Weight of a cord

[Rich M]

I know this is a relative question as wood types vary as well as water content etc. But anybody have a ball park figure of what a cord of hardwood would roughly weigh? Reason being I'm looking at a small 4x8 trailer rated at 2000lbs for hauling firewood with my Jeep this spring. I'll be hauling mostly red oak and maple that has been on the ground for a year or two. Thanks.

 

[ray benson]

Hi Rich,
Anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 tons a cord.Lots of sites searching
the internet-here is one.
http://ianrpubs.unl.edu/forestry/g881.htm
Ray

 

[Rich M]

Thanks Ray, the link was very helpful!

 

[Tony Snyder]

wouldn't that set aside most myths about getting an actual cord of wood on most pickup trucks.

 

[Bremen]

A standard 8ft bed pickup truck load is typically about 1/2 cord, which fits OK and is about right weight-wise for many vehicles.

We routinely hauled 6-7000 lbs of coal in a 78 Chevy, but i think you'd be hard pressed to fit that much wood in a pickup truck w/o some racks. And if you did, would you want the weight that high anyway? Not to say it can't be done, just worth thinking about.

 

[eyolf]

Rocky sez: <i>my '79 F250 had a GVW of 10,500 lbs</i>

But the average joe's pickup is an F 150 class, or maybe smaller, wouldn't you say?

I have an old F250 sprung similarly, Rocky... Rides about like a cement block

 

[tony marks]

like u said.. so many variables.from typewood to moisture content.

 

[mryb]

Rich,
I had a sopping wet cord of oak on my pick up that I weighed onetime...2.5 tons. ...Rick/Saw Slut

 

[wiley_p]

For some reason 2800# sticks in my head as kind of an avg. wt here on the Westside.

 

[sedanman]

I had 2960 lbs of ash in my '02 2500 dodge 2wd diesel. Vehicle weighed 9340 lbs without my large self in it. Vehicle is registered for 8800 lbs.

 

[NeTree]

Originally posted by RockyJSquirrel
And I put over 3000 lbs in my '88 F150 thousands of times.

Me too, and look what happened!

 

[Gypo Logger]

I had this 87 Toyota One Ton that I loaded to the nuts habitualy for 4 years with a facecord, till I dumped a Cherry tree on it by accident. It was built low to the ground which made loading and unloading very easy.
John

 

[geofore]

wood/cord weights/green

whiteash 4,320
beech 4,860
yellow birch 5,130
cottonwood 4,410
white elm 4,860
hickory 5,670
sugar maple 5,040
red maple 4,500
red oak 5,760
white oak 5,670
yellow pine 4,770
white pine 3,240
walnut 5,220

Most one ton trucks can handle these loads of green wood. Most of these loads of wood would be 1,000 lbs lighter if the moisture content were at 12% except beech which does not lose much weight when dried. So if you have a 1/2 ton truck you're pushing the weight limit of the truck. I'm not going to do the BTU's but dry wood puts out more because it doesn't have to burn off the moisture that is in green wood. There should be a tag on the door of the truck to tell you the weight of the truck empty and what it can safely haul when loaded.

 

[Ryan Willock]

I added over-load springs to my truck to help with the weight of the 100 gallon transfer tank and tool box in the back of my truck.

 

[Bills Oak]

Weight of a cord of wood

I use a 1 ton Dodge Dually Diesel & it will handle a cord of wood but it just depends on the type of wood. I almost exclusively cut Live, Red, Black, & Water Oak but if it is real wet & I really load up the truck it will barely handle a "wet cord" of oak & this truck is really a heavy duty piece of equipment...

 

[Rich M]

Thanks guys, good information. Reckon I'll just haul around a half cord at a time with the trailer.