TEST: Dumping Totes Of Firewood With The Kubota BX

[@nebraskawoodstr]

Good Stuff Sam. Take care and start on next years inventory.

[@samsdoinstuff]

@nebraskawoodstr Thank you! Hoping to double it 🤠👍

[@elmermason9685]

Good morning Sam. Little cold here in Pa. I like the warmer weather better but I also like the change of seasons also. I gotta tell you, I really enjoy your channel. You are like a well oiled machine. A place for everything, and everything in it's place. Hope you have a great weekend my friend. Thanks for another video. Stay warm.

[@samsdoinstuff]

Good morning! Just 20 mins north got like 2 feet of snow! Guess we were lucky. Cold i can handle. It's the wind that gets ya! Thank you very much! 🤠👍

[@RangieNZ]

"With those big as..., big logs" LOL.

[@samsdoinstuff]

@RangieNZ Hahaha! Keeping it real 👊🤠👍

[@bobgrier3103]

For kindling, I use a chain saw to cut between the struts of an older pallet then split the face wood. Great kindling, already dry, repurposes an aging pallet no longer suitable for other use, and pallets are often free. I’ve split it with a hand axe and also ripped it using my table saw. Splits easily either way.

[@samsdoinstuff]

@@bobgrier3103 Great idea! Thank you 🤠 👍

[@johnpyle8027]

Dang! You got your money out of those tires! I have half a dozen friends with 3/4 and 1 ton trucks and they swear by Michelin LT tires. I've been thinking about your lifting limitations and since you don't have means to buy a bigger tractor just yet I remembered Niel Koch from Dig Drive DIY. He has all kinds of equipment to get about any job done, but I he had a problem getting things in the second story of his barn, so he built/fabricated a set of forks he puts on his backhoe and up everything goes now. I'm sure it was challenging operating at first, but it gets it done. Maybe you could build something like that for the mini excavator? Surely it will lift a full tote. When the time comes though you might want a mid 40 hp tractor with a cab of course. The thing that sucks is all the implements you have for the BX and then have to buy all that for a bigger tractor. I've even been thinking of ways to get something strictly for lifting those totes since the BX seems to do everything you need other than that. When I worked in the Masonry business we had an Alice Chalmer fork lift, basically a backhoe chassis that we didn't pay a lot for. Now I'm just rambling! lol

[@samsdoinstuff]

@johnpyle8027 Thank you! All good ideas. The key is prioritizing spending on what does the most at the time. A new tractor would do a lot, but I'm leaning towards the Kubota LX4020 and that's a big chunk of change. An all terrain powered pallet truck is around $10k and i could use it to deliver full totes of firewood pre-stacked. That just might be my next purchase. I'll have to sell a bunch of cords to pay for that 🤠👍

[@wildbill23c]

Lifting isn't the strong suit for the BX at all....and the pallet forks are heavy, and so is a grapple, severely limiting your lift capacity that is already very low....I have a BX2680, and about 450 pounds is all it'll lift in a perfect setting and we all know that the perfect conditions very rarely ever happen. Even with a lot of ballast it just don't lift much, its not really what it was for, they're made to pull ground engaging attachments like a plow, disc, tiller, that type of stuff. The loader is a last thought on most tractors really. I love my little BX2680, I just make a few extra trips with the loader is all. Not a big deal for me....and I don't do anything with firewood other than split and stack my own so I don't care about lifting those stupid totes, which is another thing, those aren't exactly light weight, combined with the fact they stick way out in front of the tractor so you have to lift all that off-set weight on top of whatever you load into the totes which for a BX isn't much LOL. Something I've thought about is if a person could take one of those IBC totes and cut it in half and make 2 that are 4 feet wide, and cut the tops down so they're only like 3 feet high, and then cut in half that way would give you only 2 feet of IBC tote sticking out in front of the tractor rather than 4 feet. Might be the ticket for these smaller tractors.

[@outdoorsinthe608]

Nice sale Sam! You definitely got your money out of them tires!!😂👍👍

[@samsdoinstuff]

Thanks Jeremiah! Yeah, my Dad would say "eh, the belts aren't showing yet... one more season." LOL 🤠👍

[@silentepsilon888]

on those plastic zippers I frequently use silicone based liquid lubricant to 'oil' the entire zipper and that keeps then functioning much better. I have green house tarps, bbq covers etc that are many years old and zippers still work like new.

[@samsdoinstuff]

@@silentepsilon888 Thank you for the tip! I'll try that 🤠👍

[@chriselliott2364]

Woo boy that looks cold out there!

[@samsdoinstuff]

@@chriselliott2364 Sure is. It's the wind that gets ya! 🤠👍

[@Jim-t3c9f]

Hi Sam, I live in Scotland UK one the first thing insurance companies look at if you have an accident in your car is the tyres - if you don't have correct tread depth your insurance is invalid no surprise there they are happy to take your cash but reluctant to pay out. That aside I enjoyed watching the video.

