New Style Trailers can move woody biomass efficiently

It all started with a team of Forest Service researchers that combined a common logging trailer and an ordinary cargo container together

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Description

Dave Haston, US Forest Service, San Dimas Technology Development Center, says after more than a year of R&D, field trials, and in-woods demonstrations, his team's concept Stinger Steered Trailer is now available for purchase from Western Trailer Company of Boise Idaho.

Not only is the Stinger Steered trailer available, Clint Whitehead, Western Trailer, Sales Department, says his company has developed a hydraulic version of the Stinger Steer dubbed the ForceSteer Trailer.

Whitehead is pleased to announce they received their first order for three 48' ForceSteer trailers that were purchased by Hermann Brothers Logging and Construction in Port Angeles WA.

If youre interested in seeing the ForceSteer in action, check out the videos produced by Clint Whitehead.

Click here to view the BIG LOAD MAKING IT OUT OF THE HOLE video

Click here to view the ON-HIGHWAY
video

Click here to view the IN THE WOODS
video

Click here to view the BACKING-UP
video

Click here to view the IN THE WOODS II
video

If you're interested in detailed specifications, price, and availability for either the Stinger Steered or ForceSteer trailers, please contact Clint Whitehead, Western Trailer Company, 208-344-2539

Below is the original story describing the development of the Stinger-Steered Trailer by Barbara Coyner, published in Capital Press, November 2008

Jointed trailer moves wood chips efficiently

A common logging trailer and an ordinary cargo container just might have a future together, says Dave Haston.

Haston recently debuted the combo, dubbed the stinger-steered chip trailer, as a new means of hauling wood chips more efficiently. The jointed trailer performed as an impressive acrobat in the woods, taking on loads of chips, negotiating tight turns and offloading at remote landings. For private woodland owners, the more flexible chip transport means another value-added opportunity.

"We took a regular logging trailer and a cargo container, both readily available, and came up with a trailer that can get into tighter spots in the woods," said Haston, a mechanical engineer in charge of developing the trailer. "This is an excellent opportunity to convert existing equipment and lower investment costs."

Private woodland owners know the balancing act of keeping forestlands healthy, yet needing some profit to do so. With chips now more attractive as a commodity, the problem of hauling the woody biomass still looms as the largest obstacle.

Haston, on staff at the San Dimas Technology and Development Center in California, took on the woody biomass transportation challenge. He and technician/designer Joe Fleming recently showcased the outcome at several in-the-woods demonstrations.

Basically, the trailer capitalizes on a unique logging trailer feature called the stinger, which allows the trailer to be more jointed for tighter turns.

"The traditional chip van has more volume, but can't get in the same locations," Haston explained at a recent demonstration at Pomeroy, Wash. "This trailer is a better alternative than constructing or reconstructing forest roads. It has the same access as a logging truck."

While the trailer's design incorporates two readily available components, Haston's prototype also has a walking floor, which adds to the cost. The conveyor-style floor moves the biomass out of the trailer as opposed to conventional chip trailers that tip up for unloading. The walking floor adds $24,000 to the basic $14,000 trailer modification.

Nevertheless, community woody biomass coordinators like Morris Huffman of Emmett, Idaho, and Craig Rawlings of Missoula, Mont., see potential for the chip transports. "We have no chip vans in our area," said Huffman, who hosted a demonstration at Council, Idaho, last spring. "We could use a dozen of these. There was a lot of interest after the Council demonstration, and we have people asking for the plans."

Haston said he is happy to get the plans off the drawing boards and into the hands of the public. "That's part of our mission at the Center, to transfer the technology and have a private company build it. We want people to build them."

As alternative energy gains in favor, woody biomass grows in appeal, even more so because prudent forest thinning combats wildfire dangers. Private-sector developers such as Craig Thomas of Missoula and Jim Patterson of Canada have weighed in on other trailer ideas, including roll-off bins and bunks and interchangeable chip-log hauling trailers.

Woody biomass experts such as Huffman and Rawlings of Missoula are actively pursuing a variety of hauling solutions as woodland owners look to capitalize on growing and competing markets for chips.

Barbara Coyner is a free-lance writer based in Princeton, Idaho. E-mail: barbcoyner@gmail.com.

Additional Information

Category: Forestry>Forestry Equipment

Region: Montana

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