Side loader log truck…from the woods to the mill!

[@everestvirtue309]

Dear Zach God bless you all there Thank you for making this excellent video And letting me see everything Take care my friend Ill be praying for you Always

[@zachodom7486]

Awesome! I’m glad you enjoyed it… Thank you for taking time to watch and comment. Take care and do come again.

[@miketaylo7677]

My most favorite part was riding to the mill cause I knew I was gonna get a coke an a moon pie on the way back to the woods . Living the good life back then .

[@zachodom7486]

Yessir that’s right! I usually stop by the store on the way back too for gas lol. Thanks for watching my friend and commenting. Take care and good to hear from you

[@JohnnyWhite-fv3qe]

This Brings back lots of Memories That's the Way we use to do it Years ago And i Didn't have to watch just a Minute or two to See You Really Know How To Do It Right And Safe Very Nice Video

[@zachodom7486]

Thank you sir! That means a lot to me and thank you for watching our videos

[@thomasshumaker1495]

I got tired just watching you chain the logs hahahaha great work and very informative video.

[@zachodom7486]

That 5/16” chain does get heavy at the end of the day lol. It was hot that day too…lord! Thanks for the kind words and for watching my friend

[@davidsmith3828]

I’ve been watching your videos for a while now…and I’m realizing more, that logging this way is a lot like the hsymaking business…if you make a dollar…you earned two! Great video! Thanks for posting!!

[@zachodom7486]

That sounds about right lol. Thank you for the kind words and for watching!!! Take care

[@kennethhall5070]

Mr.Odum, it takes a lot of knowledge and common sense to know just how much throttle to lift and toss those super heavy logs. Looks like you've loaded enough to get it down just right. Nice job, I learned a lot. Great video!!

[@zachodom7486]

Thank you sir! It takes a little getting use to it, in order to place your logs where ya want them to go. But it’s not all that hard to learn. Just time doing it. And messing up a few times lol. Anyway, thanks for the kind words my friend and for always watching! I appreciate the kind words and for you watching. Take care and come back anytime it suits ya.

[@jackgreen412]

I've seen lots of side loaders either loaded or empty, but not being loaded or dumped. Like you say, a man sure has to watch out for him self. That's a hatd earned dollar.

[@zachodom7486]

Well glad ya got to see it in operation. Like anything else, a man can make it as dangerous as he wants it to be. You just have to be careful. Thanks for watching and commenting

[@larrytucker2938]

Great follow up video, neat to see it in action. That baby really flings those logs up there,easy to see where having an escape route is crucial. Like all heavy work, if things go wrong they do it fast. This method worked before hydraulic knuckle booms and gets the job done. Thanks for showing us your trade.

[@zachodom7486]

Yessir you’re right. And thank you for the kind words. Yes they worked for years and years. Slower and less productive…but on a budget they’ll work. Thanks for watching and commenting

[@coldspring624]

I sure enjoy seeing loader work. Sure would be handy up here and for rounding up my cord wood too. Slick set up.

[@zachodom7486]

Thank you kindly and glad ya enjoyed it! Yes, it would work good for that. Thanks for sharing and also for watching! Take care

[@MRBoatwrights]

Excellent video, I have always wanted to see and learn how those side loaders worked. They where common in my area of South Carolina loading pine sawlogs in the late 50s and 60s but that was before my time. I heard the old timers talk about. I am 42 and went into the custom sawmills business full time about a year ago. I have a new woodmizer lt40 super and eg100 board edger and nyle lumber kiln. I have a truck about like yours that was a fire truck I converted to a 14 ft dump bed it has the 427 gas and Hydraulic disk brakes. I have a two axle power pole trailer that I put 5ft standards on the I haul log on. Most of the time I get loaded in the woods with a knuckle boom and I unload at my mill with a Case offroad forklift. The only logs I ever haul is my own and I don't haul all that I mill. I just use my rig to get high value logs with 30 miles of my mill. Most of the logging here is set out pine trees that are sold by the ton I buy those from small time operators that bring them in on 6 wheel trucks and I unload them with my forklift. I am not set yet to be able to handle a tractor and trailer but I want get me an old knuckle boom that never leaves the yard. My people farmed growing up so I have not been in the woods all my life. I am learning a lot about logging and how to handle logs from watching your videos your are natural teacher.

