3-pt Hitch Log Splitter or Gas standalone?

[likeOwlNotCrow]

hey guys,

i'm new to the forum, and have seen a few threads that discuss this topic, but none that are specific to it - so i apologize in advance if this is a duplicate post...

i'm trying to decide between buying a 3-pt hitch log splitter or a gas splitter. we heat our home with a woodstove, so CSS wood is a weekly thing around here, and i've got the back to show for it. so i need to lay down the maul and add some equipment to the arsenal. we have 20 acres and i'd be doing 75% of my splitting on the property. the rest would be helping out my aging dad and getting together to get wood with friends at their places. i get the utility of a 3-pt splitter - it goes where me and the 4400 go in the woods, i can raise and lower it to work on uneven terrain, it's one less gas motor to deal with (in addition to the 0-turn mower, trimmer, tiller, couple of chainsaws, couple of leaf blowers, generator...). but if i want to split wood somewhere else where the tractor isn't, suddenly i need a trailer for the tractor, and all that comes with that..

so what i'm hoping for are anyone's opinions on the pros/cons of the two, and hopefully those who have at one point or another owned both and what they think.

thanks in advance
-jc

 

[lowellcantrell]

I debated the same thing last fall after installing an outside furnace. Decided to go with the 3 point hitch model. Bought a 16 ton Ramsplitter for half of what the other type would have cost. Been very pleased with the 3 point hitch model. Haven't found anything that was too tough for it. I usually run my tractor at about 1200 rpm.

 

[murphy1244]

:welcome: to TBN

 

[pat32rf]

I've got a trailer for my tractor and two homemade 3pth splitters, one vertical and one horizontal that I was given when their old owners got tired of them. Neither one has ever been on my 3pth but stay chained upright at the woodshed or the horizontal one gets moved to a pile of blocked wood with my FEL. (both of these splitters would be at home on an 80hp tractor instead of my JD4300).
If I am splitting wood, its going in MY woodsheds or quanset hut. Its easier to bring the logs to the woodshed than haul the splitter out to the bush, then load and haul the bitty split pieces back to my shed.
When my BIL(5 miles away) wants to split wood, he rents a gas splitter.....

 

[murphy1244]

Not worth putting the hours on the tractor.

 

[sd455dan]

hey guys,

i'm new to the forum, and have seen a few threads that discuss this topic, but none that are specific to it - so i apologize in advance if this is a duplicate post...

i'm trying to decide between buying a 3-pt hitch log splitter or a gas splitter. we heat our home with a woodstove, so CSS wood is a weekly thing around here, and i've got the back to show for it. so i need to lay down the maul and add some equipment to the arsenal. we have 20 acres and i'd be doing 75% of my splitting on the property. the rest would be helping out my aging dad and getting together to get wood with friends at their places. i get the utility of a 3-pt splitter - it goes where me and the 4400 go in the woods, i can raise and lower it to work on uneven terrain, it's one less gas motor to deal with (in addition to the 0-turn mower, trimmer, tiller, couple of chainsaws, couple of leaf blowers, generator...). but if i want to split wood somewhere else where the tractor isn't, suddenly i need a trailer for the tractor, and all that comes with that..

so what i'm hoping for are anyone's opinions on the pros/cons of the two, and hopefully those who have at one point or another owned both and what they think.

thanks in advance
-jc

well I wanted to buy a 3 point splitter but when it came down to price and the splitters rated tonnage the 3 point versions were not cost effective at least what i could find locally. Ended up with a 25 ton MTD for $1065 so far it has been very reliable, and it's going on 4.5 years+ splitting 5-8 cords a year. I like the fact that it frees the tractor up to haul the split wood or any other use...

 

[Marveltone]

I use a stand-alone gas powered (Speeco) wood splitter. This way, I can leave whatever implement I want (snow blower, box blade, etc) on the tractor. Just a personal choice.

Joe

 

[likeOwlNotCrow]

hey guys - thanks for the quick feedback...

i hadn't considered renting a gas splitter when needed - i'll look into that.

hours on the tractor engine...it's basically just idling and pumping hydraulic, right? i have no plans to sell this one so not worried too much about resale value and running up the hours.

i now typically cut 54ish inch lengths and put them in the bucket (upstairs stove like 18 inch wood, downstairs takes bigger) and take them back to the pile for splitting. sometimes i'll split where i cut - if i do that i can drag the wheelie gas splitter on the drawbar i guess..

any difference in speed/power between the two types?

 

[sd455dan]

hey guys - thanks for the quick feedback...

i hadn't considered renting a gas splitter when needed - i'll look into that.

hours on the tractor engine...it's basically just idling and pumping hydraulic, right? i have no plans to sell this one so not worried too much about resale value and running up the hours.

i now typically cut 54ish inch lengths and put them in the bucket (upstairs stove like 18 inch wood, downstairs takes bigger) and take them back to the pile for splitting. sometimes i'll split where i cut - if i do that i can drag the wheelie gas splitter on the drawbar i guess..

any difference in speed/power between the two types?

I think some are available with a high speed extend function but then regular speed when they actually begin the splitting process, DR sells a new style unit that looks much faster, believe it employs flywheel effect, been a while since I saw the ad??? No idea on its price..

 

[xring100]

Manufacturers of high quality, custom engineered wood splitters, log splitters and wood chippers. | Split-Fire Sales Inc. Quality Built. High Performance. | Split-Fire - Your Best Choice
These guys build splitters that will split logs up to 36" in length and all models split in both directions i have the 3pt 24" 4 way model I've split about 4 cord with since i bought it earlier in the winter. I had a chinese made Spee Co kinetic splitter that i took back after having a bunch of problems.
I liked the kinetic splitter like the Super split but found that they really are not as fast as my 4 way split fire as i could not 1/4 a log in one split it always took 3 passes because the push block is so short. the other problem fundamental problem was that it likes to chuck knotty pieces back at you.
I would have like a gas model but they were cost prohibitive.

On smaller tractors 3pt splitters tend to run slow because of the lower hydraulic flow, unless running a PTO pump
If i run my tractor about 2000 rpm i get between 4 and 5 seconds for each stroke. Rated capacity is 17 gpm i'm assuming this at 2600 rpm

My Splitter

Splitfire 3403 3pt Log Splitter with 4way and 2way knives

 

[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 :thumbsup:

 

[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.