gorman
Addicted to ArboristSite
Anyone have experience with it? I got a F-350 and am sick of my back aching. Got a lead on a lift gate for $500. For real heavy wood I just pay a log truck to take it away. Gimme some feedback...
Lift gate for loading wood?
- Thread starter gorman
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frodo
ArboristSite Operative
are you going to mount it yourself? roll the big chunks to the gate,lift them,then roll them to the back of the truck and stack them on top of each other? no thanks, rent a skid steer, bid accordingly. good luck
Ax-man
Addicted to ArboristSite
Go for it if that is all you have to work with at the present time. It will save your back. It will save time and clean-up by not having to cut small pieces that makes for more sawdust on a job. It won't be as fast as a skid loader or a log truck but will make things easier. Cut your wood so it rolls easy by flush cutting crotches. You can alternate your pieces by loading big stuff for the bottom and the lighter pieces to go on top.
I am assuming it is DC electric with a motor and a hydraulic cylinder and cables.
Make sure the cylinder doesn't leak and the alternator on your truck has enough amps to keep the battery charged will you use it. For extended periods of use you need to keep the truck running or your battery will be toast. Make sure the gauge of the steel that the gate is made of is stout enough for big wood to be put on it, rolled onto it ect.ect.
I bought a beater Chevy one ton last year with one of those lift gates with a service body on it. I was going to swipe the body and gate and put it on another truck but the darn thing has been a handy truck and I use that gate in alot more ways than I thought I would so now we are just going to keep fixing it up. First job out was a Pine removal we loaded basically the last four butt or spar pieces onto that truck in lengths as wide as the service body about four feet and rolled them into the bed. Easy Peezy.
We have a generator and drill set-up for a GRCS and that truck is very handy to load that heavy generator and homemade tree dolly and of course wood. Now I can have more tools on the job with the extra tool boxes, tow my stumper and if need be to load some heavy pieces of wood if our chipper can't take the whole tree. You can also move furniture and heavy appliances that is a plus. Yesterday we moved my stand-up air compressor, welding bench and welder to go to a new shop shop I am renting all in one trip and my back didn't hurt at all.
If you have a 350 Ford flat bed you will be able to haul a lot more wood than I can with that service body but I also have a one ton dump and grapple truck . I have grown rather fond of that beater Chevy with the lift gate. I feel like a tree hack when I drive it but hey if it saves a little time money and energy what the heck.
Larry
I am assuming it is DC electric with a motor and a hydraulic cylinder and cables.
Make sure the cylinder doesn't leak and the alternator on your truck has enough amps to keep the battery charged will you use it. For extended periods of use you need to keep the truck running or your battery will be toast. Make sure the gauge of the steel that the gate is made of is stout enough for big wood to be put on it, rolled onto it ect.ect.
I bought a beater Chevy one ton last year with one of those lift gates with a service body on it. I was going to swipe the body and gate and put it on another truck but the darn thing has been a handy truck and I use that gate in alot more ways than I thought I would so now we are just going to keep fixing it up. First job out was a Pine removal we loaded basically the last four butt or spar pieces onto that truck in lengths as wide as the service body about four feet and rolled them into the bed. Easy Peezy.
We have a generator and drill set-up for a GRCS and that truck is very handy to load that heavy generator and homemade tree dolly and of course wood. Now I can have more tools on the job with the extra tool boxes, tow my stumper and if need be to load some heavy pieces of wood if our chipper can't take the whole tree. You can also move furniture and heavy appliances that is a plus. Yesterday we moved my stand-up air compressor, welding bench and welder to go to a new shop shop I am renting all in one trip and my back didn't hurt at all.
If you have a 350 Ford flat bed you will be able to haul a lot more wood than I can with that service body but I also have a one ton dump and grapple truck . I have grown rather fond of that beater Chevy with the lift gate. I feel like a tree hack when I drive it but hey if it saves a little time money and energy what the heck.
Larry
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Lift gates are always handy to have, providing they stay working. Most are reliable, and they don't usually detract from the trucks usefulness even it you aren't using it.
new N8
New Member
line up firewood follow-up guys. Just have to make sure they're reliable, neat, etc., etc. I have several ready and willing to get at it right away. I cut the wood to lengths, cleanup as normal, and make a pile for them. (Make sure to communicate all this clearly with homeowner beforehand.) Works great for us!
gorman
Addicted to ArboristSite
thanks
I'm gonna call the fella today and see if it's still available. Thanx for the input and I'll tell ya how it works out.
I'm gonna call the fella today and see if it's still available. Thanx for the input and I'll tell ya how it works out.
Log dolly and a lift gate, very effective, low cost solution. I have a 82 gmc one ton with a dump/lift gate that I started with sitting in the yard, its actually my dads now it used to be part mine, I would have bought it up long time ago but its not 4 wheel and 410 rear end with no low range sucks here, I'm still thinking 488 posi, and then maybe. We would roll on 4-5' footers and then stand them up in the back, it was super fast say on a 60' pine log. Now I have a tractor, but its just not worth it for every smaller job, thats when I miss the lift gate. Its kind of like a chipper winch in that it makes the chipper (or truck in this case) more interactive.
