How far to travel for wood until it's no longer worth it?

Hey guys, just looking for your thoughts on how far to go looking for wood, until it no longer makes sense to go that far.

In my situation, I burn about 3 cord a year of mostly white poplar. It's all around here, everywhere, and my usual stomping grounds for cutting are either 1/4 mile, or just over a mile. I actually like poplar, even though it burns quick.

My other go to place a friend showed me, has pine everywhere. It's about a 22 mile round trip. I know pine burns hotter and longer, but I'm not sure how much better considering the payload of truck only, a thirsty one at that. My truck is an F-150 XLT with the stubby box, so depending how I load, 1/3 of a cord or bit better fits the box (I think that's what math and cubic feet told me) level bucked. Or go up a bit, or out the back, and I'm sure it's near a half cord.

My niece told me she knows a place where there are a lot of birch stands. Now, round trip on that would put me about 40 miles. Thoughts?

If I had a trailer would the trip for birch make sense? Just seems a bit far to me, but I really don't know. There's also the fact that birch scores much higher on the btu charts, so.....where does this leave me? Any thoughts appreciated.

 

I routinely haul 30 to 40 mile round trips using a truck and 12 foot trailer. It easily holds a cord of hardwood with the limit being weight, not size. Tossed in, not stacked. That's worth it to me, since I live in the city.

 

County line, due to EAB quarantine.

 

My guess is if you hauled close to a season worth of birch home to burn you would never ask or ponder this question again.

 

That half ton truck with the stubby box will haul more wood than your giving it credit for. Folks where i live routinely get 3/4 to 7/8 of a cord of pine on a short bed half ton. Do i recomend this? 3/4 cord hell ya all day long dry pine dont weigh much. Now the birch probly a whole other ballgame, i have a little bit of birch this winter, neighbors gave it too me pretty hot burning wood. Birch is heavier than the pine for sure. Throw some sideboards on that half ton and haul that p

 

Here is a pic of a pine load, ill be honest this is a 3/4 ton.

 

Yes, this is exactly what you'd see.

I drive about 25 minutes each way to my land, where I cut nearly all high btu hardwoods. I drive a car that gets less mpg than most trucks, and I use a trailer that holds a half cord.

If you used a trailer and the amount you can load in the truck, you'd be much happier with your btu's per trip.

 

I guess one part of the equation is roads. For the poplar and pine, I'm either in field or road allowance and grid. A lot easier to load up a victory load when I don't have to drive public roads or through town. I'd have no worries towing a trailer loaded up with this truck.

 

I myself would always go for the higher BTU wood, but prove it to yourself. You say you burn 3 cords a year, burn one each of poplar, pine and birch. You will have your answer on whether it's worth it or not by the end of the next winter.

I'll go out on a limb and say you'll be looking for a trailer to pull behind your pickup for birch runs.

 

I burned some aspen poplar last year, and I've been burning some red pine this year, on the 'warmer' days. I'd rate them about the same, though I'm finding it easier to keep the pine dry; however that could have more to do with a better stacking location. So, I don't know if that would be worth the extra mileage, but I'd say it's worth a try if you've ever in the area and it's convenient.

I've burned some black birch too (love the smell of it), and I think it will be a night and day difference for you compared to the poplar. Thing about birch though - and you may have run into this with the poplar too - is if it's already on the ground, it's probably rotten. The bark is water tight and so if it doesn't get split right away it rots out pretty fast.

The question you need to answer, is what's it worth to you. If I was in your situation, I think I'd probably go for it. I don't have to drive further than my backyard for my firewood, but for the right kinds of lumber, I'd travel. In fact, my dad and I are planning a trip to PA to visit some wooded property that our family owns, where my great-grandfather used to have a hunting camp. I'm hoping to find some species (oak) that I don't have a lot of, and do my own select cut. It probably doesn't make a lot of economical sense, but for the chance to spend some time with my dad, doing something we both enjoy, will make it all worthwhile.

 

I had a look at kijiji (like craigs list) and some of the prices on firewood are insane!! I'm not sure if the guy asking $340 cord for birch is on crack, but at those prices the gas for the round trip would be peanuts.

 

All good answers from everyone, I'd get some birch as long it is not rotting on the ground. Do you have a friend with a trailer you can borrow?:stacke:

 

I will go 20 miles in 1 direction for the right deal. I just picked up 2 lots full of white oak that will be about 16 miles one way. When it is all said and done, It could translate into about 10 full cords of split wood, which is 3 years of burning for me. This is on private property so once I start cutting, I don't have the worry of someone taking my wood. This way I can maintain my 2 year rotation on aging my oak.

 

Seems like it would be worth taking 1 trip out there to see how easy the cutting & loading terrain is before purchasing a trailer.
I've run ~30mi round trip in my old truck to a private property wood dump with easy pickings. If I had to drive somewhere to put the same effort into hauling wood like I do out of my own property(hilly terrain) I'd just stay local

 

Yeah just what I was thinking. I'll drive much farther for easy wood. I drove about 25 miles for easy wood that I could drive right up to. I'd much rather be driving than hauling wood up a hill or ravine. How many miles someone will drive will vary greatly depending on their location and surroundings.

 

I travel about an hour one way. I have a dually with a 10 ft trailer. About a cord and a 1/2 per trip

 

Thanks for all the input guys. Glad to know it's not a fools errand to travel some distance. I don't know anyone who has a trailer that would fit my needs, but dad knows a guy who might. I'll definitely go for a birch run this year, see what all the hype is with this birch stuff.

 

I might add that the birch would be on gov't land, and green, so I'll need a $5? permit. No idea on the ease of removal.

I'm kinda spoiled that way for my local wood. Neighbor lets me cut where ever he'll be widening his field, so it's simple to pull wood out. After awhile I quit dropping the trees straight out into the field, and angled them to stay close to the edge. Easier clean up and load up.