Loaded up and ready to travel on a mobile sawing job

[WV Sawmiller]

  We have talked about this topic many times in the past but I'll resurface it again. Since I am still loaded I figured I'd take a few pictures and describe what I carry so you can compare it to what you may need or take now if sawing mobile somewhere.


  Long ago I built a folding band box about the size of the clover leaf size I get my bands from WM. To help remind me what to take and where to put it I built some boxes to hold my other tools and fit my truck bed along with my band boxes.

When I load for a job I first put my spare tire and bumper jack in the truck and push it up against the cab. On one side of the tire is a small box with a 4 way lug wrench, a tow chain and a tow cable. The bumper jack is actually to lift the mill and other such uses and not for my truck. On top of my spare tire I have a long narrow wooden box full of cut off boards and such I use to chock and level the mill when I set it up.

Next in the middle of the truck I load 1 or sometimes 2 of the wide band boxes with my spare blades. On top of it with just a corner showing is a smaller fold up box with my spare belts which include a new drive belt, a couple of B-57 belts, a spare power feed belt and an alternator belt.

On top of the band and belt boxes, I load 3 large plastic tool boxes. One has end and socket wrenches, Hex keys, screwdrivers, blade alignment guide, belt tension tester, a box of assorted nuts, bolts, washers, etc that tend to vibrate loose or break frequently, etc. The other box has chisels and nail pullers, a metal detector wand, etc. The third box hold spare parts such as drum switches, a coil, etc. I also I have a tool bag there that holds a wire stripper, multi-meter, test lights, wire, wire nuts, electrical tape, etc.

Beside these tool boxes is room for a 5 gallon gas can. I only take one can as my mill will run all day on a filled tank and one spare can. I fill these up on the way home each trip.


The next box I load is a long box with my ear muffs, big chainsaw, an ammo can with my chainsaw tools and sharpener, a battery powered 10" chainsaw, a battery powered leaf blower, a short ax I use to drive wedges or Magic Hook or cut as needed. I also keep my jack bar in here. Between the box and the side in the fender well is just room for a small fuel can of mixed gas and bar oil for the big chainsaw.



Next on the right side I load a small box with my fire extinguisher, squirt bottle of ATF, plastic wedges to free a trapped blade if needed, my Magic Hook (the hook off an an old cant hook attached to 3' of 1/4" chain), 2- 6' lengths of 1/4" chain with hooks on each end to use with the magic hook or to make a cradle in my loading rms for large short logs, and a tape measure or 2.

Beside and on top of this box I squeeze in a round nosed shovel, a long handled  grease scraper/spud for peeling logs (I almost never use this but take it in case), and cross ways (because it is longer than my truck bed) I take a heavy digging spud bar used to dig in the feet of my landing gear and to free a trapped blade between a partially cut board or flitch. I also use this bar as a lift bar or to chock one end of  log while spinning it to turn it if needed

Finally the last items loaded crossways to everything else I put my 2 heavy duty LogRite cant hooks. In front of the tool boxes I actually have an old wooden handled cant hook I sometimes use as a mill special.
Once loaded I fold over and latch the tonneau cover and the contents are out of sight and protected from the weather.

In the cab I keep a small ice chest with drinks and water and such, my mill Operator's manual, a brief case full of forms and licenses and insurance papers, etc, spare gloves, an extra batter or too for the blower or small chainsaw, TP, more tape measures, a camera and my laptop and a spare change of clothes. I also keep a first aid kit, safety glasses and foam ear plugs for guests/helpers, if needed.

I probably neglected to mention a few items. Using the boxes like this it only takes a few minutes to load or unload and my keeping the items together and in consistent locations I am less likely to forget something.

When all the tools are loaded and the mill is hooked up and I am ready to go I fold/stuff the nylon mill cover on top of everything along with any used bands being returned.

[Stephen1]

That's great Howard. I am going on my 1st portable job of the year tomorrow morning. I will take pictures of my setup. 

[Resonator]

Got it all in the pickup box, and still able to close the tonneau cover! 

Reminds me of when I'd drive truck cross country doing flatbed loads, always had a checklist I read off and checked each item before I headed on down the road. Good to: "Have it and not need it, then need it and not have it." (Old saying). 

[WV Sawmiller]

Yeah, it all fits and there is even room on top for the mill cover and loose/used bands but only because I started with the band box in the middle then measured and built my other boxes to just snugly fit the remaining spaces. Then I put the tools in the appropriate boxes and basically made kits out of them.

