Buy Your T-Shirts HERE!! OWB Merch, International Firewood Expo Tees, Employee of the Month Tees!!! sweetvintagetees.com/collections/ohio-wood-burner-ltd
your better off in a 12/14/16/18/20/24 foot enclosed box trailer. no gas, no insurance, no oil changes, ramp or cargo doors, no DOT inspections, etc. AND you can still fit a office in them. plus great resale value.
I think if your bundle business really took of, this could be a good vehicle to deliver pallet loads of bundles. Load 4 pallets of bundles with the tractor? Or perhaps look for a smaller dump truck like Brad from Firewood at the furnace picked up.
I can see some advantages to having a box truck over a trailer for your business like it will fit in and out of places easier than a truck and trailer will. The loading and unloading without a lift gate would be tuff though. Added insurance shouldn't be too bad as long as you bundle or fleet insurance with all of your vehicles (personal and business since you're a sole proprietor) especially if you include a life insurance or renters policy in the bundle. Good thinking about how to improve your customer service 😊
I don't know how it is in Ohio, but in PA as soon as you put a company name on your vehicle you can be treated as a Dot inspectable vehicle and will be treated as such at the discretion of the officer if you are carrying "freight".
Joe, there is an old saying, sometimes you have to spend a little money to make more money. Go slow, make a good business decision & I’m sure it will all work out for you. Have you ever thought about an enclosed trailer? No motor maintenance, brakes & tire maintenance would be minimal & if your careful wall damage should be minimal. Cheap to register & I think if you stay under 10k lb. rating no DOT inspections. They make some really nice heavy duty trailers, you can spec what you want if you bought new. Load it up to the legal weight & you would always be ready to fill customers needs. 👍👍Have a great day. Keep the videos coming.😊
Joe, to bad you didn’t live closer to Turner, Maine. Scott’s Recreation has a huge supply of enclosed trailers. Give it time & you’ll make the right decision. Again, love your videos & keep them coming.👍👍 Have a great day. Dave D. from Auburn, Maine.
@ohiowoodburner gotta do what ya want to do.. ive thoight about em before till i found the dot stuff here in mn.. than i backed away from one.. now if ya turn it into a camper than im all in..
How about an enclosed trailer with door that swing to the sides can load pallets of bundles with your tractor and pull it with your trucks. Tandems axles like your dump trailer
@@ohiowoodburner I understand about not wanting to deal with a trailer, but the best I can remember you gave both the "pros and cons" of the truck. Also you gave the "cons" of owning the truck, but I don't remember you talking about the "pros" (the purpose of owning a box truck) in your video. But wait, i do remember you talking about using the box as a mobile office. I still have several questions in the way I think before I can give you a good solid answer. I like the way you "think the process through".
Joe... I would not consider taking a pallet full of firewood on a pallet jack down a ramp... you only need it to get away from you one time to get yourself hurt or damage something pretty bad. Even working from the top of the ramp, your instinct will be to try to do everything possible to keep it either on the ramp or from running away from you. The resultant back injury ain't worth it. (ask me how I know) Unless your customers have a forklift, the best you can hope for is to just move the pallet to the back and hand unload it. In reality, you can do the same thing with your pickup by removing the tailgate and delivering the pallet that way. I think you would be further ahead to buy another pickup (redundancy in delivery vehicles) and a container to store your pre-palletized firewood (next day deliveries of full pallets). Someday you will need a big truck with a liftgate... (when you do, you will probably need a fulltime driver/ delivery person for it because you will be that busy) I just don't think you are there yet.
@@ohiowoodburner in that case, get a second pickup and a tall cap that will cover the full pallet… something tall with a full swinging double door and no tailgate… a double step bumper to make access easier. That avoids the large gas guzzler and the DOT inspections. Probably get all of that for less than one of those box trucks.
Find an ex penske truck with a lift gate if you want to go that route. They are generally in better condition. Keep growing and you might have to dot. Spend money to make money.
@@ohiowoodburner dot inspection yearly $100 plus’s dot dumber and paperwork couple hundred bucks. Insurance double or more registration is triple yearly if not more. Dealing with commercial motor carrier cops. Pain in the ass. Trailer would be better
Without a lift gate I say no. An enclosed double axle trailer I think would work better for you. With the lower deck that a trailer would give you, it would make loading and unloading safer. All around it would be cheaper, easier for maintenance, easier customizable, multi purpose, and higher re-sale should you decide to switch gears.
As mentioned as another option would be the enclosed trailer and get you an electric pallet Jack. With a fold down rear door/ramp the electric pallet Jack could easily load and unload whole pallets as well as moving them around at your delivery.
Check out Penske before you buy. I was a mechanic for them and before they sell off their used trucks, they bring them in and spare no money going through them. Brakes, tires. seats, bumpers... whatever they need, they get. Don't quote me but I believe they will give you a warranty as well. I think I'd invest in an enclosed trailer before I got into a truck like that as far as money spent. More bang for the buck and far less maintenance imo. No medical card required. Less money for registration, no added insurance costs... ( at least in my state). Good luck whatever you decide. You can still put your logo on that too! Lol. I enjoy your videos.
You may want to consider used FedEx Freightliner MT55 Step Vans for a wider comparison shopping experience. If you are forced by law to get commercial plates, a million mile vehicle like the Freightliner small and medium chassis comes into play.
@@ohiowoodburner Lol! I actually thought you were doing this wood splitting and bundling as a hobby to stay active and vital. That's a shame you have to spend this much and work so hard for little reward. You definitely will not retire on the proceeds of this micro-business.