[@zachodom7486]

Wow! Thank you so much for sharing with me… I’m sure you will find as you already have that a lot of your farming skills will carryover into your saw milling and logging skills…running equipment and handling material, etc. I grew up farming and also logging myself. They both intertwine a little. It sounds like you have a really good little set up to start with. And that is key. Have good equipment that is dependable. Not necessarily new. And you can work your way up as you grow your business. I have a lot of hopes and dreams on how I can grow my business, but time will tell. I wish you the very best of luck, and thank you for such kind words. I really appreciate it and thank you so much for watching and also commenting ! It really means a lot to me to hear from you all.

[@GeraldCraig-n2q]

Good information thanks

[@zachodom7486]

Thank you sir and thanks for watching! You’re welcome

[@robertodebeers2551]

Pretty darned slick.

[@zachodom7486]

Thank you sir! It works pretty good.

[@Doug-In-TN]

I have heard alot of loggers saw Popular log are dangerous to have to climb up on..bark slips off..man does too. Enjoyed video

[@zachodom7486]

Yessir the bark will slip, especially in the summer. I’ve never experienced it slipping while I had to climb on it. But I don’t very much usually. Anyway, thanks for sharing with me and for watching! Take care

[@RichardThompson-gc1cf]

That chain a great idea Smart man

[@zachodom7486]

It surely makes it easier getting the extensions on it by yourself. Thanks for watching my friend and for the kind words

[@davidjewell9197]

Logging is hard work, be safe and God bless

[@zachodom7486]

It’s not for the faint hearted that’s for sure! Thank you for the kind words and for watching!!

[@marguaritemccoy6968]

Hi Zack I really enjoy your video's they are a real treat for me. I have never worked mules but have Belgians and my daughter helps me now breaking and working . I am a bit North of you up in Canada. Don't know if you ever met Charlie Hogan from Kentucky? He died a few years back but a good man.

[@zachodom7486]

Hey there! No I don’t guess I know of him. But thank you for sharing with and I’m glad ya enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching and commenting. Take care

[@donaldwells2102]

Looks like the side loader truck works out well for you Zack,but it does look a little scary unloading. We'll they unload for you if they're there? Thanks for sharing and Take Care Friend😊.

[@zachodom7486]

Yessir they’ll unload ya if they’re there. But most times we go to the mill it’s either after hours or weekends. Which doesn’t work too well for getting unloaded. So the trip stands work good. One just has to know how to be careful around them. Loggers used them for years and years before technology caught up. And some of our Amish mills doesn’t have loaders anyway. They will drag the logs off with a swamp hook and horse off the back. And it takes forever! I’ve been grateful for the side loader no doubt. It’s been a big help. Anyway, thanks for the kind words and for watching! Take care yourself

[@canadianHAWK3]

👋Very good.

[@zachodom7486]

Thanks a bunch! And thanks for watching

[@randallcrane2704]

Very good video thanks

[@zachodom7486]

Most welcome! Thank you kindly and thanks for watching… Take care

[@joshlower1]

How do they know which logs are your to pay you after hours?

[@zachodom7486]

I write my initials on them. And I text my mill rep to let him know when I’ve hauled a load or loads in. Pretty simple deal…thx for taking time to watch and comment. Take care and do come again.

[@RobertJones-ey9qz]

I was wondering, do you take visitors at your farm? Not sure I can get there, but would like to try. I haven't been to that area in a while. I use to by there now and then when I was driving truck. Interesting video, thank you. Have a good day.

[@zachodom7486]

Always glad to have visitors! Thank you for the kind words and also for watching! Thanks and take care

[@paralhousehold4688]

Great video,What kind of logs are they.

[@zachodom7486]

Thank you kindly! They’re tulip poplar. Thanks for watching and commenting my friend

[@gentlegiants1974]

I built a side loading log trailer I use to load with a horse. It has a cable operated mechanism. 1 horse will load most of the stuff I haul with it. I have a video of it on my channel if anyone is interested.

[@zachodom7486]

Cool 😎 thanks for sharing!

[@br927]

I could never throw the chain over the load of logs, my arms gave me problems all my life! So, this is what I did, I tied a small rope with a rock on the end, throw the rock over the logs, and go on the other side and pull the rope with the chain attached!

[@zachodom7486]

Heyyyyy, that’s a great idea! A pilot rope 😎 Thank you sir for sharing that trick with me! I certainly appreciate it and thanks a bunch for always watching! Take care

[@kevinharvey8976]

Just bought my first side loader truck. Wondering how long your chains need to be to secure the load? I don’t want to much slack left.

[@zachodom7486]

Hey there! Mine are 25’ and work pretty good for most loads. Some loads will be taller than others. I find 25’ to be just right …thanks for watching and also commenting. Good luck with your new truck! You’ll have to send me pictures of it sometime. Love them old trucks! Take care

[@kevinharvey8976]

Thanks for the info. I really enjoy your videos. I live down here close to Mr Tucker. Actually I’m kin to him.

