Woodturner-friendly truck/vehicle

[Charlie Goldberg]

I’ve been looking into getting a truck or SUV or even a good wagon that could handle a big load of logs and preferably one that could drive into a field without getting stuck (4wd/awd/4x4?). Does anyone have a reliable yet reasonably priced vehicle that works well for them for these purposes?

In my budget range (around $10-15k) I’ve been finding some Nissan frontiers that look like they could do the trick, and every now and then a Tacoma or tundra but they tend to have tons of miles on them already.

 

[hockenbery]

2000 tundra I had was a great off road vehicle for one that works well on the highway.
Old saying here is 4wd just means further to walk.

Mud will stop most 4wd drive once it coats the treads with buttery mud traction is gone.


I use a trailer with a ramp tailgate and hand truck. Cut wood in movable sizes.
Great on dirt roads not going to go through a swampy field.

 

[Emiliano Achaval]

I have a flat bed, Dodge 3500, dually. 4 wheel drive with off road tires. Nothing beats a flat bed for collecting wood. On big jobs, I take a dump trailer.

 

[Dave Delo]

I've recently changed from a SUV to GMC Canyon. Both work but I do like the pickup better. A couple things to consider: with either type of vehicle, your payload capacity is going to be in the 1,500lbs. range unless you go to a full size pickup that would be in the 2,000lbs range. I wouldn't consider either choice to be a "big load of logs." Whichever choice you make, remember you still need to get the log from the ground into the vehicle. I use a homemade log lifter that works well for me. Also remember payload is you & all passengers plus all your equipment & then the logs. I can get 3, 4 or 5 pieces at a time and that gives me enough to stay busy for a couple weeks, then repeat. If I wanted to do anything on a bigger scale, I'd probably get a nice trailer that would allow me to haul larger length pieces and more payload in the 6 or 7 thousand lbs. range. Here's pic of a recent load of about a thousand pounds of very wet cherry. Good luck in your search.

 

[John Hicks]

An old Dodge power wagon

 

[Monty Ivy]

Honda Ridgeline works great for me. AWD, trunk under the bed big enough for chainsaw and accessories.

 

[Sam Fleisher]

I've always thought about one of those homemade trailers made out of a truck bed and then put one of those cranes that are made for a truck bed to lift the logs. I suppose the same could be done with a utility trailer too.
$10 to 15 budget I'd look for a small dump trailer (easier to unload) and pull it with an old pick up of some kind.

 

[Doug Freeman]

For driving in a field, it depends a lot on the ground moisture level. If its dry, 2wd is sufficient. An suv or truck with more ground clearance get you over rougher ground.

While field capability does increase tree availability, I dont find it necessary. Load hauling tends to be the bigger issue. My ‘07 trailblazer does fine with the back full of wood and my ~6’x8’ old stock trailer loaded down with a stacked pallet of logs. Im sure I’ve hauled/towed 2500-3000 lb, and its rated to pull either 5 or 6k. Pickup or suv a small trailer adds capability.

 

[Richard Coers]

Around me, I let the tree services do all the dirty work and I just show up at the log yard. Never had anything different than a van. 2 Chevy Astros and now a Ford Transit Connect cargo van. I had so much I started selling wood 3 years ago. I still have enough for probably 3 lifetimes.

 

[john lucas]

When my Toyota Tacoma finally died I could not afford another 4WD truck so I bought a Hyundai SUV and a trailer. I havent tested to its limit yet. I've hauled 1500 lbs of rock. Filled the trailer with walnut logs up to 16" in diameter. Drove it through a mildly muddy ditch. The trailer is much lower than trucks so far easier to load. I just finished rigging a winch to the trailer to help me load things.

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

I have been using a Ford Expedition, with all wheel, 4 wheel and 2 wheel settings, plus high and low gearing, it is lower than a full size pickup, but higher than a trailer, I load it full with the 2 rows of seats down, here is one load of White Ash I brought home from a roadside cut tree.

Truck is behind my back, I'm on my third Expedition after my Moose collision last year, all bought new and driven all over Canada from the Yukon and NW territory, Alaska, BC to Newfoundland, and some trips in N.E. USA, we are really pleased with these vehicles.

The insurance bought the truck and I have now a white 2022 expedition, but as you can see it hauls a good load.

 

[henry dalton]

I have a old Ford F150 with a lift gate. The lift gate is wonderful!

 

[Dean Center]

A low slung trailer hooked behind a Subaru or pickup is pretty popular around here. Some of the low slung trailers even come with slide out ramps to make things even easier.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Geeze Leo, your moose collision looks like you were quite lucky! Not even a cracked windshield? I just nicked a moose in my Prius a few years ago in the Adirondacks and luckily it just cracked the bumper and directional light. As far as the D.E.C. folks were able to determine, the moose walked away unharmed too. No reports of dead or injured moose for a couple of weeks after in the Long Lake area.

