Today after work dad and I went after 5 downed oaks in a field that he ok'd with the homeowner. To make a long story short we just about buried his truck in the sugar sand while trying to back up to the first tree. It got so bad that I cut a few limbs to lay in his ruts in order for him to get out. We gave up on that job for the day and on the way home I checked my email. I had a reply from a craigslister with free oak that was basically on our way home. Pulled in and grabbed this load of chestnut/white oak. It was cut and stacked in a pile that we backed right up to. We were set up to haul log lengths from the first job but we made it work for this load. Ok that was still a long story lol
Drop your tire pressure. Helps immensely. Another trick, lay down chain link fence. Redneck version of marsden matting. Will sink a bit but does the trick. Keep an eye out for junk rolls of it laying around.
All good tips dan. Been there done those. Nothing went right today and the sand wad just swallowing his tires. I made the decision to call it quits and the new objective was just getting out of the field. The limbs under the tires were a quick solution.
I hear ya. Discretion being the better part of valor, some times it is just best to say frick it and go home.
Number one rule with sand (having grown up camping on the south shore of Long Island), 15 seconds of deflation per tire... converted A/C compressor into air compressor... and back up in no time, headed down the road. Nice load pic, Smokinpiney!
I don't see the problem with the plan. Traded tough work for easy loading. At least your trip was saved from a complete waste of time! Nice snag and good luck in the gathering the field oaks!
You're gonna need to change your handle to "SmokinOakey"!! Nice way to spend some time with your dad too!
Unfortunately we didn't realize it was sand underneath the overgrown weeds and grass until it was too late.
Here's another idea. Not sure what snow fall is like in your area, but maybe wait until freeze up? Even 'dry' sand has enough moisture to freeze up rock hard. Ask any trapper who has had to dry sand in a oven, wax it just to have his fox sets still freeze up....
Glad you decided to abort on the first stop before the trailer was fully loaded. Sounds like you'd still be there deeper in that sand. To discover a "drive by" pick up on the way home... way to go!
Well that unplanned day is turning out even better. We left our number with the homeowner because he planned on having a few more oaks taken down. Today he called and asked if I wanted another load like the last one. We hooked up the trailer and headed right over. Filled the truck and trailer with white,red and chestnut oak. He also said he wad having the other tree's taken down in the next few weeks and that he would call us as soon as they were down. He agreed to have them left in log lengths to make it easier on us too. He was thrilled that we took everything, even down to the scraps and kindling leftover on the ground. Here's the trailer load (unloaded the truck before I took a pic)
You gonna save some room for shoulder wood, or are you just planning to burn a little bit *less* oak?
Don't worry, I've got a little sassafrass, gum and maple mixed in. But 95% of our wood is oak. Just kinda happens that way
