Hello all. For years I've been using a Gorilla Cart to haul wood out from the forest around my house. (I'm selectively removing dead and hanging trees.) The terrain around here has some hills and I'm getting tired of pulling several hundred pounds of logs up the various small logging trails I've been using. Does anyone have any experience with these electric carts like the one pictured below? I like the fact that it is small enough to get between trees and its quiet, and yeah I'll work the heck out of it since I harvest about 5 to 6 cords a year. Do you think I'll break it? I've seen the gas powered 4x4 Yardmax ones but they are out of my budget right now... Thank you in advance.
There are options ..... Eltschinger Industries makes one powered by an Echo engine ... Little Helper Cart | PaulHaul Don't know that I'd trust the battery one. Looks a bit on the lightweight side.
I'd love to have one of those Yardmax machines... If they were half the price. Right now I'm looking for a (very) used ATV for under $1K. I'm a pretty good mechanic and fabricator, so maybe I can work something out.
I have been kicking around the idea of finding an old snowblower. Self propelled that the blades are shot but the drivetrain is good. Take the blower assembly off, build a box with a pair of "crazy wheels" under it at the front. So this spring that is on my list of watching on FB or CL or the auctions. Would think a hundred should buy it, worst case scenario another hundred invested and a self propelled wheel barrow for less than 300 easily!
Great minds think alike! I was also looking at those two wheel tractors as inspiration. I bet it could be turned into a pretty neat log skidded. Its not like I'm going to be dragging giant trees around...
Recommend a hydraulic drive one over the friction drive ones.... frictions don’t have a ton of pulling power
Smaug , I see that you're in NC. Along the same or similar lines as the snow blower idea, what about salvaging / fabricating from a rear tine roto-tiller? I'm just thinking of the self propelled aspect plus I'd be willing to bet that they are far more plentiful in NC than snow blowers. You could probably get one that doesn't run at all for almost ZERO and put a predator engine from Harbor Freight on it for $99 on sale. Then fabricate away. In fact, it sounds like fun, now that I'm thinking about it!
Excellent idea! I'll fire up a browser and see what I can come up with. I'm also playing with the idea of getting a wrecked ATV and seeing what I can make out of it. A plasma cutter and wire feed welder can do some amazing things. Perhaps a walk behind mower could also be used. So many options. Thanks for opening up my mind to other possibilities. I'll let you all know if I come up with something.
I know Reloader has one. I think its the DR one. Maybe he can chime in. Ive thought of getting something like that as i use a wheelbarrow to get wood out of my woods on occasion.
I read of using electric wheelchair drives as a basis for one also. I was thinking of powering a wheelbarrow with one. Never went farther than beer thoughts on that project yet though. As an add on. A little sulky/trailer to stand on for the ride would be nice. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I had a DR Power Wagon & it was handy. Sold it last summer after buying my third loader tractor. Really didn't need it anymore. I would look at walk behind commercial mowers because the drive line is all there. Fab up a box in place of the deck & go.
The price tag of the Yardmax wheel barrow gives me pause, but I think I may end up with one at some point. Much of my property is fairly steep, but I think one of these would make it feasible to access areas I’ve given up on accessing previously.
The hydraulic motors on some mowers are not made for pulling/pushing loads. My Exmark owners manual say not to pull a cart over 80 pound. I can’t see any problem if you removed the mower deck from a walk behind and put a wheelbarrow size cart on it.
Has anyone ever looked at or tried a concrete buggy? Even a used one is out of my price range but they look like they should be the ultimate. Power dump, easily handle the weight of a full load of even fresh cut green wood.