Emergency Chain saw for the pickup

[Jesse Jaymes]

I have a pair of matching Stihl saws. Larger saws. One left at cabin. One at my primary. I chunked a big saw in my dinky Tacoma to go backcountry scouting this weekend. Overall just a monsterous orange case in and out of a truck canopy that is already pretty dinky.

I am progressing my dirt bike single track riding. I see many central Idaho dirt bike guys with saw cradles on the front fork ( a direction I am heading).

Can anyone recommend a smaller saw that fills this niche? I've already attempted to compare some online specs of Husky and Stihl, but many models show Not Available. I don't need a Pro saw.

Just a smaller Oh Shit saw to clear a blowdown if it occurs after I am already backwoods.

The carry case is nearly as important. Something to readily catch all the bar oil and schmutz. And something I will not be terribly heartbroken when some DeGen rocks my window and takes it from the back seat when I am away from the rig.

Always been a Stihl guy simply for the fact the bar can be left stuck in a tree if you pinch it and the power head comes home. Think all Husky saws the bar in on the inside???

Explain 3/8" vs .325 if you can. The .325 is the Big Boy chain, yea?

 

[mtnbiker208]

stihl mini farm boss. cuts way above it's size.

 

[Glendon Mullins]

Might want to look at the electric ones, no gas smell/spill can keep the saw in the cab of the truck etc.

 

[Wrench]

3/8 is the big dog. The wider chain pulls a bigger chip but takes morehp to do so.

I have an echo 3000 for my bike and what you describe. I keep a 16" bar on it and it pulls it fine. The arborist type is a space saver for sure.

 

[ORJoe]

Explain 3/8" vs .325 if you can. The .325 is the Big Boy chain, yea?

That's the pitch between drive links.
3/8" is the big boy, .325 is the little boy, 3/8" Low Profile or LP is the middle boy
3/8" and 3/8" LP are not interchangeable at all

 

[Mighty Mouse]

For extended heavy use, I want a gas-powered saw, but for what you described, I would choose battery-powered. Don't have to worry about fuel fumes/leakage in the cab or keeping fresh fuel on hand. Put a 12V inverter and charger in the truck so you can charge batteries on the go.

 

[180ls1]

Might want to look at the electric ones, no gas smell/spill can keep the saw in the cab of the truck etc.

Yeah, I used to hate on electric.

I am now a big fan. They work well and are incredibly handy as long as you you have realistic expectations.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

There is no way I consider the big Katana Boy for these chores do I ?

 

[Customweld]

I used to use a Stihl 171 for my trail saw. I used vegetable oil in it instead of bar oil. Veggie oil does the job on short cuts, can be used to halve an elk if needed and isn't as messy as bar oil. The homeowner saws are 40 hour saws. The air filtration is horrible in them, so they score pistons pretty fast. I built a wood box that was square so it stacked nicely and just took the bar off when I put it ion the box. When I burnt the last 171 down, I put a 24" bar on my 372.

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

^^^ Pro Tips. Thank you

 

[Glendon Mullins]

Yeah, I used to hate on electric.

I am now a big fan. They work well and are incredibly handy as long as you you have realistic expectations.

Same here.......... which reminds of a funny story.........I was on a hog hunt with a friend of mine who was a taxidermist, he wanted to cut some cypress knees to use with his fish scenes. He grabs this battery power chainsaw, and I expecting to get a good laugh and make fun of him, (he's kinda a city guy anyway) said "hey wait i will go with ya" so off into the swamp we go on his 4 wheeler me riding bitch, but with a smile because i know I am about to see a hard lesson learned by the guy. To my surprise he fired that battery powered thing up and it cut them cypress knees like butter, I was surprised and instantly a fan as well.

I have since bought a battery powered weedwacker for light use, and a battery powered pole saw and used them both with no problems

 

[mtnbiker208]

Katana boy being used on a remote float. They are a good saw, but your first 12 inch diameter log you will be wishing for something motorized.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Have a echo cs400 for a lil beater saw. Its been frozen solid while plowing snow and also cartwheeled down hill climbs on a bike. Very fond of that saw.....Pull the carb screw stops so you can adjust it, an open the muffler a lil and its an impressive lil saw.

While a top handle saw would be a lot nicer on a bike, this one has seen a fair amount of miles. Been very handy

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I've gone through a few still MS170s. Those seem pretty standard in rural Alaska for cutting firewood, I cut and hauled around 20 cords of wood last winter using a 170. I have bigger saws but when I'm out with my snow machine looking for wood, I prefer a smaller one.

 

[manitou1]

I bought a Milwaukee M18 16" electric chain saw. The thing is a beast.
They claim 180 cuts per 12ah battery.

I took it up camping last month and cut enough firewood for three days with just the 6ah battery.
The 12ah battery cuts a lot more.

This is not a weak battery tool. It is a cutting machine and I would not hesitate to buy another if this one failed.

They have smaller ones also.

 

[180ls1]

Same here.......... which reminds of a funny story.........I was on a hog hunt with a friend of mine who was a taxidermist, he wanted to cut some cypress knees to use with his fish scenes. He grabs this battery power chainsaw, and I expecting to get a good laugh and make fun of him, (he's kinda a city guy anyway) said "hey wait i will go with ya" so off into the swamp we go on his 4 wheeler me riding bitch, but with a smile because i know I am about to see a hard lesson learned by the guy. To my surprise he fired that battery powered thing up and it cut them cypress knees like butter, I was surprised and instantly a fan as well.

I have since bought a battery powered weedwacker for light use, and a battery powered pole saw and used them both with no problems

Reminds me of the first time I rode in a Tesla. We went deer hunting funny enough. I knew they were fast but that stupid thing will break your neck if you're not ready.

What really impressed me though was the AC. Walking back it was already 80*+, the guy hit a button when we were 200 yards from it and the car was mid 60's inside when we opened the door.

 

[Steve300xcw]

No doubt the electric stuff works. I'll stick with my gas stuff though. Never found mixing gas to be an issue. Stay away from the husky's and you wont have bar oil leaking everywhere

They claim 180 cuts per 12ah battery.

What are they calling a cut?

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Project Farm did a couple solid videos on electric saw options. No riding on the front of a dirt bike abuse testing, but good info for a truck saw. I ended up going with dewalt so I can use the 10Ah batteries on my other tools.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

I keep a dewalt electric in my truck for road tripping and cutting wood for camp...works great for stuff around the house and butchering hogs too. I use vegetable oil instead of bar oil.

 

[Seeknelk]

Go cordless. Chances are when you need it months after putting saw in truck, your gas will be old and useless and your saw won't even bark till you change to all fresh gas. Ask me how I know. I have a Stihl 371 and if its not fresh gas, don't even try.