3-pt Hitch Log Splitter or Gas standalone?

[crazyal]

I went with stand alone one from Lowes with a Honda engine. Once a year I'll change the oil but that's it. I did rent but I felt like I needed to get my money's worth so I split 6 cord in one day and paid the price for the next couple days. Now I split a tank worth and call it a day. I like having the loader free for putting the slit wood into it. Also the cycle time on the 3pt model seamed a little slow for me.

[tree farmer]

I've had an 18 ton vertical/horizontal 3 pt. splitter for about 4 years and it's a beast when it comes to big, knarly stuff, which I have a lot of. I bought a 3pt. mostly for ease of movement in the woods, for which it works well. Downside is it ties up the tractor. I use my second tractor to bring wood to the splitter, but I can only drive one at a time and it's usually a quarter mile or more hike back to the barn to get the other one. If I was buying one today, I would look at a GOOD stand alone with at least a true 20 ton capacity and tow it to the work area with the ATV or FEL on the tractor. From what I've seen lately, the prices are comparable for the better units...Dan.

[greg_g]

I went the 3 point route as well. Two main reasons: (a) purchase price, and (b) I already have too many small engines to maintain.

//greg//

[Baby Grand]

I went with stand alone one from Lowes with a Honda engine. Once a year I'll change the oil but that's it. I did rent but I felt like I needed to get my money's worth so I split 6 cord in one day and paid the price for the next couple days. Now I split a tank worth and call it a day. I like having the loader free for putting the slit wood into it. Also the cycle time on the 3pt model seamed a little slow for me.

I went with a similar/same unit - mine's a Troy-Built 27 ton with Honda engine from Lowes. About 1300+tax. Very happy with the performance. It's surprisingly quiet and runs a long time on a tank of gas. I cut 23" for the big stove downstairs and 16" for the wee-beastie upstairs. I haul the splitteraround to the work with a lawn tractor, stack the splits on pallets and move the pallets with the CUT. Less handling is good!

[jpm1]

Like you owlnotcrow, my first splitter was a maul which transported easily but also tired easily. I bought my first splitter, an American, which worked great! only problem, 10" off the ground and terribly heavy on the hitch to hook up so, i mounted it on a 3pt hitch frame i bought from Central tractor many years ago. Problem solved. This lasted about 30 years, wearing out 3 motors and 2 hydralic pump and valves. We split well over 500 cord a year for 30 plus years dad and i. In 2009 i bought a 30 Ton Northern splitter with a auto idle honda, converts vertical to horizonal works great, quiet and runs affordably. Cheaper and quieter than either of my 2 tractors. Im splitting around 150 cord a year, not all mine but for older folks whom cant do it themselves. . . .John

[BuzzardA91]

I debated the same and went with a TSC Huskee brand 27 ton with the Honda engine. Was on the fence but have no regrets. It stays by my log pile but is easy to tow when needed. It will split horizontal or vertical which is real nice. I always split vertical and sit on a milk crate, pain free. And like CRAZYAl I will go do a tank of gas when I feel like it. It is nice not to have to start up the tractor, let it warm up, drive it down etc etc. I just walk out, pull off tarp, and start splitting. If you do most of your splitting in one spot stand alone works best for me. I use the tractor to drag the logs to my area when the conditions are right. When it's too muddy I just buck up logs or split instead of have to run the tractor in the mud and all that comes with it.

That is just my system. I am sure both have their advantages. That is just my thought process. And the only maintenance I do is change oil every year and hydro every two years.

[vtsnowedin]

I have a stand alone splitter that I can pull behind the 4wheeler or the tractor but spends most of it's time next to the wood pile. I like to bring blocks from wherever I bucked them up with the JD bucket and park close enough with the bucket waist high that I just swing the blocks over and let them drop a couple of inches onto the splitter beam. That saves a lot of lower back strain and I'm getting creaky enough to not want to accelerate the ageing process.

[likeOwlNotCrow]

thanks guys for the insight..i'm still on the fence, but leaning towards standalone at this point. i do most of my splitting at the woodpile, so it could have a nice home right there

[Herkypilot]

I bought a 30 ton Northstar from Northern last year. Mine is the same as JPM posted above. I wanted the Honda GX engine with idle down feature. Works as advertised. I've split about two cords with it so far.

[avc8130]

I like my standalone. It was cheap ($900).

I like the fact that my tractor is "free" to assist with the wood splitting. I can use the machine to move rounds closer and bring them to splitter height. I can also use the tractor to move the full pallets of wood. All the while the splitter is working if I have a 2nd person.

I also don't have to worry about swapping 3 point implements. Plus I can take my splitter with me if I want to help a buddy out or split wood off property.

Diesel also costs A LOT more than regular around here. Not to mention that maintaining the little gas motor costs <$10/year for oil and a filter. Maintaining the tractor costs A LOT more.