Towing a Log Splitter (NY)

dougtrr2 · Jul 5, 2023

How old is the log splitter? Right after I got mine I towed it twice. Once to get it home and once to a canvas shop to get a cover made. Now after many years I would not consider towing it unless I repacked the wheel bearings and put on new tires (the original ones are weather checked).

I have no clue as to what laws, New York or Iowa apply to log splitters.

Doug in SW IA

FriendwithTractor · Jul 5, 2023

Mine makes an annual trip to the mountain (About forty miles round trip) down mostly country roads, top speed is never more than 45 miles an hour. I've never been stopped (So far).

I wouldn't be trying to get on the highway with it, but short trips are fine. +1 for putting on a larger trailer for extended trips.
(Manufacturer recommended as well.)

ROUSTABOUT · Jul 5, 2023

BX23S-1 said:
As the title says, towing a log splitter in NY. Anybody gotten a ticket for towing a log splitter in New York ???

If it's under a certain length, narrower than your vehicle, it shouldn't need license plates or lights. Show me a brick mason that has the mortar mixer licensed. And I'm not from Missouri.

BX23S-1 · Jul 5, 2023

dougtrr2 said:
How old is the log splitter? Right after I got mine I towed it twice. Once to get it home and once to a canvas shop to get a cover made. Now after many years I would not consider towing it unless I repacked the wheel bearings and put on new tires (the original ones are weather checked).

I have no clue as to what laws, New York or Iowa apply to log splitters.

Doug in SW IA

Hi Doug,
i just bought the log splitter brand new a week or so ago. I`ve never known about any licensing of a log splitter, i just wondered if others around upstate NY had gotten into any law problems with towing theirs or not. I spoke to locals around my area, nobody could tell me anything. I`ve seen tons of them being towed over the years, don`t recall seeing anyone getting into trouble on the road with police. This is the first time i`ve ever bought a brand new log splitter, first time towing one home behind my truck. An old log splitter i had, was small enough to throw in the back of my truck years ago. But this 40-ton splitter is way to big and to heavy for one guy to put in the bed of a truck, much less getting it out of the truck when i got home with it, so i towed it home, never went over 40mph the whole trip home (12 mile trip one way), took back roads. I stopped twice to make sure everything was ok, and it was fine. I felt the wheel hubs with my hand, warm, but not hot at all. I`ll be pulling the hubs and re-packing the wheel bearings real soon though just to make sure there`s plenty of grease in the bearings. This log splitter will never see the road again so long as i own it. One day i suppose i will sell it, then its the new owners problem to find a way to take it home. The way it is in NY now, it wont be long before they make you register, everything, including your pens & pencils.

nyone · Jul 5, 2023

I live in NY and use to be a mechanic. NYS law states that no trailer needs a plate if it's not able to carry cargo. So anything like a log splitter, air compressor, light tower or cement mixer dosnt need a plate.

nyone · Jul 5, 2023

Its NYS. Mv274. Its available online.

BX23S-1 · Jul 5, 2023

nyone said:
I live in NY and use to be a mechanic. NYS law states that no trailer needs a plate if it's not able to carry cargo. So anything like a log splitter, air compressor, light tower or cement mixer dosnt need a plate.

I was a NYS (automotive) inspector for 20+yrs, turned wrenches in many dealerships many years ago, never heard of having to register or inspect any of those you mentioned back in my day either. But being i`ve been away from that kind of work for the last 30yrs, i wasn`t sure if anything had changed. You never know about NY and their evil ways to collect fine & taxation money`s.

dodge man · Jul 5, 2023

Pretty careless of you towing it home. If your truck doesn’t have a trailer brake and wiring setup you need a new truck, a 1 ton dually would work, diesel optional.

I joke, I’d do what you did and tow it home if you can keep the speed down.

CalG · Jul 5, 2023

An aside.....

If you do tow a splitter, Turn off the fuel cock!

else the contents of the fuel tank will end up in the crank case.

Float bowl jitters......

BX23S-1 · Jul 5, 2023

dodge man said:
Pretty careless of you towing it home. If your truck doesn’t have a trailer brake and wiring setup you need a new truck, a 1 ton dually would work, diesel optional.
I joke, I’d do what you did and tow it home if you can keep the speed down.

LOL

I`m A RAM (HEMI or CUMMINS) man myself. But i came across this ole 06 chubby rot`arado truck pretty cheap to do all the dirty work. I don`t care if it gets all banged up. I let my new RAM go because i`m retired and i got tired of the brakes rusting & freezing up on it when it would sit in my driveway for weeks on end. So far, the chubby has yet to rust & freeze the pads to the brake rotors, even when it sits around for 2 or 3 months.

What i care-less about, is having truck payments, and a truck not getting used enough anymore for what i was paying out on it every month.