 

[Dave Fritz]

Nissan Frontier has served me well. It has a trailer hitch so I pull a trailer. If you find one in your price range I'd go for it.

 

[Gabriel Hoff]

We have a 2017 Chevy Colorado that works well for all sorts of work. Pair with a small 3.5x5 trailer and it can haul large logs without being to high to load into. I once loaded 2 full "trees" in the trailer and could just roll them up onto the trailer bed. Of course it does get used for other things, junk, rocks, compost, furniture....


I think a trailer is very important if you do a lot of logging or yard/farm work..

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Geeze Leo, your moose collision looks like you were quite lucky! Not even a cracked windshield? I just nicked a moose in my Prius a few years ago in the Adirondacks and luckily it just cracked the bumper and directional light. As far as the D.E.C. folks were able to determine, the moose walked away unharmed too. No reports of dead or injured moose for a couple of weeks after in the Long Lake area.

We did not get a scratch Lou, and yes there is a crack in the windshield, the moose got thrown across the highway into the ditch and never moved after that.
As It came quickly out of a gully up onto the road it totally surprised us, there are also some evergreens growing on the edge, obscuring the view, it got past the centre of the truck, so the impact was more on the driver side, then the hood got pushed up over the windshield. I think that was what saved us from it coming in through the windshield.

Anyway, yes we were lucky, and yesterday I saw a new moose at about the same area but the other side of the road, so we better are extra vigilant here, we have had a few close calls, but were always able to get around these.

 

[Richard Coers]

I'm curious if any of this advice has made up your mind? I read a post on another forum about help making a decision on a dustpan, now a post about help choosing a vehicle. Are decisions getting tougher for people with a computer in front of them? I worry about my 7 and 1 year old grandsons. Woodworking will not be a choice for them if they can't make decisions after using a computer all their lives. Maybe that is what AI is all about. "Computer, make up my mind!"

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

We have a 2017 Chevy Colorado that works well for all sorts of work. Pair with a small 3.5x5 trailer and it can haul large logs without being to high to load into. I once loaded 2 full "trees" in the trailer and could just roll them up onto the trailer bed. Of course it does get used for other things, junk, rocks, compost, furniture....


I think a trailer is very important if you do a lot of logging or yard/farm work..

I do have a 16' covered trailer, but it can't carry the weight, I would have to change the axle and springs, the frame is probably too light as well, it is also too large for most places to get the logs, so never tried using that for it.

 

[Sam Fleisher]

I'm curious if any of this advice has made up your mind? I read a post on another forum about help making a decision on a dustpan, now a post about help choosing a vehicle. Are decisions getting tougher for people with a computer in front of them? I worry about my 7 and 1 year old grandsons. Woodworking will not be a choice for them if they can't make decisions after using a computer all their lives. Maybe that is what AI is all about. "Computer, make up my mind!"

For me with the cost of everything going up I like to explore all my options and make a decision on something where I get the best value I can for the money spent. Google and forums are just another tool. 30-40 years ago how did people do it? Word of mouth or by asking a professional but the pro tended to guard his knowledge usually.

But that's just my random thoughts.

 

[Brian Gustin]

30-40 years ago how did people do it?

Well, 30 years ago, I was already getting on the Internet.... ("Fast" back then was a 56K Modem over a second dedicated phone line!)

 

[Sam Fleisher]

Well, 30 years ago, I was already getting on the Internet.... ("Fast" back then was a 56K Modem over a second dedicated phone line!)

You had two phone lines! I just had irritated friends because they always got a busy signal. And pictures took minutes to download. Kids these days just don't know how easy they have it when it comes to porn...errrr um social media.

 

[Mike Johnson]

A pickup with a log arch or winch will handle most logs that come available, a trailer with a log arch is another good option.
Getting the bigger logs into the pickup box or trailer is the challenge we all have to deal with. Freshly cut logs are green, wet and heavy.
You definitely need a mechanical advantage to move the bigger logs, or you will need to process the logs prior to loading individual pieces.

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Are decisions getting tougher for people with a computer in front of them? I worry about my 7 and 1 year old grandsons. Woodworking will not be a choice for them if they can't make decisions after using a computer all their lives. Maybe that is what AI is all about. "Computer, make up my mind!"

This seems a bit harsh Richard, and I’ve got to say I don’t understand the comment about your grandsons. I for one know more turners on line than I do in my community. After reading hundreds, if not thousands of posts, I’ve come to know whose opinions to trust and who to take with a grain of salt. All manner of recommendations are sought and made here about lathes, chainsaws, gouges, hollowing rigs, etc., etc. What’s wrong with asking folks’ experience with trucks and wood gathering & hauling? Charlie didn’t ask the computer to make a decision. He asked real people for feedback who happen to meet here rather than in person.

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

I use a Ford F 150 4x4.