A guy followed me a few blocks in to a grocery store I was thinking something must’ve happened but he wanted to buy my trailer he said it’s perfect size for what he wants no sir not for sale the he made me a offer for it and it was a couple hundred bucks more than I paid for it 25 years ago
I am not entirely sure why you need this and whether makes sense for you right now. You are 1 person, can only drive 1 truck and have 2 already, 2 dump trailers. Cover your bundle palettes with stretch wrap, rain won't be a problem and you can put them on your trailers.
Joe, I have read a number of your comments where you say you don't like trailers and you have gotten away from using them when you got your dumps. Not sure what you mean exactly...are you not using your dump trailers for deliveries...just using them in the woodyard?
Pretty much. I haul wood back from my producers to my wood yard and there are two restaurants that use them for deliveries. These are easy bc of the wide loading docks. For residential delivery etc they are a NO GO. too much, too tight, too difficult
Consider the expenses of repair and maintenance. Nobody uses a rental gently. Facebook marketplace often has big cargo trailers for $1000. I like the idea of dropping pallets.
Nice video of the falls, thanks for sharing. Elaine from Canada here, sounds like you have a wish-list dilemma? I’m sure after you’ve given it lots of thought i.e. pros/cons, pace of life, and the next new direction of OWB, you’ll come up with a decision you can live with and afford. In the meantime, let those thoughts and dreams flow! You’re doing well Joe, the Axis, 405, Go Fast, carport and SuperSplit have contributed to your successes and you’re tracking to do better each year. Any decision you make can be evaluated in time, then changed up if needed. Great video, wishing you peace and joy Joe, as you build your business. Cheers.
I see where your going with this... if your thinking of backing up to a dock, U-Hall is too low.. but if your planning on hand bombing the load this is perfect.. the ramp is a great feature.. also a great place to store bundles as your making them. Great idea Joe.. I'd say go for it!!
You calling me a liar? In the early 80's Ford introduced the F-150. For the first few years the F-100 was still made. F-150 offered a v-6, but the F-100's only six was the old 300 straight six. I bought an F-100 just so I could get that bullet proof engine. Damn thing blew up at 38,000 miles. Only engine failure I've ever had.
Opinions are like ... elbows. Everyone has one :). I don't think the box truck is the right vehicle, in my ever so humble non-expert non-firewood delivering opinion. I don't know what the tonnage of the average bundled delivery is, but it seems something like a Sprinter van would be more suited. Fully enclosed, double doors, much lower to the ground. The problem I see with those is they're probably going to cost more than a used U-Haul. And possibly not have the weight rating you need. I do think it would look more professional than a box truck.
Ok folks......... a trailer won't work. Joe has to back into tight places. A van truck would work out nicely. Put a bulk head in the middle (removable of course) that would hold a face cord or half cord and he could make make 2-3 deliveries in 1 day. plus he could put bag wood in the front ledge or kindling. The possibles would be endless, with some creative ability ( which Joe has plenty of)
Before you go down this path, rent an enclosed truck with a lift gate and see if it will perform how you wish. There are lots of things to consider like maneuverability in your existing client locations that you may want to test run first. It might cost you $1000 to rent an enclosed truck with a lift-gate and pallet jack, but it might save you $10,000 in the lessons you learn.
Get inside the box and close the overhead door. Now in the dark you can easily see if daylight is coming through the sides or roof or other damaged areas.
It sounded like you are still trying to define the market you want to serve. A smaller truck preloaded with labeled and unlabeled bundles where all you have to do is jump in and go would be nice. What's the market for palletized bundles, what's the delivery location e.g. storage yard or warehouse? You may need multiple solutions depending on a problem you haven't fully defined.
Boy.. there sure are a lot of folks that would like to see you get a trailer. I will say its kinda nice to have a lift gate you can drop halfway and use it for a step. Used to work for a vending company and his box had fenders in the floor so maybe that's why the gate was able to be used as a step. Surprised you have to run DOT numbers. Pretty sure you can find loop holes for that. I know several people here in ohio that dont need them.
Rolling a loaded pallet down a ramp might work for pallets that are loaded 2 feet high. Maybe 3 feet. Above that it will become too unstable. It is balancing on only three points that are not to far from each other. And the point where is only one wheel is the operators side. If you only load 3 feet high you loose so much space that I think the box is not used efficient. All logistic companies that are transporting higher loaded pallets use air operated ramps that move up and down and keep the pallets upright and only for discharging the pallet at the very end they tilt very little. I thought about this problem so often and could not find a mir clever solution than discharging the load of a trailer or truck by hand. Well there are cranes available to be mounted on trailers but those are not designed for pallets discharging is a serious problem.
For getting around in town i get a truck over a trailer........in mn you have to have a cemercial license as well. You could always rent one and see if it works......jmo.
Hey Joe, more great content! I'm a little late to the comments so this may never be seen, but for what it's worth: I did my deliveries (on pallets) for the first few years with a crane-equipped open trailer behind a small van, with a pallet truck to move the product around on site. I did all the loading with my articulated farm loader. This worked pretty well most of the time, but there were always places where it was awkward/difficult/dangerous getting the trailer in, particularly when reversing in off the public road. Towards the end of last summer, I bought a (well used!) small flatbed truck with a lift gate (usually called a tail-lift over here in Ireland), and it has transformed my deliveries! I can now easily get into and around the places that were previously problematic, and the whole outfit is so much easier to manoeuvre in traffic and parking places. The lift gate is the game changer. I'd strongly suggest that you make it an essential component of your purchasing decision. No ramp that can be carried on the truck will be in any way safe to use with a loaded pallet truck, in my opinion. Here in Ireland (and the EU generally), there's a category of Small Commercial vehicles (under 3500kg MAM - Maximum Authorised Mass) that can be driven on an ordinary car driver's license. My little truck fits this category. It has to be tested for roadworthiness every year but that goes for almost every vehicle here anyway, so it's no extra burden. Is there any such 'light commercial' category in the Ohio system that you might be able to avail of for your purposes?
