Hello every one from Taylor Johnson

[Jim Ostergard]

Well Carl, don’t think you are old yet even though you certainly can qualify as an old timer. I think those of us who got to work with some of these guys were indeed blessed. I’ve got loads of stories both from the woods and the sea and am happy for that history.
Interesting the differences in region vis a vis trucking. We still have some small independents here and a few of them are young guys. Most however have either been cutting wood or hauling it for over 20 years.
I just bought a neat old log truck. Just came off the road 3 years ago. Bought it for the loader (JD) which I hope to put on a small trailer I can haul to the site with the pick-up and then around the site with the horse if needed. Probably sell the truck as an antique. If I had the money I would love to have it on the road with my signage on it. I realized last week as I shipped a load of tree-length pine pulp which I had hand stacked in two piles so the trucker would not have to move that at 68 I just couldn’t do that anymore. Almost didn’t take a nice red pine job thinking about rolling the logs into a decent pile. Low and behold an ad appeared for this ark, I sort of knew the guy and now its in my door yard. So, shortly I will be able to not get depressed about handling wood.
jimbojim

[Carl Russell]

Fifteen years ago I had a 1949 3 ton GMC. Actually I still have it…..it’s just blending slowly into the back forty. I used to move horses on it, wood, logs, hay etc. I really enjoyed having such a versatile vehicle, and have thought long and hard about getting another one. Just the last time I was investing big money, I had to get a 3/4 ton for plowing, etc. and decided to get a gooseneck trailer to go with it.

My ideal would be a 1 1/2 – 2 ton truck in combination with a log trailer with loader. The problem at this point is (obviously the money) that the road worthy trailers on the market are not designed to go to the woods. I would love to have a trailer that was wood worthy, that could be hauled with a fifth-wheel cart and horses, that could be taken off the fifth wheel, and with pintel hitch attached to the back of the truck. Load the truck and trailer and head to the mill.

It looks like the trailer that Taylor is using is in that ballpark. I am definitely intrigued, but short on cash and fabricating skills.

Carl

[TaylorJohnson]

Carl the cart works well but if I were going to build one it would be different. It would be smaller and I think I would set it up to be pulled by my arch. The one I have now is wood worthy and in all reality it would be fine on the roads but the DOT up here would slay me for hauling with it. There is also a lot of tong weight on my cart when it is empty even, and it has a fifth wheel hitch but at the level that it is at it hooks up at bumper level for a 1 ton truck . It is versatile but I know it could be more versatile. The big logs have always been the easy part of it as far as pilling and production goes but the small stuff is the problem. I have even thought about one of those ATV style loader carts for my forcart. I think they carry about a half cord or so and a team could pull them most places and should be able to handle a far amount of grade. tire chains and break parts would be easy to come by both of witch you need on one. If you don’t have breaks and chains on them in the winter you have a log loader on a sled.
I will try and get some pics or film of the front end of mine so you can see how it works. Taylor Johnson

[Author]

Posts