We use a Dewalt 18 volt cordless "sabre saw" with a 200 mm wood blade - no mess or petrol smells, takes less room , quiet and much,much safer. Also take a couple of steel cutting blades with us in case cutting steel may be necessary for a mechanical repair .
I got an 18v cordless Ryobi with 10" bar from Bunnings last year, worked well with clearing some fallen branches near the bus in the wake of Cyclone Marcia. However the battery charger went belly-up so the big green shed suggested I pack it up with the chainsaw and replaced the lot, with new 12-month warranty. Haven't used it since - still in its plastic bag and doesn't take up all that much room in the bus.
Joe
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Hino Rainbow motorhome conversion towing a Daihatsu Terios
I refer you to your recent threads re weights with your new set up.
It is precisely these small, at times useful, but not totally necessary items, unless you're having campfires every night, that take up the weight and room in your vehicle/van.
Personally I would leave it out. I realise that the van is now your home, but to meet the weight requirements you have, you will need to be totally ruthless in what you both cull. In my opinion, it is this growing trend for people to sell up and travel that is causing a lot of the grief with van and vehicle weights, as there are so many "might needs" that people are loathe to cull. The other big issue I see is the move to dual cab utes, with their theoretical tow weights, but not achievable in the real world when a big van is added to the mix, a bull bar and canopy is added, and the tub is filled with all the travellers must haves that won't fit in the vans allowable load.
Anyway, good luck with your packing and travels.
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done
I carry a small Talon chainsaw tucked up in the Landy. I have had that chainsaw for about 10 years and have carried it for the past seven years of travelling full-time.
I have yet to use it in the past seven years - but I just CANNOT bring myself to sell it or throw it away.
[edit: I carry the chainsaw in this lovely liddle plastic carrycase - no leaks etc]
I also carry a bow saw which is use very frequently -
EVERY time I need wood for my liddle choofer -
This is because I cook on, and use for heating 99% of the time, this liddle convenient bewdy -
Notice the liddle "logs" that are perfect for cooking on such a contraption. One only needs a bow saw and some elbow grease to collect this sort of fuel.
With the door open the liddle "logs" fit just nicely and I am a very warm liddle camper.
Of course, but what about a "proper" campfire you ask
You don't need a chainsaw (usually) for wood to burn in a 'proper' campfire .... just collect logs, stick em in by one end and burn the buggers
Despite all those photos and explanations .... as I said at the beginning - I still carry that damned chainsaw and will not get rid of it. But then again, I am not in a position to worry about weight in the Landy.
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Wednesday 9th of March 2016 07:50:37 PM
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2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Auto - 2008 23ft Golden Eagle Hunter Some people feel the rain - the others just get wet - Bob Dylan
G-Day All... We carry a small petrol chainsaw, but have been thinking off getting rid off it and getting a bow saw.
Has rockylizard's pics we use small "logs" and chainsaw is really and over kill.
Cheers
Although I own a chainsaw I prefer a small circular saw...small, lightweight, compact, no mess, never need sharpening.....the only drawback is I have to start the generator.....I can live with that.
Although I own a chainsaw I prefer a small circular saw...small, lightweight, compact, no mess, never need sharpening.....the only drawback is I have to start the generator.....I can live with that.
Cheers
I have a small circular saw also, which uses the same rechargeable batteries as my drill (Hitachi). It has been very handy so far.
Had to leave my big Stihl chainsaw at home. Too heavy.....
Because mosty popular camp area has already been raped of firewood or has none at all available for the taking, we have made it a habit during our travels that when on the road we carry a 1 x 2 meter peice of scrap carpet rolled up in the car boot. It serves two purposes. 1, as a door mat to wipe your sandy/dirty feet and footwear on, and 2, if we see a fallen tree on the roadside we stop and chop up 1 to 2 meter lengths of firewood and roll them up in the carpet. This roll then gets strapped to the drawbar or rear bumper depending on amount collected with cheap webbing tie-downs.
I'm a fan of Ozito from the big green shed. Cheap and for non-commercial use is ideal, and best of all they come with a 3 year no questions asked replacement warranty. Just keep your receipts (zip-lock bags) and you can get an exchange at any branch if you have issues with it.
In the car boot I carry the small 25cc Ozito chainsaw and a range of Ozito 18V cordless products that all use the same batteries (carry 1 spare) such as cordless drill (use for van stabiliser legs with sawn off hand winder in chuck), reciprocating saw (with 2 spare blades cuts up to 100mm wood/30mm steel), impact drill (screwing in extra long coach bolts in hard ground for awning guy ropes)
We carry a battery chainsaw and wouldn't be without it, we used to carry firewood, but now just take the Big One, it is very handy and isn't very heavy.