The spare tire and jack and boards and such are at the front because they seldom if ever get used so they are not in the way but available if needed,

Before I bought the truck bed cover I'd lay a tarp down, load the gear then cover it. This works so much better and the cover was so inexpensive I kick myself for not buying it many years ago.

From my USMC days I remembered how we'd do a junk on the bunk and how when deploying every piece of gear had to be worn or carried exactly the same on each Marine. It was not being nit-picking, anal or harassment. The reason was, when the stuff hit the fan and there was no time to waste or redo anything, the commander or NCO could take one quick look at a Marine and see if he had all his equipment. If anything was missing or out of place it  would appear as different and you could see at a glance what it was and fix the problem. Carrying everything in the same place every time makes sure it is there and is secure.

[WV Sawmiller]

That's great Howard. I am going on my 1st portable job of the year tomorrow morning. I will take pictures of my setup.

Stephen,

   Don't forget the picture. I'd love to compare notes. Cross-pollination is a good thing.

[SawyerTed]

Howard, one thing I see in your kit is the digging/tamping bar.  

It's a great addition and I use mine regularly.  

[WV Sawmiller]

   Yes, I use it almost every trip. 

   It lets me punch small holes in the dirt/rocks under the landing gear feet when I need to dig them out to lower that foot.

   I use it as a pry bar to lift and nudge one end of a log one way or the other to line it up and also to lift and jack/shift one end of a log on to a roller so I can center it when a log is loaded off center on the mill. 

    I also often use it when I break or pull a band off in a cut. I can slide the pointed end under the start of the cut to raise the partially cut flitch or board so I can back the blade out of the cut as needed. 

    I also use it to spin a log on the ground to line it up with the loading arms by jamming the point in the ground at one end against the front of the log and me or my helper rolls the other end of the log with a cant hook till it lines up with the loading arms.

   It is a must have tool for me in the conditions where I saw.

[SawyerTed]

The digging bar became a necessity to me when a customer had one handy.  We used it for several things on that job.  

I had one in my yard tool rack so I started carrying it.  I thought about buying one but soon realized a man doesn't need more than one.  

[Magicman]

I removed the hook from this old steel tubing handled peavey that serves as my digging bar/pry bar/cheater pipe. 


It's a mighty handy tool when it's needed and yes, I used it this week.

[WV Sawmiller]

Lynn,

   If I'd known you that extra hook laying around unused I'd have bummed it off you and not had to buy mine at the flea market to make my version of your famous Magic Hook. Then again, it would probably have cost more than the $5 I paid for mine (missing a handle) in shipping alone.

[trapper]

When turning a big log log on my manual lt30   I put the bar in the outer hole that the log clamp goes in to keep the log from rolling off the mill,

[Stephen1]

Here are some pics of my setup when I go portable. My toolbox is on wheels as I use it at my shop also. I am able to wheel in and out when I am sawing, it gets loaded in the truck with the forklift for portable jobs. 
The black round bin holds 12 blades.The large tools go under the bin. The yellow toolbox hols my spare parts. I have spare wheel belts, alternator belts, drum switches, roller bearings ,trigger switch. I also have a socket set under my seat in the truck that never leaves. I have a dewalt roller bin that is in the truck all the time and it hold wrenches and such. I am in need of a MM hook and have been looking for one. 

[WV Sawmiller]

Stephen,

  You threw me for a loop there. I was expecting to see a loaded truck and I saw your tool box and shelves loaded with lumber and such and had about decided you were driving a Tractor Trailer or something. Then I realized I was seeing your shop and you were showing and describing the items you take rather than showing them loaded on your truck.

 
  Not the best picture I ever took but this is my version of a Magic Hook. I know Magic Man made his from a pair of logging tongs. Mine is made from the hook of a flea market cant hook that I attached to a 3' length of 1/4" chain using a cold shut and I put a chain hook. For short pulls I hook it around the clamp  to roll a log on to the arms or hold it there or to hook to the side supports to shift a log forward or backwards. If it is further away I have and use a couple of 6' X 1/4" chains with hooks on each end.

  If you want to make one like mine you can find an old used cant hook and take the hook off and use it. I also understand sponsor LogRite will sell you just the hook and you can make it from that. I don't remember them listing just the hook but I bet if you call them they can quote you a price and "hook" you right up.

@Tam-i-am

  Have you guys at LogRite started listing just the hook? If not you might consider doing so. You might even consider making and selling your own version of the MagicHook. I think everybody with a hydraulic mill should have one. Just a suggestion - remember free advice is worth what you paid for it.

[Magicman]

Here you go:  LOGRITE Replacement Hooks