Hauling wood on rear hitch

[bigtime_077]

Hey all,

Trying to compare my notes to last year camping when we had our hybrid. We now have a travel trailer and I am looking at doing some modifications to make hauling things a little easier. In the past we hauled our bikes in the camper and wood in the bed of the truck along with my folding bbq grill.

With the 5.5' bed I am a little concerned with the ability to haul the bikes and wood in there at the same time. Not sure if putting the bikes in the camper is an option because with the slide in there isn't really any floor space.

I always thought about it with the hybrid but there really wasn't anything to the rear frame so I scratched it but I am thinking about putting a hitch on the rear of the TT. This has an I-beam frame all the way back. I was going to weld together an actual receiver, not bumper mount, and bolt this to the frame of the trailer. I was going to drill a hole in the bottom of the receiver and weld a nut in there to be able to use a bolt to tighten down on the hitch carrier. So that was my plan was to use my hitch carrier that goes into a 2" receiver to haul my firewood on the back of the camper.

Now I know without a doubt that the actual welded hitch receiver bolted to the I-beam frame will support the weight of the wood.

My only concern is as you add weight to the rear of the camper it will essentially remove tongue weight from the trailer dependent on the position of the trailer axles in relation to the rest of the trailer, how much leverage the weight has. My axles are at a position in which approximately two-thirds of the trailer is in front of the axles. So what I am thinking is you put for sake of argument if I had 300# on the rear that it would essentially remove 100# of tongue weight all other things being equal. Reason I am looking to do the firewood is because I want to be able to lock the bikes under the tonneau cover and not be hauling wood in the bed of the truck if we go sight seeing.

So my thoughts to combat the effects of the weight on the back was to add a link to my weight distribution bars if I am hauling the wood on the back or just loading more supplies to the front of the camper to counter the weight.

[lovemytt]

We put our wood in a tote in the bed of the truck. We have only camped in our state(Texas). We have planned a trip to Arkansas and will buy wood there. Thanks for the heads up.

[bigtime_077]

That's a good idea about using a tote to keep it dry.

[JJensen79]

I think the state parks in Michigan still have some of the restrictions on them. You would have to double check if you are in a quarantined area. Most private campgrounds don't really care.
BTW I haul my fire wood on the back of the trailer. The rear bumper pulls out about 3' and I mount a large plastic bin on it and put my fire wood in that. This way it stays dry. I can fit enough for a couple of fires.

[bigtime_077]

naturist wrote:
There are many places I've been where if they catch you bringing in firewood, they will confiscate the wood and fine you heavily. We live in central Virginia. 150 miles north of here the emerald ash borer is killing trees. Firewood from outside our area is not welcome here. Seeing a non-local camper with firewood hanging off the back is going to attract attention you won't like.

The original post made no mention of awareness of the problem or of the specific region or state in which the wood was from or going to. I think we all wanted to educate the op about a general problem.

I really appreciate you guys pointing out the problems with the bugs. I guess I never really paid too close attention to it because we never leave Michigan camping and when we go to the upper peninsula then we don't take any. I had no idea that the ash borers were that bad but I guess I need to do some reading over at the Department of Natural Resources.

[naturist]

It most certainly is cheaper to haul your own. You just have to pay attention you aren't dragging potentially infested wood out of a quaranteened area into a "clean" area.

[bigtime_077]

Desert Captain wrote:

PAThwacker wrote:
transfer of firewood is illegal over state lines or geographic areas. moves bugs and whatever. you can buy it when you get there.

In some states yes, in others no such restriction. :C

Interesting, we have yet to do any out of state camping so I guess I never looked into it. Thanks for the heads up on that.

When we first got our hybrid last year we had a 2007 trailblazer so we never hauled firewood so we had no where to haul it and just bought when we got there. My parents own a farm so I have easy access to firewood so thought it would be cheaper to haul our own.

[naturist]

There are many places I've been where if they catch you bringing in firewood, they will confiscate the wood and fine you heavily. We live in central Virginia. 150 miles north of here the emerald ash borer is killing trees. Firewood from outside our area is not welcome here. Seeing a non-local camper with firewood hanging off the back is going to attract attention you won't like.

The original post made no mention of awareness of the problem or of the specific region or state in which the wood was from or going to. I think we all wanted to educate the op about a general problem.

[Desert_Captain]

PAThwacker wrote:
transfer of firewood is illegal over state lines or geographic areas. moves bugs and whatever. you can buy it when you get there.

In some states yes, in others no such restriction. :C

[bigtime_077]

This wouldn't be over state lines, Michigan only. It is only not allowable to take firewood between the upper and lower peninsulas. I see you guys are from different states. Are you allowed to move firewood around your states? I thought maybe Michigan was the only state that had restrictions but clearly I am wrong.

[Shadow_Catcher]

PATX2

[PAThwacker]

transfer of firewood is illegal over state lines or geographic areas. moves bugs and whatever. you can buy it when you get there.