How far a drive to cut wood?

[Austin1]

Since the price of gas is going up gasoline & Diesel that is. The cost of cutting a load of wood goes up also. I have a 80km/50mile drive to get my wood I have some spots as close as 20 miles. But I am looking at least at $25.00-$35.00 in fuel just to get the wood. Not counting the work still cheaper than Natural gas heating though Natural gas is cheaper here than most places.
But the last few years I have been dragging my saw's along with me on fishing and hunting trips. Especially in the fall when it is grouse season I can kill two birds with one stone. Hunt in the morning and evening cut wood in the afternoon.
My last natural gas heating bill was $40.00 I am not alway's home to keep the stove going and it was -40 at the beginning of the month. But $ 40.00 bucks and say $40.00 in gas is $80.00 still cheaper than the 210.00 my neighbor paid. of course I don't count the work getting it as I enjoy that too much!
But if I could cut closer to home I would even save more.

 

[Firestarter]

about 5 miles at the most, most of the time time its only 2 round trip

 

[omegajim]

you neglected the size of the trailer to haul said wood.

You get a double axle, electric braking trailer with 3 - 4 ft sides and capable of carrying well over 2 cords of wood, you can drive a ways.

If you have a volkswagon truck that can carry 3 wheelbarrows of wood, I wouldn't drive too far.

 

[wildbio]

Since the price of gas is going up gasoline & Diesel that is. The cost of cutting a load of wood goes up also. I have a 80km/50mile drive to get my wood I have some spots as close as 20 miles. But I am looking at least at $25.00-$35.00 in fuel just to get the wood. Not counting the work still cheaper than Natural gas heating though Natural gas is cheaper here than most places.
But the last few years I have been dragging my saw's along with me on fishing and hunting trips. Especially in the fall when it is grouse season I can kill two birds with one stone. Hunt in the morning and evening cut wood in the afternoon.
My last natural gas heating bill was $40.00 I am not alway's home to keep the stove going and it was -40 at the beginning of the month. But $ 40.00 bucks and say $40.00 in gas is $80.00 still cheaper than the 210.00 my neighbor paid. of course I don't count the work getting it as I enjoy that too much!
But if I could cut closer to home I would even save more.

I have to go about 5 miles but also use the same strategy - grab some wood while out hunting or doing other things. I just keep the saw, PPE, and firewood permit in truck for that reason

 

[Cedarkerf]

I just get people to pay me to get my firewood.

 

[wdchuck]

60 miles one way, truck with extra sides on it, and trailer full is the furthest I have travelled, across the road is the shortest. It seems, that the farther I drive, the easier the access. Must be a Murphy thing.

I try to get at least a cord worth of rounds in each trip, regardless of mileage. Sometimes more/less, but that's the goal, 7cords needed for the winter, so 7trips seems like a small price to pay for a whole winters heat, crazy logic but it keeps my sane.

 

[streeter]

Be greatfull you are atleast around trees! I live in the desert and YES, it does get cold and snow here I have 2 places to get wood 1. Is ponderosa pine that is free for the taking (@160 miles round trip) 2. Father inlaws place that has mainly tamarak (burns long but stinks like dodo) still free but @250 miles round trip.

I am trying to find a trailer to haul more wood to make just one trip to get a winters supply. I am still cheaper burning wood then using propane (@$3.80)
My old 85 ford F-250 with the big ole 460 toilet (8 mpg) can haul anything I thro at it My neighbors are spending @ $1500 for the winter heat, so I am still ahead

 

[steelhead kid]

Its worth it.

Remember your having fun and saving your self money, I usually bring a rod with me and wet a line , even if just for 45 minutes. Nice to bring home some wood and some fish. Try camp out /firewood trip.

splitt all your wood there if you have an extra hour or two. You'll get more wood in a trip. get wood racks on the sides. I got overload springs an my f-150 and it will hold a cord. I made a truck bed trailer it holds 1.3 cords. so i canget 2 cords if not wet for about 20 bucks in gas. when your driving 35-50 miles you have to be thinking about maximizing your costs and profits. if your burning it yourself its hard to go wrong on driving for it. Some guys around herre drive 90 minutes or more to get truckload of madrone.

