Wood handling setup question

[gorman]

Got myself and ASV and an International dump to handle the larger wood from my jobs. In hindsight I should have opted for a knuckleboom but i digress. I had my fabricator set up the truck so I can load wood with removable stakes and if I wanted still put up plywood sides and chip into it. I find it takes me too much time to remove the wood with the asv and I'm thinking about later in the season to take it back to my guy to put up metal side so I can load wood and just dump it out. I'm just hesitant about dumping logs and getting them jammed up with my dump all the way up. Any suggestions?

 

[tree MDS]

Nice equipment!

Maybe have your fab guy weld sheets of steel behind those stakes, so everything slides out nice when you dump. Also maybe put D-rings on the outside so you can use the machine to set the sides on and off - you'd would probably need help guide them into the pockets, of course.

 

[gorman]

that's a good idea. I just don't have experience with dumping logs and have heard some bad bad stories of guys getting payloads jammed with the dump all the way up. thanks.

 

[gwiley]

That is a really nice setup. I use the skid steer to load stuff too - but on the same trailer, then leave the skid steer at the cutting site and roll the logs off by hand before going back.

I built the stakes for my 16' log hauler trailer using 1/8" steel angle so that they would fail before they ripped the stake pockets apart. They are plenty strong for holding logs - the thing I was worried about was a sloppy loader operator when I don't have the SS with me.

Sure enough, a few weeks ago a loader snagged one of the stakes and bent it almost 90deg - no damage to the pocket. One thing to bear in mind is that those stakes can develop a lot of leverage when they are that long - might be good to tie them together with plate like someone else suggested to help prevent damage to your bed (and to help dumping go more smoothly).

 

[JCONN]

I have a similar set up except i have a 18 inch perminete side on my truck then about 5 foot wood ontop. I just load the big pices first then throw smaller stuff on top. the big slides out on the steel edges and carries the smaller logs out. just watch how your logs are being loaded if you just throw crap in all different directions chances are it will get jammed up, stack them nicely and you should be fine.

 

[sgreanbeans]

ya could make the side racks outa wood, those logs will get hung up, if one little piece hits one of those stakes on the way out, it WILL hang the whole load, and getting them unstuck is very dangerous and hard to do with the bed up. Gotta lower it back down and hope you have enough power to move it back off the steak, and usally, ya wont have the machine with you when you dump.
2X12's running down the sides will fix it. Take some time and it will look nice too. Much cheaper than having fab work done. Plus u can put the D-rings on the out side and lift the whole side off in one shot like previously suggested. With the sides done, u could still have a top made to fit, for chips. Just a thought, hope it helps.