Need help in estimating capacity for wood deliveries

[ducati996]

Ok this is my first post, and I like this site! Im looking to get a little more automated with Firewood deliveries this year, and for the life of me do not know how much my dump truck will hold in volume regarding firewood (im ok with the weight part).
It is a 11 ft 3/4 yard mason dump bed by Rugby. It now has two boards (one picture shows one, the other shows 2).
Anbody out there use a Ford F550 with a 11'ft 3/4 yard mason bed for wood deliveries, and if filled to the second rail how much wood is there?

I will alo fill the Kubota L39 bucket to measure how many scoops make a cord -

I can honestly say laying it out as a full cord and then dumping it in the bed takes a lot of time to do (ok just a little lazy in that area), when things are really busy preping for the season

any experts who has this dump bed and already knows the math?

 

[Metals406]

There are 4.74 cu yds. (or 128 cu ft.) in a cord of wood. Obviously, this is calculated with minimal gaps in a stacked pile.

For your bucket on the tractor, measure it's length, depth, and width in feet (or inches and divide by 12). So let's say your bucket measures 60"W X 28"D X 34"L... It would be 33.05 cubic feet... Less half for the angle of the bucket (it's shaped like a triangle).

Hope this helps.

~Metals406

 

[KsWoodsMan]

I can honestly say laying it out as a full cord and then dumping it in the bed takes a lot of time to do (ok just a little lazy in that area), when things are really busy preping for the season

any expert who has this dump bed, and already know the math?

A properly stacked cord is 128 cu. ft as mentioned by Metals406. A hand thrown or dumped cord equals roughly 180 cu. feet before being stacked. 180 cu. ft would be a box 6 ft X 6 ft X 5 ft or in your instance figuring off hand at 8 ft width and the given 11.75 feet in length. The bottom of the bed filled level to 1.91 feet or 1 foot 11 inches should come close but not exact.

I dont use a dump bed, but with all three dimensions it shouldn't take to long to figure out the full capacity of the bed. Probably still best to stack out a full cord and throw it in there a few times to be extra sure you arent shorting your customers or yourself.

 

[blackdogon57]

A properly stacked cord is 128 cu. ft as mentioned by Metals406. A hand thrown or dumped cord equals roughly 180 cu. feet before being stacked.

Excellent advice. I measure all my wood ( 14-16") using the 180 cubic feet loose method. I add on a little extra just to make sure. People appreciate getting a little extra and will recommend you to a few friends. Short them a little bit and they will tell ALL their friends.

 

[Metals406]

To add a little to what has been said... I would recommend figuring an average, and have the average lean a little toward the customer.

Take your tractor, and fill it three times (as you would during a normal work day), dump it out and calculate cu ft.

Any average should be based on a minimum of three. You could also fill your truck three times, and record the cord amount from each time... Then divide by three to reach your average.

It's a lot of work to figure in the beginning, but you'd have the numbers you're after for the long run.

 

[STLfirewood]

Man I still can't get 180ft to stack out to a cord. I'm in the 225ft range for a cord. Once I get some time I am going to have to take pictures and measure out 180ft and then stack it. Any takers on a bet that it's not a cord?

Scott

 

[ducati996]

Great info guys -

I found out a little about my FEL bucket - according to Kubota its 12.7 CU.FT STRUCK and 15.5 CU.FT HEAPED...the dimensions are 72" Long x 26.0 " high X 18.5 Deep

When I get a few minutes looks like I will have to do it right, measure the wood out (stacked) and load the truck, dump the load and count the FEL scoops will take a few beers after that

 

[blackdogon57]

Man I still can't get 180ft to stack out to a cord. I'm in the 225ft range for a cord. Once I get some time I am going to have to take pictures and measure out 180ft and then stack it. Any takers on a bet that it's not a cord?

Scott

What size do you cut your wood ??

 

[STLfirewood]

I cut it 16" and split rather small compared to most of you guys.

