It might be simplier to turn your horizontel splitter into a vertical splitter, no lifting, no exrtra hydraulics, no winches, just roll the log to the plate, split, turn, split,turn,---easier on your back, less cost.
Hey Paul W how is that HF splitter holding Up? After ten years of abuse I rebuilt mine. still on the same pump and cylinder, replaced valve as it went south.
that splitter I borrowed from somebody last year. it did the job, but I bought a troy-built this year for myself. I'm in the process of putting a hydro log lift together for it now. I'm building my log-lift as a seperate machine completely self contained, so I can take it with me to load my truck offsite.