[@zachodom7486]

You’re in good hands then!

[@jimmiemack1268]

How many board feet did you have on that load ?

[@zachodom7486]

Right at 1100 of poplar. This truck will haul 14k pounds of logs about anyway you wanna load it. Depending on species depends on how many feet you haul. Heavy hardwood such as beech, maple, oak, hickory…we shoot for 1k feet…and lighter hardwood such as poplar, cottonwood, etc…we shoot for 1600’. Thx for commenting!

[@richardjulian9263]

Paint that center hook on your fork extension mounting chain!

[@zachodom7486]

Ha, I have and it just comes off lol.

[@richardjulian9263]

@@zachodom7486 Quick question: how do the cables or brake(clutch) slip when you get the loader arms pulled up tight to the uprights?

[@zachodom7486]

You just have to control it with the brake handle. Just gotta get a feel for it

[@mykelbaurle5758]

It’s weird, I can smell those poplar logs. I haul logs as well.

[@zachodom7486]

Ha! That’s strange isn’t it?! I do that with oak as well. Thanks for watching and commenting my friend. Take care

[@bendugas8632]

Thank you, I had never seen how a self loader unloaded his wood. I see the danger while you unloaded. In your case of the crocket log, would it be advantageous to you to saw them and sell the boards to Joe public and uncle Sam not being there to help you keep his share. I stopped selling to local sawmills when they went from board feet to tonnage, Joe public pays cash.

[@zachodom7486]

You’re most welcome. Well, I barely have enough time spend logging with my animals (which is what I enjoy most lol) let alone getting back into sawing. Now, my brother has a mill and still saws some. But I just haven’t found time to do both. Our mills here still buy by the foot except pulp mills, which we really don’t have any here. So it kind works out more or less. Basically, I cut a place…sell to the mills and split the check with the landowners. I could do my own sawing, especially cross ties, and make more. But I simply run out of time honestly. Maybe one day I can….thanks a bunch for watching and commenting! Take care

[@doggknowsdotcom]

There needs to be a cable or chain that is attached to the H beam on the passenger side of the deck and under the logs. Then the ability to fix the LOG LOADING CABLE to the deck cable, tighten up the log loading cable and the deck cable will lift, at an angel, and the logs will slide down the cables and off truck deck. That is what is use at the mills in Oregon to dump on off days. A set of cables is pulled under the log a fasted to the bumper log at the pond. The winch is engaged and the logs are unloaded. From a logger. Be safe. Awesome video.

[@zachodom7486]

That’s really not practical with the way the winch drums and such are setup. But would be nice if it would work that way. The side loader trucks were great in their day. But they do require someone that really knows them and how to maintain em too. They’re finicky. Sometimes a down right pain to be honest. We’re headed towards a skid steer just as soon as we can afford it. Thanks a bunch for the kind words and for watching!

[@joshlower1]

You like making things more complicated?

[@dannyboy7086]

great job explaining things. I do have one question. example only; a grade a log is $300 for 8 foot; a reg log is $200 for 8 foot; how much is a banana log for 8 foot

[@zachodom7486]

It basically just depends on the “sweep.” It’s how much the ends bow up from the center. And they have a chart that tells them how % to dock the footage for. Your grade will remain the same no matter crook or sweep. So if it’s a grade prime, prime plus, 1, 2, or 3…it’ll remain that grade. They’ll just dock footage off of the total footage for that log. A log such as that one would have around 100 bdft in it and time they’re done it’ll wind up around 85-90. Somewhere around 9% overall dock usually. And I’ve cut enough to know when to cull it and cut the worst part out and leave it in the woods. But a slight bow won’t hurt anything too bad. Or slight crook. Of course there are limits to anything. Good question my friend and thanks for asking! Hope I explained it for you.

[@jimmiemack1268]

there is no way you can scale that load its all on the rear axel

[@zachodom7486]

It scales just fine. I’ve axled the truck out several times and it’s usually pretty close to where I want it. The loader sits 8” forward of the rear axle and on these trucks that’s where most of the weight goes anyhow. This is a 32k pound rated truck with a 21k rear axle. Trust me, it’s fine. I’ve driven trucks most of my life and if it wasn’t fine or legal, I wouldn’t put it on the road. Thanks for watching and commenting

[@jimmiemack1268]

@@zachodom7486 thank you for replying back

[@zachodom7486]

Yessir you’re welcome

[@lorenzovasquez1201]

'Promo sm'

[@zachodom7486]

Thank you!