38 Jp jpmagazine.com NOVEMBER 2019
TRAIL TOOL
Sources
DeWalt, dewalt.com
Northern Tool + Equipment,
800/221-0516, northerntool.comBattery-operated chainsaws, such
as the 16-inch DeWalt 40V Max XR we
were holding, are far quieter than their
gas counterparts; there’s no gas and oil
to mix, no hard-starting issues, and they
don’t permeate a vehicle interior with the
smell of gas. All good things to consider,
and the DeWalt 40V Max XR made quick
work of fallen trees and brush block-
ing the trails in the Pacific Northwest
last winter. The 19.4-pound XR is one
of DeWa lt’s ma ny 20V, 40V, a nd 60V
battery-operated tools. It’s powered by
The 19.4-pound DeWalt chainsaw is relatively quiet and feels well balanced when cutting.
DeWalt claims the 40V Max XR battery will make 70 cuts through 6x6 pressure-treated pine.
This one sliced through fallen hardwood with ease, and we never had the noise, smell, or
hard-star t issues of many gas-powered saws.
a 40V brushless motor, is nearly identi-
cal in size to my gas saw it replaced, and
it ca me w it h a n Oregon ba r a nd^3 ⁄ 8 -inch
pitch, 0.043-inch gauge chain. When the
chain needs to be tightened, the tool-free
adjustment system is well designed and
simple to use.
We like that this model features a
tool-free chain tensioner, a high-quality
chain brake, an automatic no-leak bar
oiling system, and a fast battery charger.
Depress the conveniently located safety
lockout, squeeze the variable throttletrigger, and it’s good to go. Although the
40V Max XR wasn’t as fast of a cutter
as my old gas saw, it still ripped through
hardwoods blocking a trail—without
having to mix gas, disturb the wildlife, or
breathe in exhaust.
DeWa lt cla i ms t he h ig her a mp -hou r
battery is enough power to make 70 cuts
through 6x6-inch pressure-treated pine.
The 40V, 6Ah lithium-ion battery, an
upgrade over the standard 4Ah battery,
still had “fuel” left in it at day’s end after
cutting through downfalls up to a foot
in diameter. When the juice did run out,
recha rge t i me was less t ha n a n hou r.
Should that need to be done off the grid,
just plug the charger into the 115V power
outlet that’s standard in the Saharas and
Rubicons, and in many other 4x4s.
The DeWalt 40V Max XR fits nicely
in the world of the typical Jeep owner.
It’s an efficient tool to have on the trail
and at camp, and it’s equally beneficial to
anyone who owns property where cutting
brush, trees, and firewood are regular
occ u r rences. DeWa lt a lso of fer s a new
60V Flexvolt version of this same saw,
which is also worth considering.Powered by either the standard 4Ah battery or
the optional 6Ah we used, the DeWalt 40V Max
XR cordless chainsaw will handle most woodcut-
ting needs faced by the average off-roader. The
bat ter y also fits in other 40V DeWalt tools.