Unhitching Log Splitter

[bones_pa]

Really stupid question (I think....) My log splitter is very tongue heavy and difficult to move around on a flat surface, much less on uneven work ground. Why do all manuals say it's important to unhitch the splitter before use? Keeping it hitched would make it easier to move around the job site. Thanks for the opinions.

 

[dave_dj1]

Probably so you don't smash a split right into the tow vehicle...LOL
I made a 30" extension for mine so I could keep it hooked to the truck with the tailgate down. Just for around the property and not on the roads.

 

[old CB]

I'm pretty sure there's no critical reason to be free from the tow vehicle when splitting. Possibly it's one of those matters that the attorneys at home office paste onto a decal to defer that one-in-a-million lawsuit because someone . . . (who knows?).

I know I'm unhooked from any vehicle when splitting because I tilt the beam up and split vertically while seated on a block of wood. I sit where the vehicle would be.

BTW, it's not a stupid question.

 

[Ted Jenkins]

Bones what a ridiculously stupid question. I have the same problem with my splitter. For one thing which was already addressed would be a split could run into the back of your vehicle. Ask me how I would know this, ridiculous for sure. Also you could extend the tongue for extra clearance. I am trying to use a small winch to move my splitter around along the lines of a 2500 LBS. My engine is electric start with a alternator so it keeps a battery charged. Then I welded a leg that is at the tongue with the bottom curved so it could skim over ground and not dig while its being moved. Then if none of this info helps it is up to you to find better solutions for the rest of us. Thanks

 

[alleyyooper]

One of these works well to move a splitter and you can leave it hooked up.


If yiou find it to troublesome to do by hand then remove the T part of the handle and use a clevis type hitch for a lawn tractor or ATV or put a ball coupler on it.
This one sells for 72.00 but northern tool has more robust models for more money.

Al

 

[LoveStihlQuality]

Bought a little Craftsman lawn tractor at an outdoor equipment dealer $50. Bit of TLC. Took off mower deck, welded receiver hitch to back. Does nice job of moving splitter around.

Sent from my SM-T377P using Tapatalk

 

[muddstopper]

When I built my splitter, I put the tongue on the engine end. I leave it attached to my ventrac and when the splits pile up, I just pull ahead a few feet and go back to splitting. It also comes in handy to back the splitting beam over the end of my dump trailer and let the splits just pile into the trailer as I split. My splitter is also tongue heavy, but I just run the cyl/pushplate out and that puts the weight away from the tongue. Once hooked up, I run the cyl back in to tow on the highway.

 

[Ted Jenkins]

For some situations a chain on the pushing plate attached to pickup or tree or will move spltter a few feet very easy, but only about twenty inches at a time. Thanks

 

[bones_pa]

Thanks for the responses. I gave a drawbar on my 3PTH that I use to tow the splitter with. It moves freely, so I couldn't imagine that any damage could happen there. The tongue is long enough to avoid damage from split wood. I guess I'll give it a try - just thought someone had a better idea why it wasn't recommended to split wood with it attached.

 

[rarefish383]

When on my truck hitch the tongue is too high. On my JD tractors, I have receiver hitches. One has a seven inch drop hitch, for a 4X4, turned upside down, to make it a seven inch lift. That makes it the exact same height as the leg when it’s down. The only reason I see to have it off the tow vehicle is to keep the beem level.

 

[Ted Jenkins]

Thanks for the responses. I gave a drawbar on my 3PTH that I use to tow the splitter with. It moves freely, so I couldn't imagine that any damage could happen there. The tongue is long enough to avoid damage from split wood. I guess I'll give it a try - just thought someone had a better idea why it wasn't recommended to split wood with it attached.

For most splitters even when the tongue is long the splitter can push splits into the tailgate with quite a bit of force. As the wood piles up along side of the tongue when two pieces of wood are stacked just right it can collapse the tailgate. Thanks

 

[nathan4104]

i put a receiver tube on the back of my ATV wagon for the sole purpose of towing the splitter and leaving it attached while working. I can toss the split wood into the trailer, move to the next spot..... backing it up requires ninja level concentration.

 

[NSMaple1]

My splitter is towed either by my ATV, or a trailer in between it & the ATV, into the woods where the trees & rounds are. If I wasn't splitting more than a trailer load, or if I was splitting all of what is in one place in one session, I would leave it hooked up. Except the hitch is usually too low and makes it have a big tilt to it. Otherwise - it is much more stable when hooked to something, and don't have to futz around with the stand & hooking & unhooking. If splitting into a pile, I would definitely try to leave it hooked up, since the wedge is on the end opposite the ball so would pull it ahead once in a while as the splits pile up around the end.

I don't know why they would recommend that, unless it's to try to protect people from themselves & beating up their tow vehicle with splits & rounds & stuff.