The 9 Best Timberjacks

If you cut firewood alone, the Woodchuck Timberjack is the one to beat. Its aluminum handle and twin feet keep it light enough to carry into the woods, and the hook grabs everything from fence-post logs to fair-size trunks. A toe lift pops the hook free without bending down. It is made in the U.S. with a lifetime warranty. The drawback is a steep price for a lever and a hook.

For big oaks and storm-downed trunks, the Woodchuck DualPro does double duty. With the front jack on, it lifts a log for cutting. Pull the jack off by hand and it becomes a cant hook that rolls trunks up to about 30 inches across, with a peavey point that slides out to bite. It is built in the U.S. from aluminum and steel and backed for life. The extra parts take some tracking, and the price is high.

The LogOX 3-in-1 suits people who heat with wood and handle a lot of it. A short hauler lets you drag and lift rounds without stooping, and the same body takes a cant hook extension or a wide-footed timberjack stand. Firewood for Life called it solid and well built, and it has a lifetime warranty. The back-strain savings in its ads are the maker's figures, and it's a lot to spend for a few cords a year.

Bent handles are the classic way cheap lifters fail, and the Roughneck Steel Core answers that with a steel rod running inside its fiberglass handle. The A-frame stand bolts on at two points for a steadier base, and it comes off when you want a plain cant hook. Its hook is rated for logs up to about a foot across, so big trunks are out, and it is heavy to haul around.

Buyers who want sturdy steel without a big bill should look at the Right Hand Timberjack. Its thick powder-coated steel tube and wide T-shaped foot give it a planted feel, and its hook fits the small and mid-size logs most backyard cleanup produces. It arrives with the bolts needed to put it together. The seller backs it for one year, and we found little about how it holds up after several seasons.

Anyone who wants to lift and roll with one light tool should look at the Woodchuck TimberPro. Small teeth on its hook hold a log still while you cut, and the same hook turns logs into position, so there are no attachments to swap. It is made in the U.S. and backed for life. It can't roll the biggest trunks, and that much money for a hand lever gives some buyers pause.

When the budget is the lowest it can go, the VEVOR BY-026 covers occasional cutting. It is carbon steel with an orange powder coat, a rubber grip and a triangular foot that resists tipping. The hook adjusts for different log sizes, and it has held up well for firewood-scale jobs. Ignore the big log-size claim in the sales copy and plan on mid-size logs. It is heavy to carry, and no warranty is stated.

People who like the feel of wood in their hands will find the Ironton Wooden Handle a simple, traditional lifter. A hardwood shaft is fitted to a steel hook and stand, and the stand raises the log high enough that the chain stays out of the dirt. It is a Northern Tool house brand. Few detailed specs are published, the wood can crack if the tool is left out in the rain, and no warranty is stated.

The Timber Tuff TMB-75ATJ rolls on two small wheels, so you can push it under a log instead of dragging the stand into place. A quick pin sets the double hook at five positions, and the T-frame comes off for cant-hook work. A fiberglass handle sits over high-carbon steel parts. It is a heavy tool, assembly draws mixed reports, and the warranty covers parts for only one year.