KenB2920
Veteran Member
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.
Agreed 100%
I debated this as well last year.
I like being able to tow it with my quad where the tractor can't go
I like being able to use my tractor to drag out trees while another man is splitting wood
I like being able to tow it out with my tractor, drop it at a location and turn my tractor around and throw the split wood right into the front bucket, this eliminates having to moving the wood yet another time.
I like being able to tow it to a buddies and split wood and they give me a case of beer. I can't just give my tractor out for people to use.
Pro of it on the tractor, yes you can cut at all different heights. If you have a big log just drop the 3pt arms and you won't have to lift it but the height of your I beam. (However my stand alone will also cut vertically so that shoots down that pro)
Nice not having another motor to maintain. Sure, but having just one more engine isn't a big deal to me. Maybe to some it is.
Now you mention hours on the tractor does not matter to you. That's all fine and dandy, hours don't really matter to me either. HOWEVER, I change my oil once a year in the splitter and I split 10 face cord. Hydraulic fluid will be every other year if not every third year. Running up hours on a tractor and speeding up the time frame on oil and hydro fluid will cost you more in the long run. Initially the stand alone will cost a couple hundred more. It will definitely be cheaper in the long run though. Maintenance was my deciding factor.
I received 4 cases of beer last year for the use of my splitter to a couple buddies. That's $60 in beer which brings Down the cost of the splitter in my opinion. Trivial maybe, but still true.