[@samsdoinstuff]

Thank you! That's very good to know. I'm really looking forward to having new tread. 🤠👍

[@MarkChristopherpens]

Morning from Nova Scotia Sam!! Maybe magnetic catches could work also

[@samsdoinstuff]

Good morning! Good idea... maybe a real tractor cab next year??? I don't know. That's a big purchase. The velcro is working for now 🤠👍

[@robertzapatka1082]

Well, you're right! Those are some big-ass logs. That barn is like my chicken coops. We cover the cage area with plastic sheeting, and the temperature becomes manageable.

[@samsdoinstuff]

Hahaha! Trying to keep it clean 😉 That tarp is working better than expected. Not bad for 100 bucks 🤠👍

[@richardschaffling9882]

Well done

[@samsdoinstuff]

@@richardschaffling9882 Thank you! 🤠👍

[@TravisDoesFirewood]

You'll get a lot of comments on how to load the wood 'better', just keep plugging what works for. Keep cuttin' Sam!

[@samsdoinstuff]

@TravisDoesFirewood Thank you! This system definitely works. I don't fix anything unless it's broken but I'll still listen to suggestions 🤠👍

[@robertrhodes9123]

Yep, get those big ass logs lined up & cut ! Next year you might get busier than a cat coverin shit on concrete!! Business is growing & that's great !!

[@samsdoinstuff]

Hahaha! Lmao! You're right, it's gonna be a busy year! I'm already planning out how to make this work! 🤠👍

[@ScrewdriverTUNING]

In the painting section at depot. They have stick on zippers .!! ? Cold here too. !!!

[@samsdoinstuff]

Thank you! I will definitely check that out. It's the wind that gets ya 🤠👍

[@ScrewdriverTUNING]

@ yea man we had that storm blow threw here as well. It was so windy some lady was hit by a falling tree down the street wile driving in her vehicle. Sending her family energy for the holidays. 🧬. On a positive note I found every air leak in my house. I went around the whole joint sealing up any air gaps, wind helped me locate them all. !!!

[@amandawalls8731]

Good job

[@samsdoinstuff]

Thank you Amanda! 🤠👍

[@wildbill23c]

Sam, why not take one of your ITB totes, and cut it in half? Since you really can only fill the things about 1/2 full, cut the tote in half...that would make 2 totes out of 1...then you only have about 2 feet of tote sticking out the front on the forks rather than 4 feet, it would help lessen the amount of tote you have to pickup, and might allow you to put more wood in the totes. Since you only have 1 stack of wood at the back of the tote, just cut the thing in half and make 2 totes out of it, and it'll give you more totes, plus the front will be wide open for easy dumping with the tractor, and you are lifting less tote and more wood. I just went out and started my tractor for the first time in about a month, didn't use it, just fired it up so hopefully it would charge the battery at least. Haven't had any need for it, been way too miserable to do anything anyhow LOL. Been down in the mid 20's for the past week and a half, and foggy. I did order a new lawn tractor for this coming mowing season so I don't have to deal with the mower deck install/removal on the tractor all the time LOL...the shop doorway is gonna get fixed but won't be until late spring probably, hose needs painted first to satisfy the stupid mortgage company, so I got a whole list of projects to tackle this spring, oh and spread gravel on the driveway at some point too, I think I'll just have a dump truck load dumped and I'll spread it as I go. Got the tractor may as well have excuses to use it HAHA!!

[@samsdoinstuff]

@wildbill23c Some others have suggested cutting them in half too. I want to keep them whole because someday I'll be able to lift them full. The weather has been pretty brutal but the barn is nice now. Supposed to get warmer this week 🤠👍

[@wildbill23c]

@@samsdoinstuff I'd say just try 1 for video sake and see what if any difference there is, maybe one tote that is damaged or something to cut up.

[@hillbillyfranks]

Good video, enjoy it. We'll see you on another one. My friend have a good day. Stay safe.

[@samsdoinstuff]

Thanks, you too! 🤠👍

[@gerard9128]

sam 2 things when unloading the wood into the trailer one after the load is in truck Take a Rake and Push the logs that are Up and try make it easier to keep from Maybe acceidently falling off side and as a safety i take a cheap tarp from Harbor freight to cover so you dont lose any wood . i seen people lose some stuff and maybe hit a car or other veh If that ever happened your insurance company doesnt cover you for insurance happen to me coat me 800$ just something you might want the tarp will cost less then 10$

[@samsdoinstuff]

Thank you! That is excellent advice. I didn't show it, but I have a built-in tarp cover that rolls out from the front. It has grommets along each side and I put bungee loops through them and secure the load that way. I'll show that on my next load 🤠👍

[@gerard9128]

I enjoy your videos a lot I kind of have a lot ideas as well safety is key. Also I always believe theirs always to skin the cat lol

[@johnlyons5194]

I imagine the next size up tractor would improve the lifting capsety and then you could fill up those totes creating some more space for wood

[@samsdoinstuff]

That's the plan! 5 year plan to be specific. I'll probably go with a Kubota LX4020 or similar 🤠👍

[@wildbill23c]

Next size up is the B-Series in the Kubota lineup, it don't really have much more lift capacity than what he already has....He would need to get an LX, or L series to really boost his lift capacity....and honestly I'd not waste money on a tractor, I'd get a tracked skid-steer, even a mini-skid steer on tracks from Vermeer will lift those totes when completely filled...Hey SAM if you be paying attention to the comments, get a tracked mini-skid steer from Vermeer to do you firewood tote moving and dumping ;). Keep your BX because it does everything else you need to do, and just get a mini-skid for your firewood stuff.

