Since i'm getting a tractor with a decent loader i'm contemplating changing how i dry and store. My current setup is ag posts and landscape timbers, 24' long racks stacked 4'ish high, 5 racks. If i can move pallets i'm wondering about builing some sort of pallet that i can put metal roofing scraps over the top, stackable maybe? Save some space in the yard? Thanks in advance for all the help. - Aaron
Oh those are helpful and even with just one or two to help bring loads around the house is all you need but others like to store in those and they hold plenty.
The key is finding them at a fair price. We picked up around 15-20 free, but also picked up 28 for $15.00 each. Stacked I think they hold close to 1/3 cord. Partner (Lefty) loves being able to move them around. Some customers also have us just load a tote in their truck and then they bring back the empty.
There are some variables to consider with the questions you pose. 1: What is the lift capacity of your loader? Estimates I have found put a cord of hardwood in the range of 2000 to 3000 pounds (dry versus wet). Standard wooden pallets weigh 30-48 pounds. So figure at a minimum, a 3-sided pallet pin full of dry hardwood (~1/3 cord) would weigh ~786 pounds at a minimum. 2: What is the terrain like where you are going to store these? Something to consider if you need to drive your loader over soggy/muddy/snow covered terrain carrying these bins. 3: How do you currently have your 24' racks set up on your property. Pallet bins usually come in over 4' wide, and my estimates are that you would need 24 to 25 bins to hold the desired 8 cords. If you were able to stack them 2-high, you are still looking at a row of bins over 48' long (1 bin = 4' width minimum x bottom row quantity of 12 = minimum row length of 48'). The pallet bins I make hold approximately 1/3 of a cord. If I were to beef up the support braces on top, I could get away with stacking them 2-high (I have no need to at the moment). The bin is not screwed onto the second bottom pallet, I just like to have the extra height off the ground for air flow so use two pallets on the bottom. I have a 42-horse tractor with loaded rear tires and it will lift these, but I can definitely feel the weight.
