A Truck That Runs on Wood (Photos)

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http://www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page2557.html?theme=light

A Truck That Runs on Wood

I ran into this interesting character today at my local farmers market that drove up in an old pickup with a crazy looking contraption in the bed of the truck composed of ducting, PVC pipe, a 50 gallon drum, an old furnace, and of course, a lot of duct tape among other many other things.

I had to ask him what in the world was on the back of his truck. It was a wood burning oven that catches the combustible fumes from the wood coals, condenses any moisture, then feeds the fumes into the engine to make it run. I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it.

Apparently this is a concept that was engineered back in WWII when there were fuel supply shortages. I have never heard of it.

Probably would not be good if we all did it, but at least I know there is someone in town with a truck that will run no matter what happens with gasoline.

--Dave B.

You mean you don't have files downloaded on how to make wood gas...also known as producer gas??
And how to convert your tractor/vehicle?

You're no prepper...
You should have those files, and most of the materials on hand to cobble one together.

During WWII, we quit exporting gas so Mexico and other SA countries had to convert to 'woodburning' transportation. Seems to work although everybody I knew that ever was associated with it seemed to think it was rather 'smellly'.

Don't know why they thought that. May have been a South American thing.

It looks like a Still.

How does it work?

What happens if it explodes? (Moot point)

great photos! thanks!

previous thread on woodgas:

http://www.timebomb2000.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=100428&highlight=ener

Wood gas

Wood gas was extensively used in Europe during WWII, as the Axis (and occupied) countries had even greater petroleum shortages than did the Allies. Many, many fields were tilled and harvested by wood gas-burning tractors and other ag equipment! The British also used a fair amount of wood gas equipment.

This can be a viable fuel alternative for people with access to a lot of scrap wood and who live in an area where the enviro-nazis aren't too out of control.

My only advice would be that, as with virtually all alternative energy projects, you start work on it now...not after TSHTF. I have heard all too many people talk about the grandiose alternative energy plans they'll impliment "when things get bad." Meanwhile, they don't have a clue about basic industrial arts such as welding and brazing, cutting pipe threads or any of a host of other skills that are required to bring many of these projects off. Some others, who have a lot of the skills, don't have all the 'stuff' they'll need. If you've ever had trouble finding certain parts or supplies in normal times, imagine the difficulty after the supply chain(s) are greatly degraded.

Best regards
Doc

I have some very old Mother Earth magazines that show the same thing just a much older truck ( it was not old then 1970s) also how to build one if you wanted. Someone at that time showed it all over the country by driving it from state to state.

HA! I OWN the official US govt manual on producing wood gas for powering a (formerly) gas engine.

Periodically, throughout the publication, it mentions how great care should be take so a not to produce an explosion.

I wonder if that guy at the farmer's market is street legal?

CAgdma said:

HA! I OWN the official US govt manual on producing wood gas for powering a (formerly) gas engine.

Periodically, throughout the publication, it mentions how great care should be take so a not to produce an explosion.

I wonder if that guy at the farmer's market is street legal?

Click to expand...

street legal? looks like a perfectly acceptable vehicle to me. the only likely illegal part is that he's not paying "road tax" by avoiding it by not buying gasoline or diesel. and it's so patently obvious what he's doing to someone who has a clue, he's not surrepticiously breaking the law. however, the fact that nearly no one is likely to think that he has anything but a bunch of junk or machinery in the back (unless there's maybe smoke coming out?) that no one will give it a second thought. particularly if he hides those shiny tubes with rust-colored paint.

I think that there's more to this than meets the eye. I think I see a non-stock mass air flow sensor under the hood. Since this truck has computer controls, there's probably a need to "fool" the computer and it's other sensors into working.

Talk about saving money!

Interesting. I just can't figure how I would get all that stuff into the trunk of my Honda....

blackjeep said:

I think that there's more to this than meets the eye. I think I see a non-stock mass air flow sensor under the hood. Since this truck has computer controls, there's probably a need to "fool" the computer and it's other sensors into working.

Talk about saving money!

Interesting. I just can't figure how I would get all that stuff into the trunk of my Honda....

Click to expand...

yes, i think Fisher should do some investigative interview of the truck owner to see if he can get some details, and perhaps what the fellow used for plans, any changes he might have made to them, what he actually is using for fuel (wood blocks, sawdust, charcoal?), bypasses of computer controls, etc.


regarding how to accomodate it in a sedan, here's a couple of ideas:

trailer:

whoops, didn't come up. picture here: http://members.tripod.com/~highforest/woodgas/woodfired.html

typical installation had the oven in front or behind:

That is cool.