transporting options

[chrisasst]

For those you don't have heavy duty trucks, or have delivery options, how do you get your pellets? I get my crappy pellets because they deliver. My dealer ( 40 minutes away) sells energex or my tractor supply company usually has lignetics. Hopefully I can get to the presales this year. I don't have a truck or access to one. How does one get a few tons at a time. I am clueless in how I would do this. I was thinking about test driving a truck from a car company and getting them , but....

 

[Scoop]

I suppose rental costs would outweigh the delivery costs. Its probably worthwhile to get them delivered if you are getting several skids.

 

[chrisasst]

I suppose rental costs would outweight the delivery costs. Its probably worthwhile to get them delivered if you are getting several skids.

Dealer or TSC doesn't deliver so delivery isn't an option for the good pellets.

 

[imacman]

chris i see you're in cortland, try calling tri county coal in nearby carmel, n.y.

they might deliver to you since its not that far.

unless you're in some other cortland thats not the northern westchester one i'm thinking of.

You got it finally...he's in Cortland up by Syracuse.....not CortlanDt in Westchester......

 

[Wet1]

Try looking on or placing an ad on CL. Plenty of folks on there looking to haul stuff like this.

 

[Jambruins]

I bought a ton from tractor supply and they let me pick up 15-20 bags at a time. Each bag weighs 40 pounds so 5 bags equals a 200 pound person sitting in your car. Put 5 in the front seat and 10-15 in the back seat and everyday after work stop by and pick up another load.

 

[pete324rocket]

Find a pimply faced kid with a truck and wave money under his nose. These days however,you don't need a kid.Offer to help load and unload them.Usually where you buy pellets,there will be a guy making low wages and will jump at easy money. I had two guys fighting over who would take the last load.Good thing the manager didn't get wind of it.

 

[donbryce]

I pick mine up. Last time I managed to fit 20 bags in 1 load. IIRC, I put 12 in the trunk, 6 in the back seat area (back of seats folded down), and 2 in the front passenger seat. I only need to drive about 2 miles on paved city streets, though, and do so very slowly to avoid as much suspension movement as possible. This is in a 1996 Toyota Camry.
BTW, I'm only in the first winter with our Englander 25-PDVC, which I consider a long term investment, motivated by - get this - the price of a cord of semi-seasoned firewood in our area last fall: $275.00 plus $75.00 delivery! When I remember all the piling and moving of firewood, from driveway to woodracks, from woodracks to house log holder, then finally to the stove, and no truck to pickup, I'm delighted to get my own fuel and have it stored inside (I use 2 sheds). I can make 2 trips and in less than 1 1/2 hours, lay in the equivalent of about a cord of wood, our usual season usage.
I took no chances this year, and managed to buy a total of 92 bags. I'll count the stockpile some time next month to see how many we've burned so far. So, you can transport 800 pounds of pellets in the typical family sedan, just spread the load out, avoid bumps, and check the clearance under the rear wheel arches as you load. You might want to do only 10 - 15 bags at a time....but it's doable.

 

[TboneMan]

A case (will maybe a 30 pack) of cold beverages made with hops and barley can usually entice most pick up truck owners to lend a hand. Ask a co-worker or friend.

Through a pizza in the formula and they will probably help you load then into your garage.

 

[ORiley]

For those you don't have heavy duty trucks, or have delivery options, how do you get your pellets? I was thinking about test driving a truck from a car company and getting them , but....

Those are usually 1/2 ton trucks (F150, 1500, etc.). You can drop a ton in the back but, fasten your seat belt. When the rear end drops and the front end floats it's a helluva ride!

 

[Dr_Drum]

There was no incentive to bulk buying for me last year as most of the places like Lowes, HD, Wallys. . .etc. was the exact same price by the bag or ton. I'd just pick up 25 at a time (mid-size pickup). I wouldn't wan't to unload more than 25 at a time to the basement anyway.
Mike -

 

[chrisasst]

I bought a ton from tractor supply and they let me pick up 15-20 bags at a time. Each bag weighs 40 pounds so 5 bags equals a 200 pound person sitting in your car. Put 5 in the front seat and 10-15 in the back seat and everyday after work stop by and pick up another load.

I did that last year from my country max store.. It was a pain though. Maybe if I am lucky I can buy them from my TSC, but if I have to get them from my dealer ( 40 minutes away, that would be alot of gas money..)

 

[pelletfan]

Luckily my local HD has an option of renting a Pick Up Truck, rental fee's are quite reasonable for 70min.
Was cheaper than have it delivered for a $65.--fee.