I would check if your customer has a loading dock. If they do then the U-Haul will not be the right height. If they do you could unload with a pallet jack right into their dock.
What I am seeing now is a rolling billboard so to speak all I can see is an actual four by eight size 1/3 down either side of the box with the actual split size of the firewood truth of the matter is many who purchase firewood tend to know little about firewood if anything at all it would answer the neverending question of how much firewood is that
Wanted to mention to you Lucas products if you are familiar with them than you already know if not the one in particular is the transmission fix they call it I have personally brought three automatic tranny's back to life one seemed to be completely shot the other two were and had been slipping had I not experienced it would not have believed it however I chose to go above and beyond the instructions and let these vehicles idle for over twelve hours if that made a difference at all well the world will not ever know
Joe, you need to make the decision, but you are kind of asking what we think, so. If it were me, I'd try an enclosed trailer, the problem is the F150 would be pushing the envelope with it's towing ability. of course you could buy a U haul and leave the name on it, I doubt if the authorities would bother someone driving a small U haul, lol... (I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV) For an office/break room, why not get a small camper trailer, something like a 14' tandem axle. Older ones go cheap and if the roof hasn't leaked too much, they are cheap office/break space. We had one on our logging site here in Colorado. It was a great place to warm up and eat lunch on cold winter days. I know of several people around here who have bought them for under a $grand to use as mobile chicken houses! Always enjoy your videos!
I thought about this 5 years ago for in town and city residential deliveries. Tighter backing up than a trailer. Ended up going with a 14’ enclosed trailer, one less vehicle to maintain and buy , insurance very cheap with trailer. There is a few tight spots which had a small van , for our operation we don’t do enough volume to justify a van purchase. Good luck with whatever route you go.
Great videos! Very cool! LOVE IT! FUN TO WATCH! Keep the vids coming! I don't know nothing about box trucks, but after listening to you, for short trips around Ytown, I'd just go with the small one. Less hassle, fewer fees, less gas. Hire an employee to make the deliveries, maybe a hot babe! She could double as secretary/hr. Gotta think ahead there buddy! 🚚
Delivering out of a box truck without a lift gate doesn't make much sense to me. If you have to transfer from a pallet to a hand truck there is simply no advantage other than a roof over your head. Those ramps take up too much space in your customer's parking lot and forget parking on the street. The constant up and down on the tail end is another consideration. Also those under body ramps can be troublesome in winter weather if salt and slush get in the rails. You can already handle a couple of pallets in your current dump trailer using an inexpensive pallet jack to move the second pallet to the tail.
Great scenery at the beginning with that waterfall, splendid! The scenery of the rest of the video was a bit less with ugly trucks haha. Honestly, if an extremely strong V10 engine is 'killed' after a merely 140K miles, I would run away as hard as I can. An engine doesn't give up like that -> low coolant, low oil, head gasket(s) shot, not warming up the engine and tranny, now yeah, that doesn't help the longevity...
I had the 6.8L V-10 and the exhaust manifold bolts broke on me. Very thirsty. 9 mpg. Also the Ford front end is Squirrley because the steering gear box and steering shaft universal joint gets sloppy. So if you get into one of these and feel like it’s loose even after you have replaced the ball joints and tie rods check there next.
Just moved some furniture with an E350 U -Haul box truck and found the ramp to be VERY narrow. I don't think a standard pallet jack would have fit on the ramp and even controlling a chest of drawers going up or down the ramp was a scary solo act. Take your tape measure and a pallet jack on your next truck shopping trip....
I’ve kinda thought about a similar option. I’m now far along in the process as you. I generally split my wood into those large vented bags that sit on skids. I do deliver 1/3 bags on pallets to some restaurants that have pallet stackers. They love the convenience so it does get me thinking like a box truck with maybe a an Electric self loading pallet jack might be great for some of my restaurant deliveries. I rather spend the money on a jack than using the ramp! Thanks for taking us along the ride, but I bet some of your restaurants that don’t pay you to stack would pay more for something that is delivered in a pallet. I’ll stay tuned!
You are already used to pulling a trailer, consider a cargo trailer. There would be much less expense with a trailer and you could still put your name real big on the sides and back of the trailer. Trailers are much cheaper to maintain in the long run.
Consider what you are hauling ... You talk about having a pallet jack on board.. this takes up space.. no lift gate will be an issue.. maybe not a first... but it will be an issue.. Why not a small stake truck with lift gate .. cover the load with tied down tarps.. easier to load and unload.. saving money.. you might even be able to find one with a tilt bed..
dont buy a whole truck, buy a enclosed trailer, you still can use your half ton, and you can detach, it would benifit you more in my opinion hearing what your looking for.
Well Joe, i was gonna say a trailer, but i see your reply below. Depends on the difference in the money. If i could i would go for one thats running versus not.
The v10 are powerful house. Very powerful u haul and tow about everything including the gas station. Uhauls are very good for keep up with vehicles and trailers. U can hail your bocat tractor with it. To shop or around house you put a lot bundles in room area. And cords of wood
My question is can you put it to enough use to pay for the expense? They are pretty exclusive on what you can do with them in a firewood business. Apparently, you have already done a lot of research about the expenses involved in purchasing, repairing, maintaining, licensing, et., so the real question is will it's use justify those expenses. As others have mentioned, maybe an enclosed trailer might be more "profitable". You'll figure it out, I'm sure. I have learned enough about your business operations to trust decisions.
Seems like a good idea to me. Especially in bad weather. As for the ramp goes i don't see an issue with that as you could park anywhere and be out of the way.
