combination chip/ log truck

kimtree

does anyone use a combination log/chip truck that they load with a loader if so could you please post photos.I've bought a new truck but have to modifie it to,just need a few inovative ideas

treevet

You know it always difficult to deal with a removable top. I have built many bodies set up with tops that come off in part or the whole body comes off (to leave a flatbed). It is always a pain to take them off and more so to put back on. I just tore off the bolt on top to my f700 and taking bolts out and booming off is about 1/2 hour. Doubt if it will go back on.

Still nice to have a back up chip truck so I have bungied a tarp on or ratchet strapped on 4x8 plywood on top of this truck and my mack when my contained chip box truck (f600) is in the shop. If you have just one truck then these are some ideas. The Mack in this picture and f700 have high sides permanently and a slight roof near cab. But when it comes time to boom in wood and get job done and go home and lay on couch, if all that unbolting has to happen you get very impatient. If you don t put any roof on and raise bed you got mass clean up on road.

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TreeDimensional

Combo trailer w log loader is an extremely expensive proposition. I just called a trailer guy here and a 12' dump trailer is about 12k. He has one with a MH log loader mounted to it and the loader alone is 13K plus you need something to drive the hydraulics. These of course are Canadian prices, so you being in Oz makes it that much more expensive.

Treevet makes a valid point as to the PITA that taking stuff apart and back together OLD real fast.

I spoke to the fellow and I have to wait until Monday to get a photo sent to me, it looks great BUT it should for $30,000.00 CDN dollars

kimtree

Thanks for the info when i refered to the loader i ment my small articulated machine not a boom lift also it has to be able to carry the loader preferably side loaded

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treevet

Looks like you could feed alot in the back door under the chip box roof with that machine?

kimtree

yes you can however thats the old truck the new got a tray 17' x 8' and i'd prefer to load over the side

treevet

A little bit similar to your loader I used to load logs over sides with winch truck in avatar into truck in picture I posted earlier. This worked fine but I couldn t chip into it and like your bed, it is way too large for a removable body (over tray). It also restricted how much I could load and worry about stuff falling off was an issue. Had to ratchet strap stuff down. Hate extra work.

Best answer was to just bring stuff from in-property to my truck crane when nec with winch truck, and drop it and load over sides with truck crane. This way I was using large capacity of truck (and other truck I ve got as dual purpose). But top had to be made to use it's large capacity for holding chips without them blowing all over the road, etc.

Like I said I had a removable steel, bolt on, boom on top made. It is way too heavy to consider hand removal and I doubt you will be able to get over built up sides to center of such a large bed to center to do this with your loader. This leaves the choices of as I said earlier, tie down tarp (that will have a short life) or plywood 4x8 with maybe 2 pieces of channel sideways across them to keep from warping and maybe I am going to try eyebolts on ends so they can be ratchet straps on both sides to support and not blow off. You can only build sides as high as your loader will reach over obviously.

Love to hear if you come up with another idea. How about picture of truck?

treevet

ps I added those sides over tray when I decided to give up loading over sides with winch truck and wanted to make truck dual purpose for chips too.

shaggs

Kimtree
I think we all come across this sort of problem with the "multipurpose truck".

The problem always seems to be the roof,, hard or soft??

I have seen a couple with high sided tippers (to the height of the cab) where either both sides or just curb sides fold down to half height to allow log loading. Fold them back up for chipping.

You could use fine woven "shadecloth" type material for the roof cover or even thick truck canvas. Attach to the front permenantly and roll up when logging or not in use. Unroll and attach with clips to the sides and even some small crossover bar (like in the old utes) to keep shape and tension.

It would be nice to have the full auto tarps like on the big semi's but they need a rail to slide on.

kimtree

Ive had a soft cover for the canter for several years. now it takes 5 minites to take off so the loader can get parked in side,so am working on the improved model now with a chain drive ratchet thats operated at a reasonable working height if i can get it to work on the small truck i'll make another for the big truck,regarding the sides of the new truck proberly will put half sides on say 600-700mm high and then higher fold down or to the side?ones.just slightly worried about the weight of the higher sides