Help loading a big white oak log

[kcurbanloggers]

So a year ago a big white oak fell on my moms property in Connecticut. She grew up with the tree and it was very special to her, so I’ve decided to haul the log home (to Kansas) to have it milled and make her a dining table out of it. Here’s the problem: it is about 10 ft long and 25in in diameter, and it still has wood from the root ball left on it making it extremely heavy. I know my truck can carry it home, but I have no idea how I could begin to load it. I have to tow a car home too, so putting it on a trailer isn’t an option. I just need to figure out how to lift it high enough to get it in the bed. Any cleaver ideas? I have plenty of winches, high lifts, and log peavys at my disposal. Thanks in advance.

Attached is a photo of it.

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[BadLuckBen]

Do you have an alaskan typ mill? If I didn't have my loader available I would mill it on site. Much easier to load several slabs then a whole log. Easier to secure too.

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[Cease232]

Mill on site. White oak is ridiculously heavy. Especially since it’s not straight it’ll want to roll.


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[kcurbanloggers]

Is there anyone here with a band saw mill near Mystic CT? If so, and you’re interested in milling this, either for some money, or a slab or two, please shoot me a message


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[Leeroy]

Terrific timbers llc portable milling based in Mystic.
Sure that's a White Oak?

 

[kcurbanloggers]

Terrific timbers llc portable milling based in Mystic.
Sure that's a White Oak?

I took a closer look... it’s a red oak
Oops


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[Ted Jenkins]

I have done that exact same thing many times. First I cut carefully any material that I did not want off to make the log more manageable. Then I dug two trenches for the back wheels to back into. The fronts can be done too. With my 3000 lb floor jack lift one end of the log up and put some of the round limbs under one end then do it to the other end. I have moved several logs weighing 8000 lbs this way. You only have to move a part of the log at a time. With limbs only 16 or 18'' you can be exactly the height of the truck maybe with just a slight incline. Then with just a 3000 lb come a long pull it into the truck. Easy Peasy. As long as you do not mind spending however many hours it takes to accomplish the steps safely. Thanks

 

[kcurbanloggers]

I have done that exact same thing many times. First I cut carefully any material that I did not want off to make the log more manageable. Then I dug two trenches for the back wheels to back into. The fronts can be done too. With my 3000 lb floor jack lift one end of the log up and put some of the round limbs under one end then do it to the other end. I have moved several logs weighing 8000 lbs this way. You only have to move a part of the log at a time. With limbs only 16 or 18'' you can be exactly the height of the truck maybe with just a slight incline. Then with just a 3000 lb come a long pull it into the truck. Easy Peasy. As long as you do not mind spending however many hours it takes to accomplish the steps safely. Thanks

I think I figured out how I’m going to move it should I decide not to mill it on site. I found a tow truck company with a crane that can pick it up high enough for me to back under it. They said it wouldn’t be more than $200. Seems reasonable to me.


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[blades]

I free hand milled a couple of big white oaks similar to yours into 4" apx slabs for a friend some 20 years ago. 32" bar just made it through the diameter. Jacked them up off ground for bar/chain clearance, ran saw vertical ( Dolmar 7900) about 8ft long, turned out ok course not as as nice as with a Alaskan mill or a band mill but quite functional. Kept all pretty straight as well ( hint remove saw dogs ) wasn't easy but running vertical I wasn't all hunched over for 2 days. Didn't know about skip chain back then -that would have been nice. Bad news is he hasn't done anything with them yet- talk about dry.

 

[Marine5068]

I think I figured out how I’m going to move it should I decide not to mill it on site. I found a tow truck company with a crane that can pick it up high enough for me to back under it. They said it wouldn’t be more than $200. Seems reasonable to me.


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You can buy an entry level chain saw mill for $200, then you'd have it for future millings.
That's what I did when I had two large Red Oaks dropped on my property.
Up to you of course.