 

[Darryl Fective]

A trailer makes anything a hauler. My Prius is ugly as hell, but quite practical and fill ups are easy on the wallet. With a trailer, I've picked up wood, motorcycles, moved my mower around to different job sites, etc. For all those other times, I'm getting close to 50mpg. I do have a Cummins powered Ram 4x4 for the bigger loads, but this trailer and its lower height and built-in ramp is pretty nice.

 

[John Walls]

I used to use an old F250 to haul wood around in and noticed after a couple years the bed looked like an ocean wave. If that don’t bother you, you can find an older one, regular cab with long bed, 4x4 fairly in-expensive around. I would recommend if going for a trailer, pick one up with a wooden bed, easy to repair/replace a piece of floor. Right now, I have an old ford ranger 4x4 1/4 ton with short bed. I can haul quite a bit of wood in it as long as I’m not trying to haul a cord….lol. I sometimes get large/long trunks, I use a won-ton DRW with 26ft trailer with lots of chains involved. Suggest if possible, make friends with guy down the road for fuel and a turned bowl or 2 for big items.

As mentioned previously, getting a 4x4 can get you in much deeper, might look for friends with big tractors to pull you out. If I need to engage 4x4 to get in, I just stay out til it dries out some.

 

[Brian Gustin]

Love to get a 4x4.. but around here in this rural area, I priced a new F150 4x4 bare bones ... I'd have to take out a 30 year mortgage to afford it - cost more than my entire house (2 story 3 BR bath and a half on an acre and a half with detached 2 car garage) is even worth. Then I'd look on Facebook and a 20 year old Ford Ranger 4x4 that is still roadworthy in P.A. (Insanely picky Inspection laws - cant even have rust holes in a fender, for example) people are getting 10K to 12K (More than I paid for my brand new 1988 F150 back in the 80's) So, I suspect it may be regional variations - some folks might call a 2001 Ford Ranger 4x4 "cheap" - but not around here.

 

[Darryl Fective]

Of course, whem you really want to haul some big logs, got to bring toys. I'm thinking about welding up a log arch so the tractor can stay home sometimes. As it is now, I haul the tractor, use it to load the trailer. Then I run home or to my shop and chain the load to a tree and pull the trailer out from under it. It sucks to unload like that, but I have to in order to go back to get the tractor home.

 

[Steve Bujalski]

Need more pics of that wood stash!

 

[DON FRANK]

I made a log hauling trailer that works great. Was made from a heavy duty boat trailer that I acquired for $400. I fabed and welded the rest of it. An electric winch slides into the receiver at the front. The arch rotates down so you can hook up to a log. As the winch pulls the arm back it lifts the end of the log onto the back of the trailer. You repeat and lift the log onto the trailer. You can load and haul multiple logs at one time and then dissect them at home. Its da bomb.

 

[Andrew Hale]

I made a log hauling trailer that works great. Was made from a heavy duty boat trailer that I acquired for $400. I fabed and welded the rest of it. An electric winch slides into the receiver at the front. The arch rotates down so you can hook up to a log. As the winch pulls the arm back it lifts the end of the log onto the back of the trailer. You repeat and lift the log onto the trailer. You can load and haul multiple logs at one time and then dissect them at home. Its da bomb.

Like Don, I also fabricated a receiver to accept a recovery winch for my 24’ trailer. The setup has saved an awful lot of wear and tear on my back and my equipment. Depending upon the presentation of the logs, this can also eliminate the need to haul a tractor to the site.

 

[Richard Coers]

I made a log hauling trailer that works great. Was made from a heavy duty boat trailer that I acquired for $400. I fabed and welded the rest of it. An electric winch slides into the receiver at the front. The arch rotates down so you can hook up to a log. As the winch pulls the arm back it lifts the end of the log onto the back of the trailer. You repeat and lift the log onto the trailer. You can load and haul multiple logs at one time and then dissect them at home. Its da bomb.

Better known as parbuckling in logging circles.

 

[Darryl Fective]

Better known as parbuckling in logging circles.

Parbuckling is different.

 

[Charles Cadenhead]

I use a Ford F 150 4x4.

That's some pretty pecan wood. Great haul!

 

[Charles Cadenhead]

I lived in Texas for almost 50 years and never owned a truck it took me moving to Florida to get one. I have hauled many a load in vans, cars and even a Hyundai Soul (they're bigger on the inside), but having a truck makes it much easier to load. I have a "little" Tacoma and even though it's considered a midsize truck it has a cargo limit of over 1000 pounds. I'm a hobbyist turner and for me that's a lot of wood!

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

That's some pretty pecan wood. Great haul!

It’s a cherry tree a friend and I found while we were out playing disc golf.

 

[Charles Cadenhead]

It’s a cherry tree a friend and I found while we were out playing disc golf.

Oh wow! A first glance it looked just like pecan. I'm even more envious now! lol

 

[Leo Van Der Loo]

Parbuckling is different.

It is like this,

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

This is my homemade logging arch that I used to retrieve a good sized white pine about a mile from the drop off point. In the spring it was milled into lumber on my Woodmizer.