[@samsdoinstuff]

@wildbill23c The mini skid steer is a consideration. They are expensive, though. Almost the price of a new tractor and a new tractor would do so much more. It's a hard decision and I'll be thinking a lot about it before I pull the trigger.

[@wildbill23c]

@@samsdoinstuff Attachments you can get for a tractor you can get for a skid steer as well....although more expensive I bet....the other downside is the attachments for a mini-skid won't fit a tractor as the quick attach couplers are a different size.

[@TL-zh9qq]

You should put a Plexi-Glass plastic window on the front, it would be easier to see, almost like a real windshield.

[@samsdoinstuff]

@TL-zh9qq Thank you. I've thought about that. I would have to rebuild the front window frame. It certainly could be done and I actually have another piece of plexiglass. I think I'll live with it for this season and consider getting an actual tractor cab for next Fall 🤠👍

[@normhowes2975]

Swap the front tires side to side and you;ll get another 50-100 miles ~shaking head~ Not knowing how the front of your trailer raises when loading tractor (or excavator), thus unloading the rear tires of the truck, have you thought of wheel chocks for the front tires of the truck. It will also ease the pressure on the park pin inside of the transmission. I need to get a set for my truck because it 'almost' lifts the trucks rear tires when I load my trailer. I have also thought about camper stabilizer scissor jacks for the rear of trailer. We've seen too many run away trucks on KZbin to think it won't happen to us.

[@samsdoinstuff]

I know, I've been lucky so far... but I'm gonna look into some chocks! Thanks for the tip! 🤠👍

[@wildbill23c]

You need stabilizer jacks on the rear of the trailer so its not lifting the back end of the truck off the ground. Not even stabilizer jacks....get the regular fold up trailer tongue jacks and install on each back corner of the trailer.

[@normhowes2975]

@@wildbill23c I agree that jacks are the best idea and have 1 so far for mine. I suggested the chocks as a fast and easy way to prevent a run away. They also require zero welding.

[@JanneRanta]

When zippers start to act up first thing you should do is use pliers and press the top and bottom together more. That almost always fixes them.

[@samsdoinstuff]

Thank you for the tip! I'll try that 🤠👍

[@JanneRanta]

@@samsdoinstuff Just be carefull the center part where the pull tab attaches can be bridle. I press lightly on both sides around it.

[@mercurymangarage6186]

You definitely need new tires. Sell things to make money. Pay in cash. Dave Ramsey would be proud. Great job.

[@samsdoinstuff]

@mercurymangarage6186 Thank you! Tires are ordered. $1,500 is a big chunk of change but yes, I definitely can't wait another season 🤠👍

[@jasonmccoy3724]

Morning Sam

[@samsdoinstuff]

Good morning Jason! 🤠👍

[@darrintraywick8042]

Duck tape with magnets in them

[@samsdoinstuff]

@@darrintraywick8042 Thanks for the idea! 🤠👍

[@Steve2024-y6h]

I think the word you were reaching for is agonising.

[@samsdoinstuff]

@Steve2024-y6h It's spelled with a "z" but yes, that's the word 🤠👍

[@Steve2024-y6h]

@@samsdoinstuff I’m in England, we use an s 😊

[@samsdoinstuff]

@Steve2024-y6h I did not know that 🙏 learn something new every day! 🤠👍

[@domthomas1002]

Put a light coat of wd40 on it.

[@samsdoinstuff]

Thank you for the tip! I'll try that 🤠👍

[@ewanstewart8011]

Agony is listening to Americans murdering the English language you not being one Sam. The worst is “we drug it out of the hedge” which should be we dragged it out of the hedge, drugging is a whole different kettle of fish 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🏻

[@samsdoinstuff]

@ewanstewart8011 Haha! Thank you! Americans have been doing just that since the invention of "aluminum". 😉 There's no avoiding local colloquialisms, but if we can have some respect for the basic rules of grammar, maybe we'll get somewhere 🤠👍

[@ewanstewart8011]

@ we Brits are language snobs which is amazing because the inhabitants of city’s such as Aberdeen, Glasgow, Liverpool and Birmingham are unintelligible to even our ears 😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍🏻

[@samsdoinstuff]

@ewanstewart8011 My ancestors are Irish and English. I'm just a sophisticated drunkard 😂