canadian. It is 16' with 2 - 5000lb braked axles, and has the fold up ramps,rub rails and stake pockets, this trailer is a lot heavier built than alot of the big name manufacturers trailers. I looked at a bunch of used trailers locally and for the price difference decided to buy new. Also when pricing trailers beware of the "add ons". Many advertised prices are for the most basic trailer and as you get the options you want the price goes up and up.

 

[Shotgun]

is this alright? *bites fingernails*

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200244924_200244924

 

[Turkeyslayer]

Also remember it is a buyers market right now, with the way the economy is. Pretty much every price is negotiable.

 

[Turkeyslayer]

is this alright? *bites fingernails*

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200244924_200244924

Thats a nice little trailer, but remember wet oak weighs 5000-6000lbs a cord and that trailer is made for 1300lbs. So it all depends how many trips and how far you have to travel with the wood.

 

[Shotgun]

so you think it will break if i load it up with 3000 pounds +/- on it?

 

[Turkeyslayer]

so you think it will break if i load it up with 3000 pounds +/- on it?

Possibly

 

[matt9923]

so you think it will break if i load it up with 3000 pounds +/- on it?

My old jd lawnmower trailer can hold 1500lbs that norther trailer looks like crap! You can buy a welder and metal for cheaper...

Yes overloaded trailer will break. I had a trailers leaf springs snap going 40... Had axles snap hubs break... bad hings can happen and trailer are usually beat on and not taken care of, cause common i'm just towing some wood. None were my trailers exept the leaf spring one but i had ordered new ones and they were back ordered and figured i could get another run out of it... WRONG!

 

[Turkeyslayer]

Shotgun, how far are you traveling with this wood? And is it on main roads?What are you intending to pull the trailer with?
Another option if the distance is short and you are on back roads would be something like a manure spreader with the beaters removed, or a hay wagon. Many of these farm impliments/trailers can be had for a reasonable price at auction or farm sales, just be aware that many do not have high speed wheel bearings so highway use is not recommended.