How Much Firewood Fits in a 6x4 Trailer? Weight, Volume and What to Expect
A standard 6x4 trailer holds around 300 kg of Redgum firewood — or roughly 0.7 cubic metres when stacked neatly. That's a solid load for a weekend top-up, but not quite a tonne. How close you get to those numbers depends on how tightly you stack it and the height of your trailer sides.
Here's everything you need to know before you load up.
What Does a 6x4 Trailer Actually Hold?
A 6x4 trailer measures approximately 1.8 m long by 1.2 m wide. With standard 300 mm sides, the internal volume works out to around 0.65–0.7 cubic metres.
If your trailer has taller sides — say 400 mm or higher — you're looking at closer to 0.85–1.0 cubic metres of stacking space. A lot of people underestimate this difference. Taller cage sides can meaningfully change how much wood you get home in a single run.
Quick reference:
| Trailer side height | Approx. volume |
|---|---|
| 300 mm (standard) | 0.65–0.7 m³ |
| 400 mm | 0.85 m³ |
| 500 mm | ~1.0 m³ |
How Much Does That Firewood Weigh?
Redgum is one of Australia's densest hardwoods — which is exactly why it burns so well, but also why your trailer feels noticeably heavier than you'd expect.
A cubic metre of seasoned Redgum typically weighs 700–900 kg. So a 6x4 trailer stacked with 0.7 m³ could weigh anywhere from 490–630 kg before you factor in the trailer itself. That matters for your tow vehicle's rated capacity — always check it before you load up.
Important: Most standard 6x4 trailers are rated at 750 kg GVM (gross vehicle mass). That includes the trailer's own weight (roughly 200–300 kg), which leaves a payload of around 450–550 kg. A full load of dense Redgum can push right up against that limit. When in doubt, load lighter.
Hand Loading vs. Tipping — What to Expect at Daisy's
When you pick up Redgum firewood at Daisy's, you've got two options for how it goes into your trailer:
Hand load yourself — you load the pieces directly into your trailer by hand. Takes a bit more time, but lets you stack neatly and fit more in. Better for your trailer's load distribution too.
Loader tip — our loader tips the firewood directly into your trailer. Quick and easy, but a tipped load won't be as compact as a stacked one. You'll likely fit slightly less volume, and you may want to secure it before driving off.
Either way, our team at the store can help you figure out the right quantity before you load up.
Don't have a trailer? Daisy's also delivers Redgum firewood. Drop into your nearest Daisy's store or get in touch and we'll arrange it for you.
Ready to load up?
How Many Cubic Metres of Firewood Is That?
Most firewood suppliers sell by the cubic metre or by the tonne. So it helps to know where a trailer load sits on that scale.
- 1 trailer load (0.7 m³) = roughly 70% of a cubic metre
- 1.5 trailer loads ≈ 1 cubic metre
- 3 trailer loads ≈ 2 cubic metres
If a supplier quotes you "a cubic metre," that's about one and a half trips in a standard 6x4.
One thing to note: a cubic metre of stacked firewood contains a lot of air gaps. The actual solid wood content is typically around 60–70% of the stated volume. This is normal — it's how firewood has always been measured and sold in Australia. The Firewood Association of Australia recommends stacking wood neatly before measuring to reduce inconsistencies between buyers and sellers.
How Is Firewood Sold — Weight or Volume?
Most firewood suppliers sell either by weight (kilograms or tonnes) or by the cubic metre. The method matters more than people realise.
By weight is the more reliable option. Because dry Redgum contains roughly the same amount of energy per kilogram regardless of how it's cut or stacked, buying by weight means you always know exactly what you're getting. At Daisy's, we sell Redgum firewood by weight — so there's no guessing.
By volume (cubic metres) is common too, but a thrown load can contain a lot of air gaps. The Firewood Association of Australia recommends wood be neatly stacked before measuring to keep things honest between buyer and seller.
How Does a 6x4 Compare to an 8x5 Trailer?
If you're regularly carting firewood, you might be weighing up whether an 8x5 is worth it.
An 8x5 trailer measures approximately 2.4 m × 1.5 m, giving you around 1.1–1.4 cubic metres of volume depending on side height — roughly double the capacity of a 6x4.
That means one trip in an 8x5 ≈ two trips in a 6x4. If you're stocking up for a full winter, the bigger trailer saves time. Just check your tow vehicle's capacity — an 8x5 fully loaded with Redgum can exceed 1,200 kg quickly.
How to Stack Firewood in a Trailer Properly
How you load matters. A thrown load will settle during transport and leave you with less than you expected. A stacked load gets you more wood, less mess, and a more stable ride.
- Start with a flat layer across the trailer floor, bark side down where possible.
- Stack in rows with pieces facing the same direction.
- Alternate the direction of each layer — like brickwork — so the stack ties itself together.
- Avoid loading above the trailer sides unless your trailer has a rated cage that supports it.
- Strap the load if it's stacked above the trailer sides.
A neatly stacked 6x4 will carry more wood than a sloppy thrown load — and you won't be pulling pieces off the road on the way home.
Stock Up With Daisy's Redgum Firewood
Daisy's Garden Supplies stocks quality Redgum Firewood sold by weight, available for pick-up or delivery across Melbourne and Geelong. Redgum is one of Australia's best-burning hardwoods — dense, long-lasting, and ideal for wood heaters and open fires.
When you pick up in store, you can hand load your trailer yourself or have our loader tip it in for you. Not sure how much you need? Drop into your nearest Daisy's store and we'll help you work it out — or get in touch to arrange delivery.
FAQ
How much does a cubic metre of firewood weigh?
For Redgum, a cubic metre typically weighs 700–900 kg depending on how well it's seasoned and how tightly it's stacked.
How many trailer loads make a tonne of firewood?
A tonne of Redgum is roughly 1.1–1.4 cubic metres of stacked wood — so around 1.5 to 2 standard 6x4 trailer loads.
How long does a cubic metre of firewood last?
It varies by how often you run your heater and how cold the winter is. As a rough guide, most Melbourne households using a wood heater 4–5 nights a week will get through 3–5 cubic metres per season. A single 6x4 trailer load is more of a top-up than a full winter's supply.
Is it better to buy firewood by weight or volume?
Weight is the more reliable option — you know exactly what you're getting. At Daisy's we sell Redgum by weight, so you're not guessing at how much wood is actually in the load.
What's the payload capacity of a 6x4 trailer?
Most standard 6x4 trailers have a GVM of 750 kg, which after the trailer's own weight (approx. 200–300 kg) leaves a usable payload of around 450–550 kg. Always confirm your specific trailer's rating before loading dense hardwood like Redgum.
Daisy's Garden Supplies is a Victorian-owned garden and landscape supply business with stores across Melbourne and Geelong. We stock firewood, soils, mulches, sands, aggregates, synthetic turf, and more.