Chainsaw for camping

Hey ya'll. I was looking for suggestions on what ya'll use for camping or when going trail riding.

We camp <5 times a year. Out most recent trip was in the Ozarks and saw the aftermath of some stoems a week before. It made me think that if a storm hits and knocks trees down, there would be no way we would make it out without the forest service clearing the road.

I usually have a sawsall but go through the batteries pretty quickly.

I am wondering what size chainsaw some of ya'll use for firewood, clearing stuff and for emergencies while camping.

Thanks.

 

Try a Stihl 18 or 20”.

 

Use the Ryobi P546 18V 10" chainsaw. Small, light, quiet, easy on batteries, and can cut small trees. Was $49 on Black Friday.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-O...ss-Battery-Chainsaw-Tool-Only-P546A/206481858

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/chainsaw.657442/

 

This would have been a good place to start.

 

A bow saw is a lot lighter and less maintenance.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005LEXC[artid|10064.a.8574[src|[ch|[lt|

 

Stihl MS210 for camping. For both processing campfire wood and for the unexpected downed tree(s) blocking roads.

 

+1 on this. I have an MS170 I bought years ago and have had zero issues with it.

 

If you're in an area with a lot of burn bans and restrictions on chainsaws it'd be worthwhile to look at the new electrics. They've come a long way and for non-commercial use where you're not likely to be cutting lots of trees they make a lot of sense.

 

You probably don't need a big saw. I carry an ax in all of my vehicles and have made it work well enough on several occasions for trees down across trails/roads. I can usually cut just a little off and drag the tree out of the way with the truck.

I have a $150 14" ECHO from Home Depot that has been a better saw than my Stihl but I don't routinely carry it. But if camping and needing an easy way to cut up firewood that is the one I'd take.

I heat with wood and go through about 2 cords each winter. My little 14" saw does 90% of the cutting. The big 20" Stihl only comes out for the really big stuff.

 

I second the bow saw. I keep one behind my seat. No fuss, and no real noise.

 

axe for me. chop the bitch in half and drag it with the truck

 

For camping/ not used that often, and you don’t already have a gas saw for other purposes, I’d say go for a battery saw. Makita makes a good one. That way you're not also carrying around gas/ oil mix, you don’t have to maintain a small engine/ carburetor or deal with issues with it not starting after long periods of not being used. Battery saw will start right up, and run quieter too.

edit: i agree with the bow saw too, that’s what I take with me. I’ve never camped with a chainsaw, but if that’s the route you want to go, battery is a good option.

 

I’m not at the point I could justify a stihl. I bought an Echo 15 years ago, and it’s been an absolute badass. My garden supply house asked me my needs: yard work, and like you - a camp saw. This things screams. Echo CS 341

I just took it to work to loan to a coworker. He has giant Stihl saws and needed a small one to climb into a tree with. He won’t stop talking about how well my saw worked.
It’s awesome. I bet I could mtn Bike with it in my pack. Funny fact, my new house doesn’t have a tree that I can’t kick over. I replanted everything.

 

I was told to buy the professional line of Echo. Not what you can get a Home Depot. Got to a garden store. Echo is about half the cost of a similar Stihl.

 

I have the dewalt 16" 60v chainsaw and love it. It is plenty of saw for camping. I would have to say that if you rely on firewood for heat in winter months I wouldn't recommend this saw but for just camping and the occasional home use it is great. I also have the blower and string trimmer.

Fyi: all dewalt 60v battery will work on their 20v products BUT the 20v batteries will NOT work on the 60v products