This has been an ongoing issue for which I've been in constant quest of a solution. We normally carry a chainsaw and can pick up ample seasoned wood on the roadside but there is still the issue of how to haul it to the campsite with a truck camper. Last year I bought a Hitch-Haul and using some ratchet type motorcycle tie downs I lashed it to the ladder. When we wanted to pick up some firewood - either roadside with the chainsaw or at the giant "pick and burn" woodpiles we found at Canadian campgrounds I'd just pull it down, slap it in the receiver and load it up like so:
For the most part it worked great except for the fact that you couldn't get into the camper once you loaded up a big pile of wood on the hauler so we tried to stop and load it when we were close to our destination. That doesn't always work out so well if your destination is far from the source of good roadside pickings. So I kept looking for a better solution. My next thought was a front mounted receiver and the swing up bracket available for the Hitch-Haul. I could keep it in the retracted position until time to load it up. But I'll have to admit, I don't much care for stuff hanging off the front of the truck like that. I know it works okay but it just looks kind of goofey.
Anyway, this is what I came up with. I converted the Hitch-Haul into a rooftop hauler with some Adel clamps and a 10 ft length of one inch conduit.
This works great for loading a big pile of seasoned firewood from home using a step ladder and having the wife hand the logs up to me but it remains to be seen if it will be practical for roadside firewood procurement as it's going to be an issue just getting the logs up there. The nice thing is that I can pack a pretty good load from home where we can always have a good supply of seasoned and split wood. I'd say that I could pack enough for about 5 nights. Another nice thing is that I can undo a few bolts and it's back to being a Hitch-Haul again. Plus, the one inch conduit crossbar will still come in handy for lashing other stuff onto the roof. In fact, I'm thinking of adding another one forward of that one, it really creates a much more useful rack up there.
Just gotta be careful not to catch a foot and trip
1994 Lance 990 on 1997 F350 PSD Dually "Rhino Haunches"
We also have a 'truck' that FLYS Our recent camping trips
you have to watch out for one other thing, a very important thing, that the wood doesn't fall off the campers roof when you are driving down the road. I know that it can and will happen, I've lost a lot of fire wood over the years on mountain roads. the scary thing is if someone is tailgating you, they turn a funny shade of white when they have to dodge the wood.
a lot of states in the east will not allow personal firewood due to the ash booer? thought i have seen other restrictions out west for different reasons. also keep on the lookout for low hanging branches, i caught one that just about took my air off....also wish i was young enough to be willing for a climb to my roof for firewood. but overall a clean job, enjoy.
who left the light on? is it me or are we leaning downhill. where did the dog run off to
Lot of weight on top of a rig!
Many locations have restrictions on transporting of wood. With the bugs getting moved from one area to another it will become more strict.
Quote: I've lost a lot of fire wood over the years on mountain roads. the scary thing is if someone is tailgating you, they turn a funny shade of white when they have to dodge the wood.
Specially when they are riding motorcycles!
But, hey.....they should not be tailgating in the first place!
I would be concerned about having so much weight on top of the camper roof. This may not be good for the roof and could result in damage over time. My last camper had roof damage from the previous owner installing a much too large and heavy air conditioner. The roof sagged and leaked.
The next consideration is the weight way up high, which may add to camper sway. Also, the weight is at the rear of the camper, which adds more weight to the rear axle.
Another consideration with the wood on the roof is overhead clearance and increased wind resistance.
Your best solution was the front reciever hitch with the carrier and wood mounted on the front of the truck. There is no increase in wind resistance, no weight added to the rear axle, increased weight added to the front axle helps offset the weight of the camper in the rear and the carrier is down low so it's easy to load and unload the wood as well as the carrier itself. As long as you don't stack the wood real high, it shouldn't affect airflow to the radiator. Once the wood is unloaded, you can easily transfer the carrier to the rear reciever and use it as a rear entry porch for the camper.
I wouldn't be so concerned about 'looking goofy'. The front mount carrier is the solution that makes the most sense. Personally, I think a pile of wood on the roof looks more 'goofy' than in the front cause it's just not a very practical place to haul wood.
enblethen wrote: Lot of weight on top of a rig!
Many locations have restrictions on transporting of wood. With the bugs getting moved from one area to another it will become more strict.
Last year while crossing the border from Lake Tahoe, NV to California an inspector confiscated all wood I was transporting. Justified because of all the problems with bark beetles, etc. If I can't find wood at a campground I live without it.
06 Ford F-350 Crew Cab SB DRW 4x2 Diesel Automatic,Class V hitch
05 Lance Max 881, Happijac Tiedowns, Struts,
Circle J two horse, slant load Horse Trailer
One Appendix Quarter Horse Gelding Dun Color
Quote: I've lost a lot of fire wood over the years on mountain roads. the scary thing is if someone is tailgating you, they turn a funny shade of white when they have to dodge the wood.
Specially when they are riding motorcycles!
But, hey.....they should not be tailgating in the first place!
I tend to think it woodn't matter if you're tailgating or not, if the wood lands in the road it's still a hazard. At least on the front of the truck, the grill would stop the backward shifting of the wood to fall off, if indeed it does shift. And the way wood can shift around on a rough asphalt road, especially loaded north/south with the straps east/west. I'm sure kcab is pretty darn careful about it all, but chit happens. I woodn't want to be riding behind personally, specially with the wood on top. And maybe he just picks up the wood near camp anyway. I carry my wood in a cardboard box in the camper on the floor. Not nearly as much wood as most I guess by pictures, but I don't stay up as late for long fires and don't have one in the morning either, so I don't need as much. Let's face it, wood is all a hassle and at times we just use the propane grill for a little ambience.
What would be wrong with an enclosed box for the wood. As in my case I cut the wood to fit in the box and split it up at camp as I need it, looks like kcab does the same for the rack. kcab could make the box so the camper door can clear and being enclosed you'd still get the same amount of wood as in not needing to stack it in pyramid fashion but straight up. Plus, if it had a top on it when it rains...dry wood.
Good points everyone. Like I said, I'm not totally sold on the concept myself. I didn't have much concern for the weight or height, the Lance roof is pretty stout and the weight is distributed. The height doesn't exceed the A/C which I have noted on the instrument panel at 10 ft 4 in and I don't have any overweight or sway issues with the rig. As with any load like this you have to be sure it's secured well. The Hitch-Haul can accommodate various methods such as ratcheting motorcycle tie downs or even a full cargo net but as noted a load of firewood like this can shift and being on the roof means it's not as easy to periodically inspect the security.
As DesertRider pointed out, it doesn't look any less goofey than a front receiver. I guess there's no real way to haul firewood with a truck camper that doesn't lend at least a touch of "Clampetesque" to your appearance. I'm also aware of the transporting restrictions, in most of Canada it was prohibited and on the way back from Bryce Canyon when crossing into California the guy at the agriculture inspection station asked us one question "Do you have any firewood?" I had made up six tied bundles and lashed them to the roof with tie downs (which is what spawned this idea) It worked out well but the straps across the entire width of the roof meant we couldn't open the vent in the bathroom. I had forgotten there were still two bundles up there when I answered "No". Luckily he didn't see it or we'd have been busted.
So for the concept of a preloaded supply for weekend trips up to the mountains I think this works but I can already see that for picking up wood enroute it wouldn't be practical unless I want to lash the stepladder up there and take it along as well (which is bordering on ridiculous) because it's just too difficult to get it up there.
Looks like the front receiver and swing up bracket may be the most elegant solution to this problem and if we do make that trip to Alaska next year it could serve double duty as a rock guard when in the up position.
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is it me or are we leaning downhill.
where did the dog run off to
