Keith Harnack and his 40′ RV towed his new TimberKing 1600 — all 3,540 lbs. of it. That’s 70′ of steel rolling 2,000 miles at 70 mph!
“My lifelong dream has always been owning a sawmill. I was finally able to pull the trigger and I got a TimberKing 1600 last year. Now everything I’ve wanted is coming together.
Keith’s to do list: Build barn, network with tree services, help vets
My big plan is to build a 40’ x 60’ barn. That’s why I got the 1600 with its 20’ capacity. Some of the framing needs to be 20’ long. I’ll be sawing flooring, posts, and more.
I’ve got a 20’ flatbed trailer and I want to start making connections with tree companies that take down nuisance trees. That could be a real win-win: I get trees and they don’t have to dispose of them.
But here’s a plan that really puts a gleam in my eye. I have huge respect for people in the military, especially those who’re having a hard time after they’re discharged. I want to find a way to get a crew of vets who need jobs and help them get back into the community. Maybe we’d mill wood and donate it to build VA shelters…
Epic RV road trip
While I was working with TimberKing about purchasing this machine, I asked about delivery. That’s when the idea came up to tow it home behind my 40’ RV. I knew my RV could tow a mill easily and would cost less than having it delivered.
I ordered my mill and TimberKing built it, fully assembled and ready to go, a couple weeks earlier than planned. My girlfriend, Tina, and I drove to the TimberKing factory in Kansas City with the wind at our backs.
Full Demo & Training at the Factory
TimberKing Tech Reps gave me a full demo — everything from setup to sawing a red oak log into boards right at the factory. The log was 10 or 12’ long, 26” diameter.
Those TimberKing guys are meticulous. They took me through the mill step by step and end to end. We went through the whole machine with a square and a level. They showed me how to set up and align it. It’s built so well it holds its alignment nicely. I towed this mill almost 2,000 miles. When I got home, I checked it all and everything was still right on.
Blowing snow
Of course, driving from KC to Washington state, we experienced driving challenges. For starters, we ended up towing it in December. Fortunately, the driving conditions weren’t too bad, though we did get some side wind that can move you around a little.
Tina and I did hit one good snowstorm with blowing snow and very low visibility. We crept along between 10 and 30 mph for many miles.
My RV has a rear camera so I didn’t have to rely on mirrors. The weight was not a problem but the RV and the mill together were 70’ long and there aren’t too many campgrounds you can pull into with a rig that big.
After almost 2,000 miles and a lot of ‘thumbs up’ signs from other drivers, we arrived home. My house is on five acres. It’s rural but just four miles from town. I have a lot of trees I can take down, primarily pine but lots of cedar, madrone, maple, and more. A buddy of mine gave me some nice maple logs; three sections of a single tree. Each section is 6’ long or so. At the butt end, it’s maybe 30” in diameter.
Learn to listen
I’m new to sawing but I’m gaining confidence. It’s so easy to use, it’s almost foolproof, especially with the training TimberKing guys gave me. They told me what to listen for and that’s a lesson I learned in the Navy as a Machinist’s Mate — If you listen, you can learn to hear when any machine’s running well and when it’s not.
As I said, I thought about getting a mill for years and there are quite a few out there. I reviewed a lot of mills and TimberKing has a good reputation. Their online videos are very good, too.
When I’m 70….
The 1600 has a lot of extras I liked, like the bi-directional chain log turner, hydraulic log loaders, and more. Plus, since I’m getting older, I liked the 1600’s hydraulics. I’m 56 now but I believe I’ll be able to run this machine when I’m 70 with no problem. Yes, you can buy a mill for less but you have to bolt it together and crank it by hand.
I liked the cut capacity and it was at a really good price point compared to other brands. The hydraulics are great and I like the 4-Post Head. And I definitely wanted something I could tow down the highway. I can tow it to a building site and saw whatever dimension lumber or beams the builder need.
I’m not planning to go into a big milling business; this is more for my own personal use. The bigger TimberKing models are nice but I didn’t feel like I needed to go that big.
Don’t wait 20 years like I did!
My best advice for others thinking about getting a TimberKing: don’t wait 20 years like I did! Do your research, make sure you get what you need. Make a list of ‘wants’ and ‘must haves.’ Get the specs and prices and make your choice from there.
I absolutely recommend TimberKing, start to finish. If you can afford to get into a TimberKing 1600, do it. I shopped on their website, bought by phone, and went there in person. Everyone I worked with was top-notch – financing, demo, fast build, everything. I was even welcomed by the company president, Will Johnson.”
— Keith Harnack, TimberKing 1600 Owner, Silverdale WA
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