Homemade Tub Train for Moving Firewood & More

See in action and learn how to easily make for yourself this very useful item from discarded fuel oil tanks.

[@ebinmaine]

Well done. Definitely like the idea of compacting and flattening the trails while skidding out.

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Thank you for your comment! Vince

[@ebinmaine]

@bombadiltreefarms314 Vince I've hit subscribe and notify. Looking forward to more videos from a fellow Mainer and on forestry. We pull our own firewood with a small collection of antique Wheelhorse tractors and other equipment.

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Thank you! I am flattered. Depending upon how you operate and your woodlot management goals, one or two of my earlier videos might interest you. Several are directed at a rather narrow viewer audience, or better stated, group of interested students. All are educational. None were produced merely for entertainment. Thanks again. Vince

[@ebinmaine]

@@bombadiltreefarms314 Excellent. Appreciate the information. I'll check them out.

[@bluelightguy1]

Thats a great idea ! i have used them to line old manure spreaders for wood trailers and have also used them to make Atv trailers and groom snowmobile trails. They are free or very cheap around Ontario Canada too.

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Sounds like you saw their potential long before I posted this video. Since I was a child I have been an incorrigible scavenger, and it sounds like you might also be one. Always good to meet another one of that breed. Thanks for your comment. Vince

[@bluelightguy1]

Thanks for the reply ,and yes always have been a person to repurpose things before it was “green “ to do so plus its fun@@bombadiltreefarms314

[@richardpichette4380]

It takes a yankee!!!! Brilliant idea. My brother is a plumber and always has a few old oil tanks to get rid of. I live in nh and sell firewood. Needless to say, my brother will be getting a call!!! Thank you for the wonderful idea.

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Richard, sounds like you could be the guy who might just make a longer train, perhaps 10 tubs long. Go for it and shoot some video clips of it in action for the rest of us to see! Be safe! Vince

[@eddiehenrard5251]

Great idea sir! Now to find some tanks….

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Good hunting! You should be able to nail a few if they are in common use in your area. Vince

[@michaelgroves3460]

Great idea. One point of concern... it may be important to make sure they are empty of oil or other flammable fuels prior to sawing and introducing all of those sparks. I once cut up a larger fuel tank and was warned by some that it could have ignited or exploded. I had no problem when I did it and it appears you didn't either. Just a thought and warning, I got from others. I burned out the fuel/sludge to remove it as well, it was quite flammable. So I do recommend care with what you do! That being said...I will likely be making some soon as well. Thanks for sharing!

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Michael, thanks for your comment. Safety in all projects is #1. Another viewer expressed concerns similar to yours to which I offered a reply. Please check out the comment from about a month ago from yvesjolicoeur747. Hopefully, my reply to Yves adequately addressed the safety concern. Thanks again! Vince

[@user-pv4ld1je5x]

Good morning sir: just let u know, that's very smart. Hope to more people like you in the world. Yes there are alot of them just laying around. I forgot to Introduce myself my name Emerick nice to meet you sir. Have a nice day. 👍

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Emerick, I am happy that you found the video helpful. Thanks for your comment. Vince

[@FromSteelToWood]

Hello Mr. Le Professeur! I like the idea over a wheeled trailer, as it flattens the trails, as opposed to increase the production of ruts. Then it also gets the benefit to lower the height at which you need to lift the logs to load it. Very convenient at that point too! I have contemplated in the past to get one for the purpose of maintaining the trails.... which I should do! Thanks!

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Yes, I fully agree with the advantages that you mention. Years in the past, I had set them on my forwarding trailer but soon came to realize that pulling them on the ground as shown in this video was preferred. Always good to hear from you! Be safe! Vince

[@tomt8320]

Brilliant! Thanks.

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

You are very welcome. Vince

[@LostCaper]

At least it is not a trailer pushing you a hill. Nice idea

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

You've got that right! Vince

[@tpctrash]

Great idea!!

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

And I hope that you give it a try! Vince

[@TheRussellStover]

Wonderful. I know of several old fuel oil tubs that are for free in my area. Great idea on using what you have.

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

I am glad that this video sparked your imagination. Good luck with your project. Vince

[@TitusOutdoorLiving]

Very good idea, thank you for the info!

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Hey Brad, think you might make one for southern NB?

[@TitusOutdoorLiving]

I can see how they would come in handy and we have some old oil drums kicking around the woodlot! Will send pics if I get around to it! Have you finished cutting wood for the season? We have been busy cutting stud wood and pulp wood. Had a straight truck pick up 3 loads this week.

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Yep, finished this winter's harvest block. Nearly all stud wood with a half load of logs and 13 tons of 100-inch aspen. All straight truck loads. Be safe! Vince

[@denislosieroutdoors]

I think this is a great idea there! I will try this thinking of filling them with gravel... pull down my gravel road then use the front bucket to filp to dump them... thanks for sharing

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Denis, yes that will work very well. I often use my front end loader to dump them in the way you mention. Thanks for your comment. Vince

[@VicsYard]

Smart idea.

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Hi Victor. Go ahead and give it a try. Vince

[@richardjulian9263]

Good idea. Do you add drain holes to the bottoms or do you not leave wood in them for any length of time?

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

No, I don't have drain holes and do not leave wood in them any longer than it takes to haul them to where I stack the wood. For procrastinators, however, that would be a good idea! Thanks for your comment. Vince

[@yvesjolicoeur747]

Hi Vince. Very smart way to save trips. DO you have to take fire/explosions precautions before grinding away?

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Yves, very good point since, as your comment indicates you know rather well, fuel tanks, especially ones that have held gasoline, can be very dangerous to expose to flame or heat, especially welding. Many years ago I learned from a welder at a machine shop, and even watched him do it, how to safely weld gasoline tanks. I have employed the same technique over the years welding diesel fuel tanks. Without getting into those details, in the case of me cutting the lid off these discarded fuel oil tanks with a spark producing cutting blade, the most important things are to make certain that the tank is empty and that it is open and well vented to the atmosphere. Every old fuel oil tank I have ever obtained had been laying outdoors with its threaded ports open and had accumulated considerable water inside. After rolling to empty the water, the most that has ever remained inside has been a thin film of oil on limited areas of the tank walls that takes much more than a few sparks to vaporize before becoming even a potential hazard. Thanks for your comment. In retrospect, I should have addressed the issue in my video because it is an important one. Vince

[@yvesjolicoeur747]

thanks for the details...... I'm overly cautious by nature. It has kept me alive for many years....lol@@bombadiltreefarms314

[@woodnewf3847]

Any particular reason you have so much space between tubs?

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Nope, no reason at all except that the various lengths of old cable and short chains I had laying around looked suitable. The train would probably follow better on trails having a lot of bends if the spacing was closer, and a narrower space would also probably be better in a longer train. Why don't you give it a try and let us know how it goes? Thanks! Vince

[@woodnewf3847]

@@bombadiltreefarms314 thanks for answering my question. Your operation seems to be already geared up for a time wasting exercise so I'll let you experiment.

[@bombadiltreefarms314]

Your reply made me laugh. Yes, you are so correct! I can't tell you the number of times I have kicked myself for spending time on great ideas that just didn't pan out. Countless! This, however, is one that did. Thanks again! Vince