Timber Framers Guild Forums Tools Tool Forum Timber Cart & Wrench

The timber cart Scott mentioned is one of the best timber framing tools you can buy. It is in daily use at the shop and at job sites. It's beauty lies in it's maneuverability. It has a counterbalance which keeps it upright at all times. It doesn't have legs or handles, the timber is the handle and you can tip it forward or back and pivot 360 effortlessly. This allows you to weave your way into some really tight corners of the shop. It was designed for logs and then an adapter was added to carry up to 12" timbers. I have used it to haul cherry logs out of the woods, down a bumpy trail and onto a trailer. I've also used it to move 30 foot 10x10's around the shop. I'll look for a good picture to post if anyone is interested. I think they are selling for around $350.00. Lon Tyler's nephew Kenny is running the business now and his number is 541-968-5004.

got some info on Tyler's timber cart, I like it a lot, but am concerned about it's stated 500 lb. load capacity. Scott and Nathan, the monster timbers you have moved on the Tyler cart would seem to exceed it's weight capacity. I have some 8x12x24' red oak timbers for an upcoming project that need to be toted around some, and I'm sure they weigh a lot more than 500 lbs. I will call the Tyler's for more info, just wondered how the cart was able to handle those size timbers you guys moved.

I have used the Tyler cart and I would not put an oak 8x12-24 on it. I am sure I have overloaded it, but I have also seen one give out -- heavy load and it hit a rut and the wheel gave in. The Tyler cart can be picked up one handed -- I like something a little heavier.

Gabel

Gabel, thanks for your input. I am in need of a good timber cart very soon. I work alone and have no access to heavy equipment. Is there a cart out there that you, or anybody else would recommend that could handle an 8x12x24? Or am I expecting to much from a cart? Feel free to send me a private e-mail if you like.

Ron,
I don't see how you are going to move that timber even if you had a timber cart that could carry it. In general white or red oak is about 62 lbs per cubic foot. Your beam is about 16 cubic feet which means it weighs about 992 lbs. Unless you are a contestant in the strong man competition, you aren't going to be able to lift even one end up. I know because I am fairly strong on a deadlift and could barely muscle up one end of a 12X12X 12ft seasoned oak beam a couple weeks ago (about 744lbs). The force to lift one end varies between a bit more and a bit less than half that depending on the angle you lift it. that's one heck of an oak beam you have there. You're gonna need a bigger boat...ah, I mean transport method.

If I knew what they weighed, I wouldn't have carried those 8x8x10 RO timbers out of the mill the other day!

Dave

Hey Brad,.. yea, I kinda figured as much,thought I'd float the question out there though. thanks

In my opinion, the basic geometry of the Tyler cart is ideal. For heavier loads I'd build a beefier frame/axle and use something on the order of a motorcycle wheel, it seems a narrow wheel spins more easily. The bracket that the timber actually rests on has 2 small "ears" that let you "hook" the timber as you lift it off one horse & rotate the cart in line. On the Tyler cart you can remove these brackets & use the steel saddles to move round material.
I'm thankful that there's not much in the way of oak timber in this part of the world, softwoods are heavy enough.

The wheels on the Tyler cart give it its 500 lb limit. They are rated at 250lbs each. The monster timbers I've wheeled around were Douglas Fir. On a concrete slab and graded gravel yard, going slow and avoiding potholes they groaned but performed nobly. You have to know the limits of any tool. Day in, day out the cart has proved itself to be extremely useful. It works great for 90% of the fir timbers I use. It's lightness and maneuverability save material handling hours. Also Picking the cart up with one hand and throwing it into the back of a truck to go to the job site is not such bad thing sometimes.

These are the wheels I wanted to use on my next timber cart:


They are ~24" diameter (plus tires) and rated for over 1000lb. each, but Kevin at LogRite convinced me the cost per wheel would price the cart well beyond what anyone would be likely to pay.

Just the bare bones Gateway Arch is $1100.