Wood Heat Thread ~ post pics

Nice X-Runner.

 

Brraaaappppp!!!!!

It was a solid reminder that I want to do either an AAL or full custom packs under there next summer. I had about 2 inches before I had to worry about resting on the bump stops, but the rear springs looked terrible. Full reverse curve, and the long leaf was visibly kinked where the 2nd leaf contacts. If I load that kind of weight into my Dodge she barely squats. It's a heavy half, so it's got the 3/4 ton leaves, but it's also 30 years old.

 

Green oak weights about 2900# and all most any wood will be over 1600# per half cord now there is not a shot of getting a half cord of fire wood in a Tacoma unless it's freighted to the roof but real fast you can easily exceed the max weight capacity of a Tacoma.

 

This was a load of dead-standing swamp maple, some very well-knotted oak, and some gnarly twisty applewood. The Oak had been cut to stove length since last fall, the applewood had been cut since spring, and the swamp maple was cut two weeks ago. Of course, it was almost completely dry from 8 feet up and completely soaked and punky from 8 feet down, so I left the bottom 8 feet in the swamp.
It was around 1/3 of a cord, and at a guess probably in the neighborhood of 1000lbs.

 

I moved about 6 months ago across the state. Just before moving everything from the house, I set plywood up in my trailer to give me taller sidewalls, then loaded it and the bed of my truck with split wood that I hadn't burned over the winter for various reasons. Trailer was loaded 4x4x8 feet, so 128 cubic feet of split wood, then only up to bed rails in my truck. Pretty sure I was riding bump stops on that. I think it was about 3500 lbs of wood in the trailer alone. That was a slow 350 mile drive.

 

so , a cord

 

Plus probably a rough 1/3rd in the bed of his truck.

 

Trailer itself was a full cord. Bed would probably be about 1/3 cord. Factory suspension didn't like hauling it. I didn't get the TSB, since my truck came with the yellow sticker to reduce weight capacity.

 

So did mine and they replaced my springs. I think it's 3# I'll have to look.

 

Mine's got the yellow sticker and I'm pretty sure it says that the weight capacity is reduced by 4lbs.

 

Got my truck with too many miles to take it to the dealer and take advantage of the TSB springs, otherwise I would have as soon as I got it. I've still got the standard 3-leaf pack.
Shrug. Works for now. For really heavy loads like mulch, manure, green wood, etc. I typically just use the Dodge anyway, but at some point I do want to beef up the rear suspension on the Taco. I hauled 1000lbs of sand and a sandbox to NH for my honorary nephew this summer, and I didn't like driving my truck the two hours to get there with it squatting that hard.

 

Made me get up and look yep 3# wonder what they put on your truck that was one# heavier? Any way I took it in a week after I bought it and complained about a "harsh ride" they ordered new springs and the next week I was riding high.

 

I can't imagine that the slushbox in my truck is only 1lb heavier than the manual in yours.

 

I replaced my factory suspension with OME to pick her up a little, and handle weight a lot better. Pretty soon, I am going to have to take my chainsaw to my back acreage to start cutting up other trees that fell down in the last 6 weeks from the multiple storms. That can test the weight capacity of my truck pretty well.

 

I've got a big poplar that lost its top in the ice storm last winter that I need to drop. It's right behind the garage and I'm really not a fan of it being there.
Poplar's not a great heat fuel, but it'll work for the cookstove and for bumper season heating.

 

Can you use the Taco as a skidder and drag it where you need it?

 

Once I cut the trees into smaller pieces, yes. Where they are and how long they are would make it difficult at best to pull them out. I am weaving through too many other trees that are still standing. At the rate I am going, I will have all the pine firewood I need for the next year and a half maybe 2 years.

 

I've been able to stay 2 years ahead for quite a while now which is a good feeling about this time of year