Firewood- Haul it or buy it?

[Firefighter78]

After years of camping it's become part of the pre-camping check list is to fill the firewood bin in the pick-up bed. Since we are going further distances now like 400-600 miles, and already got the T.T close to max GVW, the weight got my concerned. My F250 w/ 6.7 diesel will pull the earth around the sun at 80 mph but hauling a 250 lb firewood bin 600 miles next month got this ole country boy perplexed in my old age. I cut, split my own but just the aggravation, fuel costs, weight, tires has me thinking more. Thought I would ask some fellow campers what you all do for firewood these days, buy it or haul it?
Thanks !

[VicS1950]

Originally Posted by Firefighter78

After years of camping it's become part of the pre-camping check list is to fill the firewood bin in the pick-up bed. Since we are going further distances now like 400-600 miles, and already got the T.T close to max GVW, the weight got my concerned. My F250 w/ 6.7 diesel will pull the earth around the sun at 80 mph but hauling a 250 lb firewood bin 600 miles next month got this ole country boy perplexed in my old age. I cut, split my own but just the aggravation, fuel costs, weight, tires has me thinking more. Thought I would ask some fellow campers what you all do for firewood these days, buy it or haul it?
Thanks !

Don't move firewood.

Check the local ordinances. In many areas it is illegal to transport untreated firewood more than a set fairly short distance.

State-by-State Information | Don't Move Firewood

vic

[Tunce the traveler]

The problem I've encountered with buying local is the wood not being seasoned or to soft. For just a fire it's not to bad but I need to cook with it so it's been a slight problem. If I can't find hard wood I buy charcoal and a little wood from home but it's hard lumber.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by Tunce the traveler

The problem I've encountered with buying local is the wood not being seasoned or to soft. For just a fire it's not to bad but I need to cook with it so it's been a slight problem. If I can't find hard wood I buy charcoal and a little wood from home but it's hard lumber.

In many areas, the wood has to be seasoned at least a year, before it can be used by law, to kill any bugs in it. Yes most of the wood in the west is soft woods, because, not many hardwoods grow in the west.

[Scoutr2]

once or twice a year I buy a face cord of hardwood firewood for $75, cut and split, and keep it covered on a firewood rack in my back yard. I load a weekend's worth of campfire wood before each trip. I don't cook on the fire, so mine is just for campsite ambiance and outdoor warmth on a cold weekend. But if I'm traveling the distances you are talking about, I try to find someone nearby who is selling firewood. (There's always several folks doing that outside every campground.)

But as VicS1950 pointed out, there are sometimes ordinances and bans regarding firewood, depending on where you are going and/or where the wood came from. That's due to diseases, Pine Beetles, Emerald Ash Borers, and many other pests that the park doesn't want for fear of infestation there. Then, you have no choice. And some campgrounds and state parks only allow the wood they sell there.

[Jagiven]

Now days you need to check local ordinances. Here in the Twin Cities metropolitan area it is illegal to transport none heat treated wood out of the 7 county metropolitan area. Our state parks will not allow you to bring in none state certified vendor firewood. However, construction lumber is exempt, at least for now.

[Skaling]

I haul it. I also get dry pre cut wood for free... My trick... I go around to local house construction sites and ask the builders if I can take some of their scrap wood. Lots of 2x4's , 2x6's , 2x10's and 2x12's already cut into 2foot sections for me. And it's been kiln dried so there is never any issues of 'where I can take it'.

[Dagwood]

We are not allowed to transport firewood. They blame the spread of the Ash borer bug here. Lately, I've been driving around on garbage day and pulling all the milled wood I can find, leave PT stuff behind. I've got enough for at least a week, truck is loaded. heading out tomorrow. Then I'll start collecting again for my next trip out.


Funny thing about this "Bug spread fear" although it may be true, all the Campgrounds around here don't allow us to use our own wood, despite the fact the bug has already spread everywhere. Now I think it's a CG ploy to sell tiny bundles of wood for 6 - 7 $ a bag. You need at least 2 bags for a decent burn.

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by Skaling

local house construction sites and ask the builders if I can take some of their scrap wood. Lots of 2x4's , 2x6's , 2x10's and 2x12's already cut '.

I might have to try this. Lot's of new home construction going on not far from me.

[Skaling]

Originally Posted by Dagwood

I might have to try this. Lot's of new home construction going on not far from me.