If you want to go van I'd go with one of those Mitsubishi flat nose cab over styles with the little diesel engine. Personally I'd get a nice f250 and a flatbed with a pallet lift that pulls itself up to travel on back end. Then you got a nice truck for everyday use and a way to pick up a small load of logs or nice slab cuts from a mill
They have V-10s? They are worse than horrible on gas! I had a F350 with the V-10. If I let it idle for 10 minutes it would burn an 1/8 th of the tank !I did not like that motor!! How much weight can it carry?
After months of hemming and hawing, I have finally ordered my Employee of the Month T-Shirt. Looking forward to the premium parking spot and some great(?) Ohio pizza!
You may be on to something here can only imagine between nine and or twelve neatly stacked rows rolling down the road to the delivery must say what I really see here with the box truck is a potential future kiln
I bought a GMC 5500 cab and chassis truck from Uhaul. Built a 23' flat bed from Larch lumber use it as a farm truck. It's been really good so far. Uhaul will take offers, bought mine for a good deal less than their asking price.
Joe, are you planning on delivering loads larger than will fit into your pickup? If keeping your deliveries dry is the issue, a tall cap on the back would handle that without added vehicle issues (Tax, registration, maintenance, failure,etc.) As far as an office goes, check the government surplus auction websites. They’re always auctioning 8x10 - 8x20 sized office modules. I’ve seen some very nice, unused units on auction sites. Another thought along those lines, you seemed very happy with the people who you bought your 8x40 from. They might have something along those lines in the 8x20 or 8x10 range. And even if they don’t, ask them if they would be interested in pickup and delivery if you bought one at auction or know someone who would be interested. Food for thought. Your idea is like ones that I have at times. I’ll get really excited about it, but after a while, the adrenaline wears off and I see all the issues clearly. On the other hand, I don’t have all the information; an understanding of the big picture or a deep understanding of your future plans. Only voicing my thoughts and concerns, hope this is usable and helpful. Was watching Daniel w/EMF channel, talk about them showing up at your event, if I am not confused. Very cool. Edit: Joe, here’s a link to the offices available: www.govplanet.eu/jsp/s/search.ips
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Buy Your T-Shirts HERE!! OWB Merch, International Firewood Expo Tees, Employee of the Month Tees!!!
sweetvintagetees.com/collections/ohio-wood-burner-ltd
your better off in a 12/14/16/18/20/24 foot enclosed box trailer. no gas, no insurance, no oil changes, ramp or cargo doors, no DOT inspections, etc. AND you can still fit a office in them. plus great resale value.
THanks. I don't want to deal with a trailer however
@@ohiowoodburner but you handle two fine dump trailers so well. especially unloading methods you taught us viewers.
I think if your bundle business really took of, this could be a good vehicle to deliver pallet loads of bundles. Load 4 pallets of bundles with the tractor? Or perhaps look for a smaller dump truck like Brad from Firewood at the furnace picked up.
I can see some advantages to having a box truck over a trailer for your business like it will fit in and out of places easier than a truck and trailer will. The loading and unloading without a lift gate would be tuff though. Added insurance shouldn't be too bad as long as you bundle or fleet insurance with all of your vehicles (personal and business since you're a sole proprietor) especially if you include a life insurance or renters policy in the bundle. Good thinking about how to improve your customer service 😊
I don't know how it is in Ohio, but in PA as soon as you put a company name on your vehicle you can be treated as a Dot inspectable vehicle and will be treated as such at the discretion of the officer if you are carrying "freight".
Thanks Lyle!
Joe, there is an old saying, sometimes you have to spend a little money to make more money. Go slow, make a good business decision & I’m sure it will all work out for you. Have you ever thought about an enclosed trailer? No motor maintenance, brakes & tire maintenance would be minimal & if your careful wall damage should be minimal. Cheap to register & I think if you stay under 10k lb. rating no DOT inspections. They make some really nice heavy duty trailers, you can spec what you want if you bought new. Load it up to the legal weight & you would always be ready to fill customers needs. 👍👍Have a great day. Keep the videos coming.😊
Joe, to bad you didn’t live closer to Turner, Maine. Scott’s Recreation has a huge supply of enclosed trailers. Give it time & you’ll make the right decision. Again, love your videos & keep them coming.👍👍 Have a great day. Dave D. from Auburn, Maine.
Thanks. I don't want the hassle of a trailer
Prolly cost ya 2 grand or more just to keep it on the road.. better off with a trailer for the cost of what the dot bullshit will cost ya...
Don't want to fool with a trailer. Thanks Jason
@ohiowoodburner gotta do what ya want to do.. ive thoight about em before till i found the dot stuff here in mn.. than i backed away from one.. now if ya turn it into a camper than im all in..
How about an enclosed trailer with door that swing to the sides can load pallets of bundles with your tractor and pull it with your trucks. Tandems axles like your dump trailer
Trailers are too much of a pain for me.
I saw one of the comment that talked about a "enclosed trailer". That would have been my suggestion.
THanks. Don't want to deal with a trailer
@@ohiowoodburner I understand about not wanting to deal with a trailer, but the best I can remember you gave both the "pros and cons" of the truck. Also you gave the "cons" of owning the truck, but I don't remember you talking about the "pros" (the purpose of owning a box truck) in your video. But wait, i do remember you talking about using the box as a mobile office. I still have several questions in the way I think before I can give you a good solid answer. I like the way you "think the process through".
Joe... I would not consider taking a pallet full of firewood on a pallet jack down a ramp... you only need it to get away from you one time to get yourself hurt or damage something pretty bad. Even working from the top of the ramp, your instinct will be to try to do everything possible to keep it either on the ramp or from running away from you. The resultant back injury ain't worth it. (ask me how I know) Unless your customers have a forklift, the best you can hope for is to just move the pallet to the back and hand unload it. In reality, you can do the same thing with your pickup by removing the tailgate and delivering the pallet that way. I think you would be further ahead to buy another pickup (redundancy in delivery vehicles) and a container to store your pre-palletized firewood (next day deliveries of full pallets). Someday you will need a big truck with a liftgate... (when you do, you will probably need a fulltime driver/ delivery person for it because you will be that busy) I just don't think you are there yet.