 

[iCreek]

I feel terrible....

I feel for you guys $$$ that really stinks with gas prices being so high...

I take a lot for granted, just get on my 4 wheeler or tactor and drive through the back/side yard, a few hundred feet, and start cutting..

 

[HUSKYMAN]

About 75 feet. The size of the dumptruck tells you how big the pile was. Its whittled down now, only about 20 cords left

 

[acer saccharum]

Zero

Every so often the tree service company that I hooked up with gives me a call and offers me some logs. I say "Yes" and a day later when I get home form work, there they are, laid out nice and neat in my back yard. Living on 1/3 of an acre in the suburbs of NJ sucks, but I have managed to make obtaining wood effortless and free. Thing that troubles me is if he calls before next winter I'm going to have to decline as I have 6 cords stacked up and am out of space to store it.

 

[turnkey4099]

splitt all your wood there if you have an extra hour or two. You'll get more wood in a trip.

<snippage>

Errmmm...nope. Split the wood and it will take up more space, about 10% more.

Harry K

 

[MNfarmer]

It all depends on what part of the farm I cut wood on. I have about a hundred acres of woods and the farthest away I have to go is a half mile or so.

 

[omegajim]

Thing that troubles me is if he calls before next winter I'm going to have to decline as I have 6 cords stacked up and am out of space to store it.

I guess somebody is going to have to go into the business of selling the firewood they got for free.

 

[max2cam]

I just walk out the door and into my woods with my chainsaw. Then I have 30 arces of mixed hardwoods and conifer woods to wood in plus some surrounding land as I own "a-round" 30. I do burn some gas to haul it in though, but not much.

 

[PA. Woodsman]

Be greatfull you are atleast around trees! I live in the desert and YES, it does get cold and snow here I have 2 places to get wood 1. Is ponderosa pine that is free for the taking (@160 miles round trip) 2. Father inlaws place that has mainly tamarak (burns long but stinks like dodo) still free but @250 miles round trip.

I am trying to find a trailer to haul more wood to make just one trip to get a winters supply. I am still cheaper burning wood then using propane (@$3.80)
My old 85 ford F-250 with the big ole 460 toilet (8 mpg) can haul anything I thro at it My neighbors are spending @ $1500 for the winter heat, so I am still ahead

This man is truly a DEDICATED woodburner to go through all of that!

 

[nitromusky]

Always remember your still saving money . I go 30 miles one way but get 2 cord at a shot . Even at the higher fuel prices I save $800 this year . So is well worth it. Plus it is areal kickto play in the woods don't think of it as work.

 

[Austin1]

you neglected the size of the trailer to haul said wood.

You get a double axle, electric braking trailer with 3 - 4 ft sides and capable of carrying well over 2 cords of wood, you can drive a ways.

If you have a volkswagon truck that can carry 3 wheelbarrows of wood, I wouldn't drive too far.

Ooop's Full size truck my gas mileage should have gave that away lol. If it is just a wood trip I load up the 8' truck bed well past the box rails I have a canopy on it and stuff the saw's in usually the saw's are touching the roof. I also take the trailer a small home made one with tall sides 3' high x 5.5'x just shy of 8'. With 3500lb axle and brakes.

 

[blizzard]

Picture

icreek are you already getting leaves on your trees down there in missouri?!?!?

 

[alderman]

Taint too far

The stuff I've been cutting lately is about 1/2 mile away, but if I wanted I can cut where I don't have to drive at all. Just load up a wheel barrow and short walk to the shed.
Last winter I was driving 6 miles to cut on some State land, but more for something to do than needing the wood.
If I manage my place right, I'll never run out.