This was my load I collected last week from 2 construction sites.

[clubhouse]

I haul firewood, except to the very few CG in California that don't allow it. I would prefer not to, and would be willing to pay the premium prices CG charge if the firewood was decent. Nearly every time I see the wood being sold it $4-$6 bundle of junk wood.

There are thousands of acres of fruit and nut trees, read good clean hardwood, that are pulled each year as the reach the end of their useful life. If I want seasoned, cut, split and delivered its about $150-$190 cord. If I want to cut, spit, haul, and season myself it 1/2 that.

Having good, clean, bug free, disease free wood makes it hard not to haul my own. In fact recently there was some chatter about commercially grown orchard wood becoming exempt from transport rules around here since it poses a very minuet risk.

[Iraqvet05]

Lots of states in the midwest have county and state restrictions on the transportation of firewood due to the Emerald Ash Borer. That bug is killing lots of ash trees to the point that baseball bat makers were worried about the supply of ash trees.

[norty1]

If I am going to a state park, I carry firewood and kindling. In Fl. we buy it locally when ours run out. In this part of the country it's ok.

We have been in places that would not allow you to bring in wood and we abide by the rules that are set.

[Scoutr2]

Originally Posted by Skaling

This was my load I collected last week from 2 construction sites.

Lots of Snap-Crackle-Pop using the kiln-dried lumber for firewood. I use scraps from my woodworking shop - oak, maple, poplar, and pine. It is especially good for kindling. I have a dedicated polar-tec jacket for sitting around the campfire. It has little holes all over from the sparks of pine and lumber when it pops! But after the fire gets going, I use the split oak and other hardwoods I buy from a fellow that advertises in the paper. He delivers a face cord for $75.

And just a word of caution for those who may not be aware - avoid using any treated lumber in your campfires. The smoke from the chemicals in the lumber is not good for your health.

[TWP723]

I haul it. I refuse to pay $6-7 for a bundle of wet shrink-wrapped junk wood they sell at most CG's. I buy firewood for my home from a local company, so I know it's good. Hickory, oak, maple and cherry.

[33 RLDS]

In NY you can only carry firewood 50 miles and even then you need to have a form filled out indicating where you got it and where your taking it and signed swearing to it. The Emerald Ash borer is killing our ash trees. I been using mostly my ash for firewood figuring I take those down before the bugs do..

[gvn71]

In state I usually haul it. Out of state is generally illegal here in the Northeast so I leave it at home and pay $$$ for crappy firewood.

[DocBrown]

In WI, you cannot bring firewood into a state property from more than a 10 mile radius. There is a list of quarantined counties where you may not remove any wood from. And this is not just because of Emerald Ash Borer, also the Gypsy Moth.

The exception is if you buy your wood that has been certified as pest free. That wood can be transported anywhere in the state. Unfortunately there are only a relative handful of dealers selling certified wood.

Since the 10 mile ban only went into effect last year (previously it was 25 miles), rumor has it that the next step is no wood allowed to be brought into state properties that isn't certified.

The WI DNR has a blurb on their web site about a federal fine of $1000.00 if you are caught moving firewood across state lines. I can find nothing to confirm this.

I have 2 very large ash trees in my yard that I have to treat every year now because the EAB has been found in my community. I don't want to lose these trees because it took over 20 years for them to become shade trees. I have no issues with buying my wood locally near the CG I'm at. And I've yet to have to resort to buying shrink wrapped wood from a gas station or grocery store. Someone nearby always has wood if the CG doesn't or it's too expensive.

[gloryb]

I think the Emerald Ash Borer is going to be all over regardless of the restrictions placed on taking wood across county/state lines--It's kind of like the Japanese beetles just naturally migrating to spread nationwide.


We have an ample supply of firewood from our own woods that we can legally take where we normally camp. DH picks up the short pieces of pine from job sites he has to visit in the course of his job that would get trashed if he didn't. He splits those and does most of his cooking with that and the firewood. Recycle, recycle, recycle!

[bedrck46]

I can see why a campground would want you to buy wood at the campground
A cord of wood can cost anywhere from $100 to $200 for a cord But you pay $5.00 or more for a bundle which is about .75 cu ft. of wood. A cord of wood is equal to 128 cu ft. At $5.00 a bundle that equals $850.00