I wouldn't remove the pallet. Only move it to the back of the box so I could unload it by hand
@@ohiowoodburner in that case, get a second pickup and a tall cap that will cover the full pallet… something tall with a full swinging double door and no tailgate… a double step bumper to make access easier. That avoids the large gas guzzler and the DOT inspections. Probably get all of that for less than one of those box trucks.
Find an ex penske truck with a lift gate if you want to go that route. They are generally in better condition. Keep growing and you might have to dot. Spend money to make money.
that is on my list of things to do. Curious how much more $$ that will add
@@ohiowoodburner whatever guarantees success and customer satisfaction.
@@ohiowoodburner dot inspection yearly $100 plus’s dot dumber and paperwork couple hundred bucks. Insurance double or more registration is triple yearly if not more. Dealing with commercial motor carrier cops. Pain in the ass. Trailer would be better
Without a lift gate I say no. An enclosed double axle trailer I think would work better for you. With the lower deck that a trailer would give you, it would make loading and unloading safer. All around it would be cheaper, easier for maintenance, easier customizable, multi purpose, and higher re-sale should you decide to switch gears.
Thanks buddy
As mentioned as another option would be the enclosed trailer and get you an electric pallet Jack. With a fold down rear door/ramp the electric pallet Jack could easily load and unload whole pallets as well as moving them around at your delivery.
Thanks buddy. I don't want to deal with a trailer however
Check out Penske before you buy. I was a mechanic for them and before they sell off their used trucks, they bring them in and spare no money going through them. Brakes, tires. seats, bumpers... whatever they need, they get. Don't quote me but I believe they will give you a warranty as well.
I think I'd invest in an enclosed trailer before I got into a truck like that as far as money spent. More bang for the buck and far less maintenance imo. No medical card required. Less money for registration, no added insurance costs... ( at least in my state). Good luck whatever you decide. You can still put your logo on that too! Lol. I enjoy your videos.
thanks for the nice comment JBG. where are you from?
@@ohiowoodburner Boston
Check out Penske and Ryder. They always have a Lotta box trucks for sale all over the country.
I'm on it Tony. Thanks buddy
You may want to consider used FedEx Freightliner MT55 Step Vans for a wider comparison shopping experience. If you are forced by law to get commercial plates, a million mile vehicle like the Freightliner small and medium chassis comes into play.
Good to know but i hope to be retired by then LOL
@@ohiowoodburner Lol! I actually thought you were doing this wood splitting and bundling as a hobby to stay active and vital.
That's a shame you have to spend this much and work so hard for little reward. You definitely will not retire on the proceeds of this micro-business.
A guy followed me a few blocks in to a grocery store I was thinking something must’ve happened but he wanted to buy my trailer he said it’s perfect size for what he wants no sir not for sale the he made me a offer for it and it was a couple hundred bucks more than I paid for it 25 years ago
holy cow. You got your money's worth out of that trailer for sure Randy
I am not entirely sure why you need this and whether makes sense for you right now.
You are 1 person, can only drive 1 truck and have 2 already, 2 dump trailers. Cover your bundle palettes with stretch wrap, rain won't be a problem and you can put them on your trailers.
I am trying to get away from trailers. I like your thoughts however. Thanks
Joe, I have read a number of your comments where you say you don't like trailers and you have gotten away from using them when you got your dumps. Not sure what you mean exactly...are you not using your dump trailers for deliveries...just using them in the woodyard?
Pretty much. I haul wood back from my producers to my wood yard and there are two restaurants that use them for deliveries. These are easy bc of the wide loading docks. For residential delivery etc they are a NO GO. too much, too tight, too difficult
Hi Joe. Maybe buying an enclosed trailer would be a better option.
I don't like trailers. I got away from using them when I first started with my dumps. Too much to worry about
Consider the expenses of repair and maintenance. Nobody uses a rental gently. Facebook marketplace often has big cargo trailers for $1000. I like the idea of dropping pallets.
Thanks Jim . I don't want to deal with a trailer
Rent one for a while and see if it’s what you want.
Good idea
@@ohiowoodburner
I also think you might want/need a lift gate. A ramp won’t let you control the speed at which a pallet of wood goes down.
Nice video of the falls, thanks for sharing. Elaine from Canada here, sounds like you have a wish-list dilemma? I’m sure after you’ve given it lots of thought i.e. pros/cons, pace of life, and the next new direction of OWB, you’ll come up with a decision you can live with and afford. In the meantime, let those thoughts and dreams flow! You’re doing well Joe, the Axis, 405, Go Fast, carport and SuperSplit have contributed to your successes and you’re tracking to do better each year. Any decision you make can be evaluated in time, then changed up if needed. Great video, wishing you peace and joy Joe, as you build your business. Cheers.
Thanks Elaine. I am still unsure but I need to keep looking into it. I don't like the DOT thing but I like the idea of a box truck. Time will tell!
I see where your going with this... if your thinking of backing up to a dock, U-Hall is too low.. but if your planning on hand bombing the load this is perfect.. the ramp is a great feature.. also a great place to store bundles as your making them. Great idea Joe.. I'd say go for it!!
hi there buy 3 of them one for a office (dog house )one to store and deliver bundle wood , one for back up , good show best to all john
lol I like the way you think John!
The final decision is yours!! Hopefully you'll find which way to go!! Stay Hydrated and Have a Safe Day
Thanks Dave!
