Mill hauling

[Ohio_Bill]

I have used a full size SUV for the last 15 years to pull the mill. It's a 1991 Jimmy with a 350. I like it because I can haul equipment and keep it secure.

[OlJarhead]

Thanks Kilgros!  That's a heavy frame!

[drobertson]

Here are a few photos from 08', just before my biggest job to date. close to 1/4 million feet in 8 months, and then it was gone, dang divorces tear up more than families, but the 03' chevy was a dream, 6.0, and hate to say the bad word, 12mpg.

  

  and the begining pile which was just the start of some good sawing

   I came in behind a fellow that was several states away, with his portable, only wish I had know and acted on this sooner. 4 wheel drive was defintely necessary.

[Brucer]

The basic LT40 hydraulic with the 25/28 HP Kohler engine, on a trailer and with no other options, weighs 3330 pounds.

Add a debarker, Accuset, and Lubemizer and you're up to 3425 pounds.

Going to a bigger HP diesel can add up to 600 pounds.

So you're in the 3400 to 4000 pound range.

The axle on the 25/28 HP gas is rated at 3500 pounds. On any of the diesels the axle is rated at 5000 pounds.

[redlaker1]

looking at the weights of the mills that have been mentioned,  and adding the weight of the associated gear that you would have to haul,   I think you would do well with a gas engined 1/2ton or 3/4ton.     myself I just cant see the benefit of a diesel unless you are hauling big weight like 8000+ over long distances, and steep grades, high altitude etc.     

when people say that a diesel engine will outlast a gas engine I think they are reminiscing about the diesels of the past,  ie 190hp cummins 5.9 and the old ford 7.3s etc    that lasted forever.    but the diesels of the present dont seem to hold up,  seeing as they are pumping 400+ hp out of pretty much the same size engine.     add to that the cost of components,  oil changes,  and other maintenance,  and the fact that diesel fuel now costs more than regular gas.   it just doesnt make sense unless you REALLY need the diesel.     I could buy a new engine for my gas truck for the price of some of the common repairs on the diesels these days    ie injectors, hp pump, heads,  etc

and this is coming from a journeyman diesel mechanic


but the 4x4.....    I totally agree with      just couldnt live without it where I live.    the only 2wd truck I have owned was my first,   all have been 4wd since.       just have to have it,   dont like getting stuck

[valley]

I have six trucks -- one 1/2 ton Chevy 4wd 350 99 model good truck for pulling mill or other light loads and like said before cheap to keep going. Next is an old 71 3/4 ton Chevy tough as a boot 4wd it my go into the woods and drag whatever out truck. 99 2000 & 2002 ford f-250 7.3 diesels they are my bread winners they all have over 300000 miles and I haven't really done any major work to any of them but Im punctual on keeping them serviced and finally 2006 dodge 3500 2wd dually it's for sale basically useless in my line of work ( saw milling and construction ) to sum this up if I were going to keep just one it would be the 2002 f250 I've had a lot of trucks in my life and in my opinion it's just hands down the toughest hardest working best pulling one I've had. ( note 02 was last year for 7.3 that's why there's not a newer f series in the line up )

[sigidi]

DGDrls got me onto this thread.

I know you guys probably don't have our vehicles over there, but I use a Nissan navara 4x4 3.0l turbo diesel, its listed as a 1 ton ute over here with 6,600kg towing capacity. I regularly roll down the road like this...



or like this



maybe like this...



even been known to travel like this.....



I had my trailer custom made with dual heavy axles/suspension and dual electric brakes, rated to take 8360lbs.

When rolling with the full model 10 EFI Lucas on the ute and the 763 bobcat on the trailer I get around 450-500 kilometres per tank of fuel (full tank holds max of 75L so maybe 70L) with the mill alone and no trailer I get 600k per tank and without the mill - clean skin I get just on 700k for the tank.

I made some additions by the way of the three racks to take the Lucas rails and also added an under tray, rear mounted 12,000lb winch to load occasional logs without the need of machinery...





for my 2c I think 4x4 is essential for mobile cutting jobs down here.

[dgdrls]

I believe these Mid size cab-overs would make a dandy saw/truck.
About as big as a One Ton P.U. 4WD and Diesel.



 

I believe the big challenge is having one truck that must be Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
It's like having to have only one sawmill for all occasions :D

DGDrls

[kelLOGg]

I use a Dodge Ram 1500 4WD for the MP32. No sure what it weighs but more than it did from the factory because I have added about 600 lbs to it. It has done very well.
Bob

[jdonovan]

I know you guys probably don't have our vehicles over there, but I use a Nissan navara 4x4 3.0l turbo diesel, its listed as a 1 ton ute over here with 6,600kg towing capacity. I regularly roll down the road like this...

We have nothing like the work/bush ute's you can get down there. Our small pickups here are lucky to be rated to tow 7,000lbs. Even our entry full size pickups don't even get to 12,000lbs.

If I wanted the same towing your ute has I'd need a 250 class pickup, and even then, some of them couldn't get to 6600 Kg.

[Magicman]

Yours is a well thought out rig, sigidi.   

[dboyt]

Real Milling makes a good point.  You may be hauling something other than the sawmill, and need the extra capacity.  I brought home this 44" dia x 10 black oak last year.  According to my calculations, it weighed just shy of 6,000 pounds-- easily half again as much as my truck/trailer combined.  Now, all I need to do is load it on my Norwood mill and make slabs!  By the way, get tire chains for whatever you use.  Great for mud & snow.


 

[Magicman]

The truck and trailer may not be overloaded, but it looks    like you are.     Take care of that back.   

[taylorsmissbeehaven]

I have an 05 gas 4wd f250 and 99 4wd f350 flatbed with 7.3. I tow equipment to jobsites,lumber to jobsites, logs to my mill, and livestock occasionally. It might cost a little extra to fill up but I wouldnt trade the diesel for two gasers. It pulls whatever I put behind it like its not even there. Dual rear tires and 4wd takes me through some tough places. I'm not downing any vehicle out there as they all do there job but I'm a 7.3 believer! Brian

[Leigh Family Farm]

That IS a very nice rig! Thanks for all the info everybody. It seems like a good flatbed trailer with parbuckling/winch capabilities is a neccessary evil for sawmilling.

[Magicman]

It seems like a good flatbed trailer with parbuckling/winch capabilities is a neccessary evil for sawmilling.

While mine is not a flatbed, I would rather just call it a necessity. 


 
Starting from scratch, I would rather have a flatbed, but this still works.  Notice the broken floorboard in the trailer front from a falling log.  A good suggestion was made to use old tires to prevent such damage.

[kderby]

I just read through this for the first time.  I am really stuck on this quote

"Another suggestion, don't get something all nice and shiny that you don't want to get scratched up.  Besides, you don't want to look too prosperous, or customers will think you're charging them too much!"

That was from Dboyt and reminds me that the customer does not want to pay for fancy vehicles.  If you are looking for a safe roomy family vehicle and a sawmill truck in the same package, that is a stretch as well.  I am thinking you will get a older 4WD vehicle for the jobsite, the dog and the tools.  Get your wife/kids a nicer ride.

I have four pick-ups: One ton dually big block for towing, 3/4 ton 4WD (nice) for towing and family, 3/4 ton 4WD for a brush beater, and a 1/2 ton 6 cyl. 4WD for day to day run-about.  Only one of them has a market value greater than $2,000.  This did not happen all at once.  It is just how things have worked out.

kderby

[captain_crunch]

My towing vehicle might be a mite over kill

Here is how we got it 5 miles down road


dboyt
Thought you stole my 87 Chevy flat bed beings they are Twins from color to Identical flat bed ??? ???

[Gasawyer]

Not to disagree with the guys that recommend gas engines,but a first Gen dodge 4x4 with the 5.9 cummins auto overdrive dually regularly gets 20 MPG interstate and 18 MPG month little roads pulling a LT 40 hdd that grosses 6500. The dodge is easy to work one, you couldn't give me one of these newer computer controlled engines. I am currently running an 84 suburban daily with the 6.2 diesel 700r4 trans 4x4 empty gets 19-20mpg 16-17 MPG pulling same LT 40. If you are able to work on your truck then get an older diesel, if not then I guess your stuck with one of these new things they call a truck. Just my 2 cents.

[Magicman]

And then there was the time when I could not leave a sawjob without some help.


 
The tire tracks were made when I went in that morning.  No way could I tow the sawmill out without help.

[Leigh Family Farm]

... If you are looking for a safe roomy family vehicle and a sawmill truck in the same package, that is a stretch as well.  I am thinking you will get a older 4WD vehicle for the jobsite, the dog and the tools.  Get your wife/kids a nicer ride....

kderby, I don't have the finances or the space to have that many vehicles. The truck has to pull double duty as both the job site vehicle and the family hauler. My wife has a Ford Focus for the runaround commuter which is perfect for her but if you put two adults, two kids, and a soccer ball in the car you've pretty much filled it up.

Starting from scratch, I would rather have a flatbed, but this still works.  Notice the broken floorboard in the trailer front from a falling log.  A good suggestion was made to use old tires to prevent such damage.

I gotta remember the old tires tip.

Well to sum it up on the vehicle for towing the mill, here is what you all came up with:
1) big engine, diesel or gas according to your personal preference, but torque is important
2) 4x4
3) older model trucks will run great as long as you take care of them
4) tire chains & tow straps for getting out of tight spots
5) flat bed, if feasible but not 100% necessary
6) if not a flat bed, then a low flat bed trailer with winch for log hauling

Thanks for all the help guys!

[Finn1903]

We have a 2002 F350 single rear wheel 4x4 crew cab, 8 foot bed with the 7.3 powerstroke as our farm mule.   We picked our XL model from a contractor going out of business. 
If I was looking for a truck to pull most of the time I would look for a 7.3 F250 or a Cummins, 8 ft bed and 4x4.  If trying to do double duty you could trade the 8 ft bed for a 6 ft and go with a crew cab.
A 1/2 ton would work for occasional towing. Remember to add A good trailer break system on whatever you use. 
In general I will say Diesel engines and the 3/4 ton and larger frames are heavy.  Add driving across a wet ground and that heavy engine and a trailer can get interesting!  Last weekend we were moving truck loads of shavings and I placed down some boards across a wet area to help the tires float across a soft area. 

[captain_crunch]

dboyt
Does this look familaure to you

[Delawhere Jack]

 Gave myself an early Christmas present. I just bought an 88' F250 4x4 with an 8' flatbed. Really nice condition and only 92k miles. Towing the mill with the Cherokee has caused too much gray hair/ hair loss. Mother nature really doesn't need any help there.......Ho Ho Ho!!!   

[m wood]

my 97 4x4 dakota wouldnt handle much pulling even with the 318...but i was able to sell it when...wait for it...the next door high school senior raffled off his 98 ram 4x4 with plow (cuz he couldnt get 'er sold b4 headin to college).  My father-in-law won it with a $20 ticket at the grad party and gave it to me cuz HE had just bought a 2010 silverado with a brand new plow for himself. Woohoo! The first inlaws that i have ever loved so much, and i've had 3 sets now. p.s.: love 'em NOT just because of the new truck!