sawmill trailer length

Black Creek · November 12, 2020, 05:25:43 PM

I have a new (back ordered) woodland mills saw on the way to me. This is my 1st mill. I ordered the standard length bed that handles 10.5' logs because the next size up handles 16' 10" logs and ends up being around 23' total length. That seems excessive to get around in a wood lot with. Does anyone have a Woodland standard length trailer OR the longer trailer? Thoughts? concerns? I'm starting to think I should call them and change to the longer model but hate the thought of being stuck with an extra long "mobile" design

doc henderson · November 12, 2020, 05:29:35 PM

My mill is a Timberking, but can cut 21 feet, the trailer length is 31 feet. as long as you know how to pull and back a trailer. I have never wished my mill was shorter.

and have rarely wished it was longer.

goose63 · November 12, 2020, 05:45:54 PM

Some day you will wish you had the long one.

Ihave a 126 mill I had to order the extra track shipping alone was $ 70. I can now cut 21 feet.

SawyerTed · November 12, 2020, 06:09:00 PM

My mill cuts up to 21'-6" (MFG says so lol). So the mill is 24'ish long. Regardless, maneuvering a 24' mill with a ton truck can be challenging BUT I don't want a shorter mill.

btulloh · November 12, 2020, 06:17:35 PM

Get the extension and the longer trailer. 10'6 gets short real fast.

How are moving and loading logs and hauling lumber? I'm sure you're not thinking of moving th3 mill to each tree you fell. I would think you'll be setting the mill up and bringing up logs to the deck.

Durf700 · November 12, 2020, 07:54:02 PM

definitely get the extra bed extension how if it can be ordered and shipped!!! you will not regret it.

mike_belben · November 12, 2020, 07:56:39 PM

My home made mill cuts 10s and i need to double it. Way too short. 16s minimum.

Black Creek · November 13, 2020, 07:37:44 AM

We have a 100 acre wood in the mountains a few hours away and I have trees here at home. I want to be mobile in the mountains. I have a tractor here to move logs. I was thinking of maybe keeping the short trailer and use a bed extension to make an add on over the tongue using some extra leveling jacks and some sort of add on bracket. So I can keep mobility but have the length available. The customer service guy said it would be very hard to do. I dont feel it would be that bad. I used to work as a machinist years ago and feel like I could fab up any mating parts. BUT I am buying it all "sight unseen"

Black Creek · November 13, 2020, 07:40:34 AM

Quote from: goose63 on November 12, 2020, 05:45:54 PM
Some day you will wish you had the long one.

Ihave a 126 mill I had to order the extra track shipping alone was $ 70. I can now cut 21 feet.

the problem is the trailer. ... the add on track is meant for on the ground use. It doesnt extend the trailer.

btulloh · November 13, 2020, 07:50:11 AM

Quote from: Black Creek on November 13, 2020, 07:37:44 AMI was thinking of maybe keeping the short trailer and use a bed extension to make an add on over the tongue using some extra leveling jacks and some sort of add on bracket.

Probably a good idea. With some fab skills and a plan, you should be able to make it work. If you get the track extension with the mill order you save on the shipping, so it just seems like a good idea. Use the mill with the short track until you need the extension. By then you'll have figured out how to make it work with the extension.

Dana Stanley · November 13, 2020, 08:11:48 AM

I ended up ordering the extra length, and built a trailer for it. Not too long. Had to pay extra shipping etc. If I had to do it over, I would have got the longer one with the trailer. Your going to want to cut 16' beams, at least 14s!

Dana Stanley · November 13, 2020, 08:33:47 AM

Quote from: Black Creek on November 13, 2020, 07:37:44 AM
We have a 100 acre wood in the mountains a few hours away and I have trees here at home. I want to be mobile in the mountains. I have a tractor here to move logs. I was thinking of maybe keeping the short trailer and use a bed extension to make an add on over the tongue using some extra leveling jacks and some sort of add on bracket. So I can keep mobility but have the length available. The customer service guy said it would be very hard to do. I dont feel it would be that bad. I used to work as a machinist years ago and feel like I could fab up any mating parts. BUT I am buying it all "sight unseen"

You would be smart to find a few spaces where you can get the mill on the lot, and use a 4 wheeler or find an old tractor, 4x4 truck, etc. to pull the logs to the mill. If your thinking you can pull the mill to each tree I don't think that will work well. I do think you can add an extension that is removable, but it will be a bit of work to remove and install. The sections are heavy. I am making one for mine so I can do a 24' log, but would use the tractor to help install and remove. It will have trailer jacks on one end, and screw feet on the other end that will sit on the trailer

mike_belben · November 13, 2020, 08:42:52 AM

Youve got 100 acres. Build one good landing and bring the wood to it. Its a sawmill, not a forestry trailer. Are you going to snake through the woods leaving little stickered lumber piles all over? It is not an alaskan mill and thank god for that.

Youll regret the short one immediately.

Roundhouse · November 13, 2020, 09:54:39 PM

Quote from: Black Creek on November 12, 2020, 05:25:43 PM
I have a new (back ordered) woodland mills saw on the way to me. This is my 1st mill. I ordered the standard length bed that handles 10.5' logs because the next size up handles 16' 10" logs and ends up being around 23' total length. That seems excessive to get around in a wood lot with. Does anyone have a Woodland standard length trailer OR the longer trailer? Thoughts? concerns? I'm starting to think I should call them and change to the longer model but hate the thought of being stuck with an extra long "mobile" design

I bought an HM130 4 years ago and there was no trailer option at that time. I did buy the extra section of track and set about finding a trailer that would accommodate the mill and all the track. I bought a pontoon trailer for the task and the details of how I set it up are outlined in my build thread:

https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=90425.0

Even though I haven't moved the mill in years I remain very pleased with the length of the mill and how I've set it up. It is very solid on this trailer and I really like the height off the ground. I also made an short extra section of track that mounts over the trailer tongue in order to gain a few feet of milling length.

Iwawoodwork · November 13, 2020, 10:21:11 PM

my mill (mighty mite) will cut 16' if the log is aligned perfect , but easily cut 12' with ease an 14' with alignment care. I think that a mill needs to cut 12' at least.

JoshNZ · November 13, 2020, 10:46:48 PM

My mill can cut 15ft and I've had times I wanted longer than that. Have done beams before and finished with a chainsaw.

10.5ft sounds short to me, fine for cabinet makers building/joinery etc but if you ever mill flooring or sarking, framing or something you might wish it were longer

RAYAR · November 14, 2020, 12:11:39 AM

Go for the longer mill. Mine was built for 12 ft logs, has 13 feet of travel. Been thinking of adding about 5 feet of fold up extension, it's a mobile mill.

nativewolf · November 14, 2020, 06:46:14 AM

Quote from: Iwawoodwork on November 13, 2020, 10:21:11 PM
my mill (mighty mite) will cut 16' if the log is aligned perfect , but easily cut 12' with ease an 14' with alignment care. I think that a mill needs to cut 12' at least.

Do you have the circle or bandsaw model?

Iwawoodwork · November 14, 2020, 07:11:19 AM

By the serial the mill is their 10th band mill now converted from 2" bands to 1 1/4" bands.

Black Creek · November 14, 2020, 08:34:29 AM

They really should offer a trailer with a fold out extension over the tongue. Seems like an no brainer. I was going to build it but being that I am buying it with out actually seeing it in person , I have decided to just buy the longer trailer. Even tho I have studied every picture I can find, I worry that some silly design flaw is going to make my conversion a nightmare.