You calling me a liar? In the early 80's Ford introduced the F-150. For the first few years the F-100 was still made. F-150 offered a v-6, but the F-100's only six was the old 300 straight six. I bought an F-100 just so I could get that bullet proof engine. Damn thing blew up at 38,000 miles. Only engine failure I've ever had.
Buy a tarp, those box trucks with a V10 in it will be a money pit! No lift gate is a big drawback….
Good feedback. Thanks Roger
Opinions are like ... elbows. Everyone has one :). I don't think the box truck is the right vehicle, in my ever so humble non-expert non-firewood delivering opinion. I don't know what the tonnage of the average bundled delivery is, but it seems something like a Sprinter van would be more suited. Fully enclosed, double doors, much lower to the ground. The problem I see with those is they're probably going to cost more than a used U-Haul. And possibly not have the weight rating you need. I do think it would look more professional than a box truck.
Mini 5 ton tipper, where you can also lay a baffle divider for mixed loads,,,
Thanks Adam
Don't Do it! LIFTGATE all the way
I am feeling the same way but they add a lot of $$
Talk to Jessie Joe he’s your man
haha already did Bob!
Ok folks......... a trailer won't work. Joe has to back into tight places. A van truck would work out nicely. Put a bulk head in the middle (removable of course) that would hold a face cord or half cord and he could make make 2-3 deliveries in 1 day. plus he could put bag wood in the front ledge or kindling. The possibles would be endless, with some creative ability ( which Joe has plenty of)
Thanks for having my back John!
Before you go down this path, rent an enclosed truck with a lift gate and see if it will perform how you wish. There are lots of things to consider like maneuverability in your existing client locations that you may want to test run first. It might cost you $1000 to rent an enclosed truck with a lift-gate and pallet jack, but it might save you $10,000 in the lessons you learn.
Get inside the box and close the overhead door. Now in the dark you can easily see if daylight is coming through the sides or roof or other damaged areas.
If I ever come up missing you know where you can find me!
I simply avoid the DOT stuff. Even though I already have a CDL for my day job.
Good to know buddy
It sounded like you are still trying to define the market you want to serve. A smaller truck preloaded with labeled and unlabeled bundles where all you have to do is jump in and go would be nice. What's the market for palletized bundles, what's the delivery location e.g. storage yard or warehouse? You may need multiple solutions depending on a problem you haven't fully defined.
Boy.. there sure are a lot of folks that would like to see you get a trailer. I will say its kinda nice to have a lift gate you can drop halfway and use it for a step. Used to work for a vending company and his box had fenders in the floor so maybe that's why the gate was able to be used as a step.
Surprised you have to run DOT numbers. Pretty sure you can find loop holes for that. I know several people here in ohio that dont need them.
mobile billboard ,, use the sides as advertisement for your company , thats what i did when i was in business , worked well . good luck .
Thanks Woody!
Rolling a loaded pallet down a ramp might work for pallets that are loaded 2 feet high. Maybe 3 feet. Above that it will become too unstable. It is balancing on only three points that are not to far from each other. And the point where is only one wheel is the operators side. If you only load 3 feet high you loose so much space that I think the box is not used efficient.
All logistic companies that are transporting higher loaded pallets use air operated ramps that move up and down and keep the pallets upright and only for discharging the pallet at the very end they tilt very little. I thought about this problem so often and could not find a mir clever solution than discharging the load of a trailer or truck by hand. Well there are cranes available to be mounted on trailers but those are not designed for pallets discharging is a serious problem.
For getting around in town i get a truck over a trailer........in mn you have to have a cemercial license as well. You could always rent one and see if it works......jmo.
Hey Joe, more great content!
I'm a little late to the comments so this may never be seen, but for what it's worth:
I did my deliveries (on pallets) for the first few years with a crane-equipped open trailer behind a small van, with a pallet truck to move the product around on site. I did all the loading with my articulated farm loader.
This worked pretty well most of the time, but there were always places where it was awkward/difficult/dangerous getting the trailer in, particularly when reversing in off the public road.
Towards the end of last summer, I bought a (well used!) small flatbed truck with a lift gate (usually called a tail-lift over here in Ireland), and it has transformed my deliveries!
I can now easily get into and around the places that were previously problematic, and the whole outfit is so much easier to manoeuvre in traffic and parking places.
The lift gate is the game changer. I'd strongly suggest that you make it an essential component of your purchasing decision.
No ramp that can be carried on the truck will be in any way safe to use with a loaded pallet truck, in my opinion.
Here in Ireland (and the EU generally), there's a category of Small Commercial vehicles (under 3500kg MAM - Maximum Authorised Mass) that can be driven on an ordinary car driver's license.
My little truck fits this category.
It has to be tested for roadworthiness every year but that goes for almost every vehicle here anyway, so it's no extra burden.
Is there any such 'light commercial' category in the Ohio system that you might be able to avail of for your purposes?
" the idea of a box truck is very appealing to me..."
This seems to be a case of an answer looking for a problem to solve.
Interesting way of looking at it
I would check if your customer has a loading dock. If they do then the U-Haul will not be the right height. If they do you could unload with a pallet jack right into their dock.
What I am seeing now is a rolling billboard so to speak all I can see is an actual four by eight size 1/3 down either side of the box with the actual split size of the firewood truth of the matter is many who purchase firewood tend to know little about firewood if anything at all it would answer the neverending question of how much firewood is that
Wanted to mention to you Lucas products if you are familiar with them than you already know if not the one in particular is the transmission fix they call it I have personally brought three automatic tranny's back to life one seemed to be completely shot the other two were and had been slipping had I not experienced it would not have believed it however I chose to go above and beyond the instructions and let these vehicles idle for over twelve hours if that made a difference at all well the world will not ever know
G'day Joe, thanks for showing that town where did you drop the wood 17 Grille ?