Scott

 

[blackdogon57]

180 -190 should work with 16". I cut 14 & 16 and it seems to measure up. I talked to a guy today who just stacked a cord of 14" I delivered last week. He told me it measured just over a cord stacked.

 

[LEES WOODC]

My F350 has a 170 cubic foot box level full. I heap as much on as I can haul safely and never had complaints of being short. I have also bought wood that was stacked from other guys and I can always get a cord of 16" on ,no problem.

 

[iowawoodcutter]

Ok this is my first post, and I like this site! Im looking to get a little more automated with Firewood deliveries this year, and for the life of me do not know how much my dump truck will hold in volume regarding firewood (im ok with the weight part).
It is a 11 ft 3/4 yard mason dump bed by Rugby. It now has two boards (one picture shows one, the other shows 2).
Anbody out there use a Ford F550 with a 11'ft 3/4 yard mason bed for wood deliveries, and if filled to the second rail how much wood is there?

I will alo fill the Kubota L39 bucket to measure how many scoops make a cord -

I can honestly say laying it out as a full cord and then dumping it in the bed takes a lot of time to do (ok just a little lazy in that area), when things are really busy preping for the season

any experts who has this dump bed and already knows the math?

ducati996, do you used to post a lot on the ######### tractor forum? Your handle sounds familiar...

 

[ducati996]

ducati996, do you used to post a lot on the ######### tractor forum? Your handle sounds familiar...

Its highlighted out (dont know the fullname you mention) but probably yes. If its TBN then I no longer hang there -
I even started my own because I like tractors signature below

 

[ducati996]

I dont use a dump bed, but with all three dimensions it shouldn't take to long to figure out the full capacity of the bed. Probably still best to stack out a full cord and throw it in there a few times to be extra sure you arent shorting your customers or yourself.

I know I can fit way over a cord in that bed, so I definitely dont want to short myself - its too valuable

I will do it soon and post pictures when completed -

 

[KsWoodsMan]

I know I can fit way over a cord in that bed, so I definitely dont want to short myself - its too valuable

I will do it soon and post pictures when completed -

I'm sure you can too. I guess I forgot to add ... "to see what a cord looks like in there." I store it stacked so I can easily toss out what they call for. The first time I responded the images weren't available. Nice rig.

I've handled enough wood to know what mine can carry. And since it is stored in stacks to start with I know if it gets restacked, after thrown in the bed, it is going to be right.

Most people don't buy a full cord at a time. They buy PU loads or face cords or fireplace cords or stove cords or ranks or ricks or racks of wood. They are the people who want "comfort wood" for Christmas or New Years or just to sit by the fire and ... well, who cares as long as their money is green.

With the dimensions of the bed posted someone will probably post back the volume it will hold. From there you can get a good idea how much firewood you can get in there for deliveries. Best way to be sure is by trial and error. Experience is a good teacher. Stack out a few cords and fill'er up. Subtract what is left. Dump that and put it back in a few times to be sure it comes out the same every time.

You might even mark off the inside of the bed every 8 inches or so. When you are throwing off a partial load you can stop when you get to that line and head for the next delivery. I'm just saying 8 inches because if the bed is 8 feet wide and a cord fills it to nearly 2 feet , 8 inches would be close to 1/3 cord or what is called a "rick of firewood" here.

 

[ducati996]

Man I still can't get 180ft to stack out to a cord. I'm in the 225ft range for a cord. Once I get some time I am going to have to take pictures and measure out 180ft and then stack it. Any takers on a bet that it's not a cord?

Scott

I dont want to bet but I want to know the results does 180 CU make a good cord?

 

[Ohiowoodguy]

I've been doing the 180cuft thrown 16" = 1 cord for my deliveries for years- no complaints, BTW- most of my customers order cords or multiples ( one guy 24, several 5-10 cord orders), I get only a few 1/2 cords orders from fireplace peopleopcorn: