Sawmill and Timber

Forestry, Logging and Building => Timber Harvest Equipment => Topic started by: Steve G. on July 04, 2008, 12:02:26 PM

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Title: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 04, 2008, 12:02:26 PM
Hi Guys,

We will be loading 20ft logs on to a 16ft flatbed trailer, any suggestions on how to position them on it? I don't want to put any pressure on the fender so I guess I should just put angled chucks by the fenders so the logs don't roll over to the fenders. Then I'll just chain them down with binders.

Any thoughts?

Steve
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner" on July 04, 2008, 02:44:22 PM
Whatever looks comfortable for the trailer and the motor "car" pulling the trailer.
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Stevem on July 05, 2008, 02:40:57 AM
You might consider sleepers on the bed built up level with the fenders.  Chalks (stops) could be added on the off side and then put in place after a layer of logs was laid down.   If the sleepers extend out just past the fender then you could roll the logs off to unload.  Pay attention to tongue weight, not too much and not to little. Load should be centered weight wise over the axles with some weight transfered to the towing vehicle so it won't lift off.  5th wheels carry more weight on the vehicle.  Your hitch should have a weight rating on it or you can do a web search for generic info based on size.   
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 05, 2008, 06:55:13 AM
I think 10-15% of weight should be tounge weight. What are sleepers?
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Kirk Allen on July 05, 2008, 07:16:01 AM
I think what he is refering to as sleepers are nothing more than timbers laid across the bed of the trailer built up enough that they are even or higher than the fenders.  One on the end, one in the middle and another on the other end should work provided your loggs are at least the lenght of the trailer. 

Some guys will put them in front of and behind the fenders as well as front and back of the trailer. 

I use them on my flat bed so I can get my forks under the load.  Before I had the forklift I still used them as its easier to roll a log up on blocks (sleepers) than it is one sitting on a deck.  Less contact points and less chance of knots making it difficult to roll. 
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Kirk Allen on July 05, 2008, 07:17:55 AM
Tounge weight is determined by the rating on your hitch assembly.  Dont go by weight of the load as you can easily overload the hitch rating.   
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 05, 2008, 11:32:19 AM
It's a hitch from a '92 ford 250 diesel so I'm sure it can take alot - the hitch actually bolts to the frame at 4 points and has a wraparound that gose around the frame. We've taken an 8klb load towing a tractor so I don't think the logs should be a problem.

btw, is there any table I could look at or would one of you know from intuition how much a 20ft 18"diameter pine log that is wet would weight?

Thanks,

Steve
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner" on July 12, 2008, 10:40:02 AM
I will take a shot at the weight.  Betwen 3 and 4 k.
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Stevem on July 13, 2008, 12:26:41 AM
try this link for weights

http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/calculators/calc.pl?calculator=log_weight
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner" on July 13, 2008, 07:19:28 AM
I remember that site.  Thanks Steve.
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 13, 2008, 12:49:32 PM
Quote from: Stevem on July 13, 2008, 12:26:41 AM
try this link for weights

http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/calculators/calc.pl?calculator=log_weight

I found that link after I had posted that, thanks. btw frank, you're just about right!
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Frank Pender - AKA "Tail Gunner" on July 13, 2008, 04:22:24 PM
So, what is the correct weight?
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 17, 2008, 09:19:49 AM
Well guys,

we got back yesterday and do I have a story for ya'll, we put 3 13ft oak logs (17" diameter) on the trailer and 2 21ft pine logs (18" diameter) on top of the 3 oak logs. I think the total weight was around 7k. We had an hour drive to the mill, it went pretty well til' we got to the hills of the place where the mill was. There was one really steep hill at the beginning that we went up in "Drive" and stalled almost to the top! We had to back down the hill and throw it into 2nd gear, back up the hill we go and we stall a second time! We backed down and put it into 1st and it pulled that baby right up and over the hill. When we got to the mill we realized that we had tranny oil leaking everywhere... ends up we had an overflow when we made her do all that work. We got to mill 2 logs, we did 1 oak 6/4 x 6 for our flooring and we did one pine, we got a 4x10 and some other slabs out of it.

(PICS TO BE ADDED)
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 17, 2008, 07:25:31 PM
How do I upload pics to this site?
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Kirk Allen on July 17, 2008, 08:14:27 PM
Sizing pictures we have found to be the easiest with XAT.com jpeg optimizer.
It’s a free download at http://www.XAT.com

Step by step sizing instructions.
1. Open XAT jpeg optimizer
2. Open the picture you want to resize
3. On the left hand side is a tool bar.  Select the Crop image tool and make a box around the image you want to crop, assuming you want it cropped at all. If not, skip this step.
4. Then select the transform image button which is just below the crop image icon.  A small screen will pop up and you can resize your picture with that.  450 as your width on horizontal pics works best and 450 on height for vertical pictures.  When you place 450 in the Width box and hit enter it will automatically adjust the height of the photo. 
5. Save you photo. When you do this another small box will appear titled Compress Immage. 
6. On the JPEG Quality, set the photo at 80. When you do that you will see the file size numbers above the picture change.  If 80 does not get you into the file size limits you can remove the check mark from the “Extra Color” box and change the Extra Compression to 10.  That should do it for 90% of the pictures you deal with.
7. Now that they are resized and ready for upload its time to go to the Gallery.

Gallery instructions
1. Select the Gallery tab on the menu
2. Then select “My Gallery”
3. Then on the left under Gallery Name select what ever you named your categorie, or gallery.
4. After step 3 you should see your gallery photos.  At the bottom of the page is a Bulk Upload option for you pictures. 
5. Select Bulk Upload
6. You can then select Browse and select the picture file you want to upload.  I believe, but may be wrong, the Title and Description is optional under the bulk upload option.

Getting the Photo into a post.
1. From the Gallery pic you want in a post select the picture. It should pop up as a larger image instead of a thumbnail size.
2. Right mouse click and select properties
3. Highlight the address for the pic, right mouse click and select copy.
4. While in you post, right mouse click and select paste. 
5. Highlight the address you just pasted, and select the Insert Image just above the smilies.  Its the icon next to the WWWHyperlink icon.  Once you do that it adds the appropriate code to the address that causes the image to appear in your post.


I know that all this may seem rather overwhelming as I know it was for me the first time several years ago but rest assured, do it a few times and it will become second nature. If you have any problems let me know and I will do my best to help out.
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 18, 2008, 05:57:15 PM
No wonder nobody uploads pictures ;D I'll give it a shot later.
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Kirk Allen on July 18, 2008, 08:35:35 PM
Like I said, its seems like a lot but after doing a few its pretty easy.  What makes it a pain is having to resize the pics.  If we dont do that we eat up server space and that is what costs money.
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 19, 2008, 12:42:15 PM
When pics seem to be done uploading it tells me an error has a occured, please select a category... I selected one though! What am I doing wrong?
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 19, 2008, 12:58:42 PM
I couldn't find the XAT resizer so I am downloading google picasa and I'll try that.
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 19, 2008, 01:16:44 PM
It says it doesn't have permission yet???
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 19, 2008, 01:27:34 PM
Here's a pic of the logs on the trailer.

(http://sawmillandtimberforum.com/gallery/0/thumb_8_19_07_08_1_25_52.JPG)
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Steve G. on July 19, 2008, 01:28:41 PM
it looks small though.
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Kirk Allen on July 19, 2008, 07:31:54 PM
It looks like a thumbnail pic but I didnt see it in the gallery.  If you click on any of your gallery pics a larger image will show up and then by selecting properties you can cut and past that URL and add it to the post. 

If you use the URL from the small pic it shows up as a thumbnail, or small pic. 
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: mike p on January 02, 2009, 07:01:49 PM
ok im trying to get a boies de arc (hedge) log that an excavatior uprooted in a new housing edition. trying to get permission from the right guy .
its 22' long about 3-4' in diameter & has the roots attached all the top is gone allready.
im afraid it might be to much weight for the rollback at work
my trailer has 3   6000 lb axles so if i can get it loaded & weight ballanced the trailer shood be ok. i have a 8000 lb ramesy winch in bed of my truck that i have used for parbucking just thinking this might be more than the winch can do
 rolling it under controll with all  that weight?
any ideas
frank how did you load / transport those monsters
Title: Re: How to properly load a trailer w/ logs
Post by: Kirk Allen on January 02, 2009, 08:35:20 PM
You can do it by parbuckling no problem.  I have used just a cable before and backing up and the log just rolls right up the ramps.  Had the trailer sitting on blocks on the tounge.