moving logs

[sixteenacrewood]

Hi guys
I hope this is the right catigory to post this question.

I will have about 15 logs plus the largest limbs and seven root balls to move about 90 miles to my shop.
The logs are white oak 28+ dia. and 10 ft long.
I had a contact willing to move them for me with a grapple truck but he has backed out for whatever reason.
I do have a fair amount of experience moving  logs, just not this volume or distance, with a tandem axle flat bed and my truck. I've moved around 7000 lbs per load on several occasions with no trouble, and a lot of lighter loads.
There is a loader on sight to load me up if I decide to do it myself.

My question:
with a similar setup like mine, would you move them yourself?
or keep looking for someone with bigger equipment to move them
What do you think is the best setup to do this job... Keep in mind I do not have big enough equipment to unload a full size logging truck/trailor.

any ideas would be helpful

Thanks in advance, I really love this forum

Stephen

[red oaks lumber]

for me i would hire someone that has the proper equipment. my justification, each load will burn atleast half a day closer to a full day,when i'm working i can generate $60-80/hr.so finding someone to haul one load, might be the best route.
have you looked at the logs? are they worth the added expense to get them to your shop? or maybe take your mill to the logs and just haul lumber home

[metalspinner]

I agree with red oaks. Hire heavy equipment.  For the root balls, a man with a dump truck and front end loader might be a better option. There are certainly more options from which to choose when looking for a dump truck.  The logs should be transported on a proper log truck.

[Tom the Sawyer]

I've had similar 'opportunities' offered and usually try to do the math before making a decision.

The logs, as described, should be 45-50,000 lbs.  Add root balls and large branches, you are probably looking at around 60,000 lbs.  If you can average 6000 lbs per trip, that's 10 trips or 1800 miles.  If you get 10 mpg you're looking at $700 in fuel with costs of near $4 per gallon.  At least 40 hours driving time, plus loading and unloading... how much is your time worth?  Add the fuel and your time and divide by an estimated yield of 5000 bdft.  

To hire it done would require either a truck with a log loader (to unload them for you) or one with a dump bed and may take two trips.

If your tandem axle trailer is the most common type, 16' w/ 2" ball hitch, it is probably rated at 7000 lbs gross weight.  The trailer would weigh 1800-2000 lbs so your net load limit should be 5000-5200 lbs.  That means more like 12 trips, 2160 miles and passing along the same route that many times increases the chances of an inspection.  Of course, if everything is in order that wouldn't be a problem.

Just sayin'.

[sixteenacrewood]

Thanks for the replys Tom, Metal, and Red, really appreciated.

I guess what I should be asking is

what is the best rig to try and contract to move the logs?. I can't get a ful size logging truck into my place but a grapple truck would be able to get in and out.

is there another option I am missing?

also I am not salvaging these for my own use, it's a commission job.
also thanks for the weights, I wasn't far off on my calculations.   

[customsawyer]

You can look at a regular dump truck. They can haul the root balls first and then take the tail gate off and haul the logs.

[SPM in King]

I've had good luck with guys with flatbeds and Moffetts.  They are fast and can load and unload with precision.  If you can find an independent operator, they typically know their equipment well and can save you a lot of time and money.  It could cost a lot though. 

Steve.

[redbeard]

 



Medium duty boom trucks work good for hauling logs i haul 7-8 good size 20" and bigger. I have gotten into some pretty tight spots and what is nice is you can yard logs to the truck.

[Slingshot]

    On a much smaller scale than redbeards hefty rig, I built this winch boom on my logging
trailer for loading without my tractor and I can also use it to yard logs to the trailer. Used it
for the first time last Saturday to load some large walnut chunks to mill for a friend. Hauled
them about 80 miles from up in Indiana. A tree service(?) had cut down a large walnut tree
for the electric co and instead of leaving a nice log they whacked them into 4 and 5 foot chunks.
I put an 8 ton ram on it and I have a larger winch for it also.





turns 360 degrees riding on a bed of grease under the top round plate and on the post
where it passes through the supports...












  I was only able to bring 3 of them this load...







_________________________--

[robnrob2]

 


Here is miine on a car carier.

[sixteenacrewood]

Very cool setups!! Thanks for the help.
I am going to try and contract a dump truck to move them.
But I also want to set up a boom and a winch on my trailer, those are absolutely cool!!

[Brucer]

I just bought some 8-1/2 foot butts from a pole mill and hired a dump truck to move them. The mill loaded the truck with their grapple loader in just a few minutes. It took even less time for the guy to dump them on my site.

For bigger logs and larger volumes I hire one of these guys ...



That's a 52' log he has hanging out in space there  ;).