My Special Firewood Cart

[jinman]

I can't wait until version II comes out with an opening that works like a rolltop desk.

Very nice box and a creative way of getting it up to your deck. I've been thinking of making an opening on my raised deck railing. It would make my life much easier for lifting heavy items up to the 2nd floor.

 

[3RRL]

Hey guys, thank ya'll for the compliments. lol ... Even yours Scotty old buddy .
We're very pleased with how it turned out. I remember the comment you made Mark, in Mossroad's thread too. And yes, I have years of motorcycle hours on my butt before I gave up. (well over 150,000 miles) But I think making the cart especially nice not only for us, but also for you guys is what pushes me to add the little gizmos.

We were planning to load firewood up on that deck using the tractor somehow after I saw how Gugloils did his when we visited Larry and Esther. That's why we had that opening (removable section) in the front porch rail installed. It's a close call with Loretta's 284 Jinma tractor, so we pushed up another foot of dirt for a better ramp there. Even so, her fel barely lifts the woodcart full of wood. But it does. But again, that's because I have the firewood cart attached at the tips of the bucket and grapple teeth. With front forks, it will sit a lot closer to the fel and of course not have all the weight of bucket and grapples.
My 554 Kama is a little too big until I get the forks made up for it. It's a lot bigger and stronger tractor if we need to use it. In any case, we get can get and store wood up on the decks in good fashion now.
Glad to see many of you enjoyed the project, thanks for your comments and keep warm.
Rob-

 

[Timber]

I would think it better to load the cart while is sat up on the deck from the bucket or a pallet rather than bring the cart down all the time. What a great idea though

 

[3RRL]

I would think it better to load the cart while is sat up on the deck from the bucket or a pallet rather than bring the cart down all the time. What a great idea though

Hi Charlie,
I thought about that too and it is certainly an option.
If picking up the full cart becomes a problem, we will end up doing that. But so far this first time we had no problems. The quick release levers really made a difference when disconnection the bottom. I had plenty of leverage to yank them out of the bucket holes.
A couple reasons for loading the cart near the wood pile is that it's very mobile with the tires. So it's really easy to roll around and I can even roll it down the ramp to the woodpile when it's empty. Then when it's full, again it's easy to roll and position to hook it up for the tractor connections.
The other (main) thing is I only have to handle the firewood one time. Instead of loading up the bucket at the woodpile, then bring it the deck, and then loading the firewood from the bucket into the cart up there, I only have to load the cart at the woodpile. So I load and stack only once. I figured by making the connections like I did, easy to operate, it would save me a little firewood handling....so far so good.

 

[Sigarms]

The bigger question is what is it going to retail at?

I admire your work, like so many others here.

 

[dmccarty]

The bigger question is what is it going to retail at?

AND where can I get one?

Also mine needs to be a bit shorter. Taking special orders?

Your box is very well done. It gave me some ideas.

Later,
Dan

 

[3RRL]

Great compliments guys, thanks!
You'd be surprised how easy it is to make, especially if you have some scrap wood and metal lying around. The wheels are really handy for the mobility. I don't think the metal is a requirement though. I wanted the metal frame since I was moving mine with the tractor. Also, I was lucky since my home is a log cabin style. I could've used about any kind of wood, shot some holes in it or hit it with and axe and it would match.
I was thinking of making a smaller one for my neighbor. I think he'd like one?

 

[JDeerekid]

I just found this thread Rob and that is an awesome looking cart. I was wondering if it will fit 2 large garbage cans in it and use it to keep garbage in. Then you people could wheel it to the curb for people that have garbage pickup. It would keep the critters out and still be able to move it around easily.

As always keep up the good work. You and loretta always come up with great ideas and follow through with them.

 

[firemanpat2910]

dont put it out to the street near me!!! the temptation might be too great ! Can you imagine the look on the garbage mans face when he steps on the pedal and the lid glides open, then gently closes? But then they would leave it in the street, or crush it with the truck. Now how about a permenant lockable version that you put out by the gate for ups, fed ex and snail mail deliveries ?

 

[3RRL]

Thanks Eric and Pat!
I didn't think about using it for the garbage dudes?
We have a large container out in the culdesac and just take the trash out with the truck on our way out. I don't think I'd want it out there for the trash, but I've been thinking about Pat's suggestion to make something for UPS and USPS. It's not gonna be this fancy though... they'll just have to live with lifting the lid if I make one for that.

On another note, so far we've burned everyday and night solid for 10 days now and we're almost down to the bottom. So I found out it will hold about 12-14 days of firewood (for us) before we have to re-fill it. That's better than I thought.