Hydraulic or PTO driven wood loader ideas

[HogSlayer6]

I am trying to build, envision, create a concept of a powered conveyor belt type system that I can use to load firewood into the back of my dump truck. Not that I don't enjoy a good workout, its just easier to get the kids to play along when power tools suppliment the manual labor. I have seen roofing companies using something like this to lift shingles up to roof tops. Does anyone have any plans from one they have built, good ideas where I would buy components to build one, or maybe where I might find one in a salvage yard.

 

[RonR]

A hay bale elevator is all I can envision. Might be longer than you need, but they should show up on farm auctions.

ron

 

[Defective]

Bale elevators do indeed work very well.

First modification: 1/8" plate in place of the tin trough. (at least on the sliding surface...)

Second modification: Beefy crosslinks every 2-4 feet on the chains. Picture lengths of 1-1/2" or even 2" angle.

Third modification: Put an apron at least 3 feet long hanging off the top end & braced to slope down at around 45 degrees.

Fourth modification: Build a feed hopper at the bottom to throw the wood into.

Make sure the conveyor is top driven & mount a beefy hydraulic motor to direct-drive the sprockets.

Make sure the supports are really solid. (or do like I do & mount the whole thing rigidly on an old truck chasis with the splitter on one side directly feeding the conveyor.

I sure wish I still had pictures of the last one I built. Spent about $500 building it (not counting the old truck) & used it to earn about $200K over the years.

 

[hans2]

Some old elevator information; sorry I don't know how to make PDF's smaller

 

[Egon]

Log splitter, wood conveyor and firewood processor by American CLS

One site.

Do a google on firewood conveyor. There will be a few more sites.

(Fixed link) - Hazmat