My dump trailer the sides fold down. And put pallets or totes on it is easy. That might be cheaper than another truck.
Doesn't pencil out but makes for good video!
Joe, you need to make the decision, but you are kind of asking what we think, so. If it were me, I'd try an enclosed trailer, the problem is the F150 would be pushing the envelope with it's towing ability. of course you could buy a U haul and leave the name on it, I doubt if the authorities would bother someone driving a small U haul, lol... (I'm not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV) For an office/break room, why not get a small camper trailer, something like a 14' tandem axle. Older ones go cheap and if the roof hasn't leaked too much, they are cheap office/break space. We had one on our logging site here in Colorado. It was a great place to warm up and eat lunch on cold winter days. I know of several people around here who have bought them for under a $grand to use as mobile chicken houses! Always enjoy your videos!
That would make a nice office for sure. Thanks John
Love the tourist vids! Good luck with finding a vehicle.
Are you able to carry enough wood ? What is the cappacity of the truck?
I thought about this 5 years ago for in town and city residential deliveries. Tighter backing up than a trailer. Ended up going with a 14’ enclosed trailer, one less vehicle to maintain and buy , insurance very cheap with trailer. There is a few tight spots which had a small van , for our operation we don’t do enough volume to justify a van purchase. Good luck with whatever route you go.
Thanks Gage
Another venue is Penske Used trucks they are very well maintained
Great videos! Very cool! LOVE IT! FUN TO WATCH! Keep the vids coming! I don't know nothing about box trucks, but after listening to you, for short trips around Ytown, I'd just go with the small one. Less hassle, fewer fees, less gas. Hire an employee to make the deliveries, maybe a hot babe! She could double as secretary/hr. Gotta think ahead there buddy! 🚚
I would but my wife isn't interested in driving the truck!
Joe…old truck would not be my move. You’re far better off with an enclosed trailer, like landscaping companies often use. 👍
Thanks RG. I don't want to deal with a trailer however
Delivering out of a box truck without a lift gate doesn't make much sense to me. If you have to transfer from a pallet to a hand truck there is simply no advantage other than a roof over your head. Those ramps take up too much space in your customer's parking lot and forget parking on the street. The constant up and down on the tail end is another consideration. Also those under body ramps can be troublesome in winter weather if salt and slush get in the rails. You can already handle a couple of pallets in your current dump trailer using an inexpensive pallet jack to move the second pallet to the tail.
That was my point about the pallet jack that it would stay in the truck. I would move the pallets to the bumper etc
Great scenery at the beginning with that waterfall, splendid! The scenery of the rest of the video was a bit less with ugly trucks haha.
Honestly, if an extremely strong V10 engine is 'killed' after a merely 140K miles, I would run away as hard as I can.
An engine doesn't give up like that -> low coolant, low oil, head gasket(s) shot, not warming up the engine and tranny, now yeah, that doesn't help the longevity...
I agree. Ithink there isn't a consensus that the motor is junk. The dipstick looked good to me. Not sure yet buddy
No cdl needed for under 26001lbs gvw
correct but over 10k you need DOT
dot number which is easy peasy its just a vehicle inspection.. CDL for over 26000@@ohiowoodburner
I would box trailer. You already have 2 trucks to move it
I don't want to mess iwth trailers for deliveries.
I had the 6.8L V-10 and the exhaust manifold bolts broke on me. Very thirsty. 9 mpg. Also the Ford front end is Squirrley because the steering gear box and steering shaft universal joint gets sloppy. So if you get into one of these and feel like it’s loose even after you have replaced the ball joints and tie rods check there next.
will do. Thanks Brian
Junk...
Not quite
You ever heard the term run it like you rented it from uhaul
Just moved some furniture with an E350 U -Haul box truck and found the ramp to be VERY narrow. I don't think a standard pallet jack would have fit on the ramp and even controlling a chest of drawers going up or down the ramp was a scary solo act. Take your tape measure and a pallet jack on your next truck shopping trip....
I wouldn't use the ramp except for a dolly.
Have you considered a heavy duty cargo van the down side is of course the head height
I like a box truck. Could be a nice office for me too
@@ohiowoodburner certainly have much more room and options with a box truck
Expect to get 8 t0 10 mpg on this engine.
I had heard they are very thirsty
Just a thought, box trailer?
Don't want to mess with a trailer
A box trailer sounds good to. Or check out some other vehicle rental yards like Hertz.
That is on my list Jon. Thanks!
Go for it, Joe!
Thanks JB but I'm just not sure yet
If you go UHaul, get their service record for the truck you're interested in purchasing. FYI
It was provided on the sales sheet. Very thorough
I’ve kinda thought about a similar option. I’m now far along in the process as you. I generally split my wood into those large vented bags that sit on skids. I do deliver 1/3 bags on pallets to some restaurants that have pallet stackers. They love the convenience so it does get me thinking like a box truck with maybe a an Electric self loading pallet jack might be great for some of my restaurant deliveries. I rather spend the money on a jack than using the ramp! Thanks for taking us along the ride, but I bet some of your restaurants that don’t pay you to stack would pay more for something that is delivered in a pallet. I’ll stay tuned!
stacking is all negotiated into the deal.
You are already used to pulling a trailer, consider a cargo trailer. There would be much less expense with a trailer and you could still put your name real big on the sides and back of the trailer. Trailers are much cheaper to maintain in the long run.
I don't like trailers. I got away from using them when I first started with my dumps. Too much to worry about
Consider what you are hauling ... You talk about having a pallet jack on board.. this takes up space.. no lift gate will be an issue.. maybe not a first... but it will be an issue.. Why not a small stake truck with lift gate .. cover the load with tied down tarps.. easier to load and unload.. saving money.. you might even be able to find one with a tilt bed..
