Some of you guys sure have it easy, kidding of course, firewood gathering is never all that easy. I would like a bigger vehicle/trailer but with my tacoma, and I also have an 81 toyota longbed, I can get places others can't and park along most forest roads and not worry about moving every time somebody comes by. I have 200 feet of cable and other assorted chains and straps, I could reach 300 feet, about 1/2 of my longest distance. As I said earlier though, the 100 feet rule, we can't pull things to the road from beyond 100 feet, some silly law around here. I have done it a couple times but I don't need to be looking for trouble from the Forest Service LEs.
I know my way is hard work, my body tells me at the end of a day of cutting, especially if I go back and get a second load in the afternoon. I don't know what I would do if I had a whole tree right by the road and could cut and load right there.
Hi StihlRookie:
I'll be 66 this December. I buy the $20 permit to take 4 cords of standing dead and downed trees from the Nicolet National Forest in Northern Wisconsin. Been doing this for 6 years. I can get 3 permits a year for a total of 12 cords. I to used a Toyota Tacoma pickup with 200,000 miles, but the catalytic converter pooped out in September. So I just recently bought a brand spank'n new 2011 Dodge Ram 1500 Tradesman with an 8 foot bed, and a Hemi 5.7 liter V8. Lest you think I got the big bucks, I don't. I'm making payments on the truck, so I really gotta watch my pennies. Got the truck for just under 19 grand. Put in a good heavy duty, full bed liner as I knew this was gonna be my woods runner. I can
easily get 1 face cords in this puppy. And the with 390 HP, and 407 ft pounds of torque, the Hemi don't even know it's there.
Permit has some special restrictions. I can't take anything over 18 inches in diameter, or more than 150 feet from a fire road. So I really gotta work for my firewood. But I luv making firewood and spending time in the forest. I can't tell you how many hundreds, if not thousands, of 80 pound rounds I've hiked 50 yards over un-even terrain and thru brush to my truck. Kept me in decent shape. Always take extra T-shirts, and plenty of Gator Aid/coffee as I always work up a pretty good sweat. All I ever used was a little Stihl MS 170 with a 14 inch bar. Light as a feather and a pure pleasure to use. One summer, I bought a full load of 8 foot logs (12 full cords). Bucked that whole load with that little 170. It's been as reliable as dirt. I burn 5 cords (15 face cords) a year. But I've got over 25 cords on hand. I wanna build up a real healthy supply of firewood cause I might not wanna (or maybe can't) make it when I'm 80. I'm alone, so I always let somebody know when and where I'll be collecting firewood. And I always email them when I get back. I try to be real careful and never had any close calls. But things always get a little dicey when a tree gets hung up against another tree, which happens
a lot. I live right next to the national forest, so I go 7 to 10 miles out and 7 to 10 miles back for 1 face cord. On a good day, I can make 2 trips for 2 face cords, but most times I make just 1 trip. Split everything with a little $299 Ryobi electric log splitter. Works like a charm, even on 18 inch rounds. Aside from a few really gnarly pieces, it's split everything I've thrown at it. I built a table for the splitter and another table to hold the rounds. I can split 1 face cord per hour. I should post some movies here. Just bought a Stihl MS 290 Farm Boss to compliment my little 170.
What a difference ! Thought about getting a gas powered capstan winch (PCW5000) to pull felled trees to the road for bucking. That would save a ton of work ! ! !
Enjoy your time in the woods Stihlrookie, and be safe.
Don <><