 

[woodsman23]

For those you don't have heavy duty trucks, or have delivery options, how do you get your pellets? I was thinking about test driving a truck from a car company and getting them , but....

Those are usually 1/2 ton trucks (F150, 1500, etc.). You can drop a ton in the back but, fasten your seat belt. When the rear end drops and the front end floats it's a helluva ride!

I do it all the time in my pickup, she is scootching a bit but it works 15 miles each way

 

[wilbilt]

My old pickup will not currently appease the Gods of the California Smog Check, so I have been using the beater 1993 Dodge Caravan as work truck and pellet hauler. It always has a few hundred pounds of tools and supplies in it, and I pick up a load of pellets a few times per month.

Best results (read: non fate-tempting) are achieved when hauling fewer than ten bags of pellets. I spread them out, some in the back, some in the middle seat and sometimes the front passenger floor as well.

Today, in addition to the tools, etc., I hauled some firewood up to the mother-in-law. A 30-foot Poplar and a 50-foot Sycamore bucked up and green; it was an experience I will not soon repeat. The rear tires actually appeared flat. It was not as bad, however, as the time I hauled 15 90lb. sacks of concrete 25 miles home in a Plymouth Volare wagon.

I really miss my pickup and need to get it back on the road before I break this van in half.

 

[PunKid8888]

Luckily my local HD has an option of renting a Pick Up Truck, rental fee's are quite reasonable for 70min.
Was cheaper than have it delivered for a $65.--fee.

+1, its usually only 19 bucks for an hour.

 

[smoke show]

trailer?

 

[pegdot]

If you are planning on buying from your local TSC I'd suggest that you ask at the store. I'd be willing to bet that all the guys who work there own trucks and one is bound to be interested in picking up a little extra cash by dropping off a ton at a time to you over several days. Easy money, you buy, he loads a ton with the company forklift at the end of his shift, and drops them off at your place on his way home. You'll have to unload them by hand but......

You might also check your local paper for "will haul" ads or price renting a U-Haul truck for a day and transport an entire seasons worth at once.

 

[Burn1]

For those you don't have heavy duty trucks, or have delivery options, how do you get your pellets?

So far I have borrowed this old trailer 3 times. I hope to buy a trailer(and maybe a truck too) more suited for hauling a ton sometime between now and next winter. This trailer sits too high and the suspension isn't even, it leans hard to the right which is quite scary on the crowned roads around these parts. I picked up my 3rd ton yesterday and towed it about 20 miles. The guy that loaded the pallet said, "You 're going to put the whole ton in there!?"

 

[Highbeam]

For those you don't have heavy duty trucks, or have delivery options, how do you get your pellets? I was thinking about test driving a truck from a car company and getting them , but....

Those are usually 1/2 ton trucks (F150, 1500, etc.). You can drop a ton in the back but, fasten your seat belt. When the rear end drops and the front end floats it's a helluva ride!

I do it all the time in my pickup, she is scootching a bit but it works 15 miles each way

That looks like the butt of a chessie? I owned one for 8 years before we had to put him down.

Anyway, I am one of those guys with a one ton pickup that would be happy to move pellets for someone for little or nothing. Heck, I've even offered to help a guy move dry-mix concrete bags home from HD when his truck looked like Woodsman's and they were only half way! They were happy for the help.

 

[ORiley]

I do it all the time in my pickup, she is scootching a bit but it works 15 miles each way

Smart dog ya got there ..."I'm not ridin' in that..." ;-)

 

[woodsman23]

For those you don't have heavy duty trucks, or have delivery options, how do you get your pellets? I was thinking about test driving a truck from a car company and getting them , but....

Those are usually 1/2 ton trucks (F150, 1500, etc.). You can drop a ton in the back but, fasten your seat belt. When the rear end drops and the front end floats it's a helluva ride!

I do it all the time in my pickup, she is scootching a bit but it works 15 miles each way

That looks like the butt of a chessie? I owned one for 8 years before we had to put him down.

Anyway, I am one of those guys with a one ton pickup that would be happy to move pellets for someone for little or nothing. Heck, I've even offered to help a guy move dry-mix concrete bags home from HD when his truck looked like Woodsman's and they were only half way! They were happy for the help.

That would be my dog Hunter he is a chessie and he was with me. He is the smartest dog ever without much training from me. He never does anything bad in the house, he even stops and looks if he bumps something on a table to make sure it does not tip over. I rescued him at 12 weeks from a guy who wanted him for hunting but he hates guns and any loud noise at all. He is a great dog for sure. The truck has made the pellet journey many times and has never failed me yet, but taking it slow and easy is mandatory....