Most stake trucks are a lot heavier than this. Still I need to know about the DOT side of things
dont buy a whole truck, buy a enclosed trailer, you still can use your half ton, and you can detach, it would benifit you more in my opinion hearing what your looking for.
THanks Max
Well Joe, i was gonna say a trailer, but i see your reply below. Depends on the difference in the money. If i could i would go for one thats running versus not.
I can see it both ways. I hate to get into a money pit!
The v10 are powerful house. Very powerful u haul and tow about everything including the gas station. Uhauls are very good for keep up with vehicles and trailers. U can hail your bocat tractor with it. To shop or around house you put a lot bundles in room area. And cords of wood
That is what I heard of the V10. But they are very thirsty!
Keep looking Joe , you need a lift gate
That would be nice but too much $$ rn
My question is can you put it to enough use to pay for the expense? They are pretty exclusive on what you can do with them in a firewood business. Apparently, you have already done a lot of research about the expenses involved in purchasing, repairing, maintaining, licensing, et., so the real question is will it's use justify those expenses. As others have mentioned, maybe an enclosed trailer might be more "profitable". You'll figure it out, I'm sure. I have learned enough about your business operations to trust decisions.
Thanks for the nice comment Ron. Thanks
Seems like a good idea to me. Especially in bad weather. As for the ramp goes i don't see an issue with that as you could park anywhere and be out of the way.
Thanks Dan!
If you want to go van I'd go with one of those Mitsubishi flat nose cab over styles with the little diesel engine. Personally I'd get a nice f250 and a flatbed with a pallet lift that pulls itself up to travel on back end. Then you got a nice truck for everyday use and a way to pick up a small load of logs or nice slab cuts from a mill
Interesting thought JB. Let me think on that one
I would not. Too easy to get stuck in the mud in one of these. Firewood deliveries sometimes go off road.
haha. Not this one!
What about a U haul trailer are close in to . Hey your money 💴 . 😊 if you get one ☝️ get it undercoating on it . 😊
Don't want a trailer. Too much work
Will you need a CDL to drive it?
Will not. Under 26k lbs
i would see if i could get the maintenance records of each truck!!
The provide them on the info sheet. Very detailed
go with the 2009
You would want duals as the wind would make it all over the road.
These both have them. Tires seem to be new also
If you see rust it a hundred times worst than what you can see
prob so but rocker rust isn't anything to worry about at this price
They have V-10s? They are worse than horrible on gas! I had a F350 with the V-10. If I let it idle for 10 minutes it would burn an 1/8 th of the tank !I did not like that motor!!
How much weight can it carry?
It has a 14,500 gvwr.
@@ohiowoodburner What is their unloaded weight?
Hey 👋 Joe
hello
Please make sure you have a camera rolling the first time you roll a full skid out of this bad boy on a pallet jack!🤠
haha I would do the whole pallet at once. A few at a time
@ohiowoodburner OH, come on...I thought you YT creators would do anything for a viral video?!?!🤠
Go for it
Joe, Have you considered an enclosed trailer?? Make a Vid on the pluses and minuses of an enclosed trailer 😊 😊.
And no dead battery 🔋
After more thought 🤔 an enclosed trailer would be undesirable delivering to convenience stores .
After months of hemming and hawing, I have finally ordered my Employee of the Month T-Shirt. Looking forward to the premium parking spot and some great(?) Ohio pizza!
preheat your oven to 400 degrees!
@@ohiowoodburner I laughed a little too hard at this
You may be on to something here can only imagine between nine and or twelve neatly stacked rows rolling down the road to the delivery must say what I really see here with the box truck is a potential future kiln
haha that was literally my same thought!
The possibilities with a box truck really are endless
you'll run that pallet jack down the slick ramp about 1 1/2 times and youll get the lift gate
I must have not explained myself well. I wouldn't use the jack on the ramp. I was thinking of a dolly etc
That would be a great idea for bundle wood, and you know that truck can take a ton of weight in it.
These have A LOT of leafs on them for sure Frank
I bought a GMC 5500 cab and chassis truck from Uhaul. Built a 23' flat bed from Larch lumber use it as a farm truck. It's been really good so far. Uhaul will take offers, bought mine for a good deal less than their asking price.
I did not know those places existed, do they sell the trailers also?
I believe they do. The trailers between these two trucks were prob both for sale
@@ohiowoodburner Thanks for the reply Joe
Buy the blown engine one, get it towed to your yard, use it for an office. I like the office idea. Keep cuttin'
International Firewood Expo will be happening at Ohio Wood Burners.
Joe, are you planning on delivering loads larger than will fit into your pickup? If keeping your deliveries dry is the issue, a tall cap on the back would handle that without added vehicle issues (Tax, registration, maintenance, failure,etc.) As far as an office goes, check the government surplus auction websites. They’re always auctioning 8x10 - 8x20 sized office modules. I’ve seen some very nice, unused units on auction sites. Another thought along those lines, you seemed very happy with the people who you bought your 8x40 from. They might have something along those lines in the 8x20 or 8x10 range. And even if they don’t, ask them if they would be interested in pickup and delivery if you bought one at auction or know someone who would be interested. Food for thought. Your idea is like ones that I have at times. I’ll get really excited about it, but after a while, the adrenaline wears off and I see all the issues clearly. On the other hand, I don’t have all the information; an understanding of the big picture or a deep understanding of your future plans. Only voicing my thoughts and concerns, hope this is usable and helpful. Was watching Daniel w/EMF channel, talk about them showing up at your event, if I am not confused. Very cool. Edit: Joe, here’s a link to the offices available: www.govplanet.eu/jsp/s/search.ips
The 2009 is better
It ran super nice but had a lot more miles on it