….and then he says “do you want some trees”

I made it back out to this score this afternoon. I checked the distance, exactly 30 miles one way from the shop. The first tree ( the one Tancy is standing on) was in good condition. The second one had been dead far too long and was getting pretty punky. I left quite a bit of it behind, although the half dozen or so big rounds in the trailer are still pretty good and about all I wanted to lift. Only ran 2 saws, the 445 that was given to me, it still needs some tuning, but forgot to take the stupid little splined screwdriver. And the 266 that I’ve named Brad. the tree that is standing in pictures 3&4 will be next. I’m going to see if he can push it over with his tractor. Looks like it’s 2 trees conjoined at where the felling cuts need to be. If I knew they would stay together all would be fine given the way that it wants and needs to go. But if they decide to separate when things start moving, the bigger stem will be fine but the smaller one leans towards the house and some utilities in the yard

 

I really like your old home made trailer with the old toolbox up front.

 

Good choice! I smile every time i see that saw...even though its a Husky!

How many more trips and how often you hitting the score?

 

This was only my second trip.
The tree that is still standing will easily be more than one pickup and trailer full. And then there is one more that he tried to push over that hung up in another, which is probably almost a load. Probably gonna need his help with the tractor on that also. And then there’s the stuff at his moms old home place, which I’m guessing will be another 2-3 pickup & trailer loads

 

3/4 ton trailer.....nice. That makes loading the trailer down a bit more enjoyable on the ride home.

 

My 445 has cut many a cord for me!

 

I talked to the property owner today. I was wanting to get the large tree and had finally figured a way to get it down without much risk to the house if his skid steer was onsite and he would let me use it. Turns out he just pushed it over with his tractor about a week ago. So you know what I’ll be doing this weekend.

 

Now I’m just trying to figure out the best/ most efficient way to get as much home as possible over the weekend. I was hoping that his skid steer would be available and I would just haul it home in mostly logs about 10-12 ft long with my new dump truck. Then I could process it at my leisure. But no skid steer available without hauling mine out there. So now I’m thinking I’ll take the dump truck and load it with rounds on Saturday and dump them at the house, then go back Sunday for another load and then split them right off the truck at my leisure. Or I could use the pickup and trailer like in the pictures but I’m pretty sure there’s no way to get it all in one trip and I would have to unload by hand in order to go back Sunday. Not sure 2 trips with the dump truck will do it either, but I’m kinda jonesing to use the dump truck to haul some wood. If I had a helper I might use my tilt deck skid steer trailer with side boards and haul the splitter on it and split on site, pretty sure I could get it all in one trip that way, but that’s more than I could get done in one day working alone. Probably about 25 miles one way from my house

 

Can you just leave the tilt trailer & splitter there overnight ? Can you back it in a shed or barn. I am guessing the place is abandoned?

 

I thought about that and yes that would be an option. No need to put it inside, I shouldn’t need to worry about its safety. Nobody living there there currently, but ranching operations going on. That’s actually probably the most efficient option.

 

Pretty cold this morning, 1*F so the day was pretty slow warming up. By the time I got organized, I left town right at 12:00. I opted to just take the dump truck for its wood hauling maiden voyage. I’m sure there have been other good ones in the past but this might have been one of my best scores ever. Drive right up against it for easy loading, absolutely no bark, it ALL fell off with the slightest touch. No rotten or punky stuff. I’m sure it is all stove ready and dry. One of the biggest rounds from as far down the trunk as I went, tested 19 with moisture meter as soon as I was done noodling it in half.
I managed to get it all in one load without feeling bad about leaving anything worthwhile behind.
All and all a very productive afternoon. Pulled out at 6:00, so 5 1/2 hours.
Weighed the truck when I got back to town, 3,000 lbs of some of the best firewood to be found in the Sandhills.
I’m beat, ready for

 

It’s a good thing you had a crew cab or that hound may not of been able to squeeeeze in there.

 

Way to get it done. Nice to get an easy one now and then. Some primo wood too!

 

I even took a special picture just for you

 

And I didn’t have to worry about any clean up this time either!

 

I saw that (no pun intended). Brought a smile to my face!

I drove by the house today where it came from (as i often do) and thought of the 266

 

It ran great today. It’s not as clean anymore as when you seen it. Pretty good chance I’ve put more time on it than the previous owner.

 

I made it to the east location today. No good access for a pickup. And wasn’t gonna pack it by hand. So I took the skid steer out and brought it home in log lengths. Wife brought out the dump truck about 4:30. One more load pretty much ready to go tomorrow. ( I hope it all fits in one load)
And Russel ( the property owner) showed up and pushed one over with his bobcat.

 

I dont understand how such open plains don't have trees growing more often?

 

My guess is the grass grows so thick that it’s hard for trees to get established. That and I imagine it’s dry and scorching hot during the growing season.