Normally I bring my wood to the house from the racks using the wheelbarrow. It takes about 3 heaping loads to fill up my wood rack in the house, which, depending on weather is 3-4 days worth of burning. A couple of weeks ago, we got some rain, then snow, then rain, then some more snow. I went out with the trusty wheelbarrow and underneath the layer of snow, was a really nice layer of ice, and I damm near broke my neck when I slipped while trying to push that loaded wheelbarrow. With old age (I'm 52) comes wisdom. I said, "Self, you're an engineer with a welder. Work smarter, not harder" I give you, the self propelled wheelbarrow deluxe! Its 4-wheel drive, a nice back-rest, good suspension and I don't have to have a flashlight when I get wood at night, it has its own self-powered lights! And, I can fill up my wood rack with one trip. I can now load all my cutting equipment in the back as well when I head out to the woodlot. Back end has a little bit of a squat, tires needed some air.
Nice work Joe. I like the concept a lot. I wouldn't want to drag a small trailer with an ATV through multiple layers of crusty snow and have it tip over, so the wood rack on the back makes sense to me
She gets a little light in the front, but not bad, especially with the plow up there. I don't use a trailer because its a PIA to back that thing up between the wood racks. Its narrow and I'm trying to make it really simple to encourage the wife to get wood once in a while!!!!
Oooh… Cue engineer mode.. make a pallet fork mount like for the plow, a basket for the mount and then load the basket and just set it up by the house.
I've been considering hooking up a small winch and a sled to deal with the ice, mud and wet snow. I haven't been able to justify a 4 wheeler yet on my postage stamp lot. I like it though.
I thought this same thing. You forgot another benefit over the wheelbarrow…fun! It’s rare that someone grabs the handles of a wheelbarrow and gets excited about the journey. But if you don’t feel at least a little warm fuzzy feeling most every time you fire up an ATV well then I’m not sure what to say. Also, that Dodge Ram looks like it wants some beefier tires!
For what ATV's cost these days I wouldn't do that to my machine...they are usually only rated for 75-100 lbs on the front rack and maybe double that on the rear, they just don't have the frame/suspension for heavy load hauling, especially when you move the load center so far forward of the machine, like pallet forks would. I've seen guys with broken ball joints just from carrying a 60" snow plow around all the time. Rebuilding the front suspension on those things gets very expensive (even back in the day, can't imagine what it'd be now!)
I totally agree. Everytime I start mine up, I feel like a kid. Nice work Joe P getting it done with style.
The specs for the 2019 front rack is 120 LBs, the rear is 240 LBS. Might be getting close to that with the load I have in it. FarmerJ - If you look at my signature, I've got a ground force system that I use in the summer. I can put a bucket on the front (different mount than the plow) and I actually have forks for the system as well. They work pretty good. I moved my woodchipper (was on a pallet) when I bought it off my trailer into the garage. Handled the 452 lbs just fine, needed a little more counter weight though. I agree, using the ATV in this manner is probably not the best for the bearings/suspension, but I don't have room/money for a tractor or skidsteer. I bought the machine as a tool, not a toy. If I need to replace bearings or some suspension parts at some point, I'm ok with that. Its cheap compared to a wrecked back. I'm on the publishers clearing house sweepstakes retirement plan. As soon as that gets finalized, I'll be bringing home a new JD 333G skidsteer complete with forestry mulcher, grapple, bucket (smooth and toothed) and maybe an excavator. Just to say I have one!!
I would have taken the easy way out with a trailer too, but Ican't weld, or at least I never tried. I like the basket/ grocery cart type rig over a trailer though just for its convenience.
