questions about renting a splitter

[lfunk11]

They said they have a 20 ton for $55 and a 30 ton for $65. I figure go for the 30 ton - right? Is there anyway to move it around without it being hooked up to a truck? Is it safe to work on a slope at all? My yard is not flat and the only spot that is flat is not near the wood and thus I can either get the splitter near the wood or move all the wood to the splitter. One of those options is MUCH easier than the other.

My hand splitting just can't keep up - might have to rent a splitter once a year. For $65 it would take at least 10 years to spend the same as I would spend on a used splitter so I guess its worth it to rent right now.

 

[mayhem]

Unless you have some really big, really stringy stuff, the 20 ton will do everything you need it to do. Both should be movable by hand as they are usually reasonably well balanced and you can roll a few hundred pounds of splitter fairly easily.

Regarding your placement, only you can decide that. I split on an uneven plane as I have almost no really level surfaces in my yard, but it all depends on your definition of slope. Mine is a very shallow grade and I can work there quite safely...yours may not be so shallow. Worst comes to worst you can always just leave the splitter hooked up to your truck while you use it...I've done that too...works fine.

 

[savageactor7]

Depends on the slope...too much and the engine won't lubricate properly. Block up and chalk the wheels and you should be OK.

 

[lfunk11]

thanks - I am hoping to get a bunch of wood split this weekend.

 

[lfunk11]

oh - the biggest stuff I have is upwards of 30 - 36" I can split it by hand, but the center of it is a pain in the butt to get split and thus my motivation to rent a splitter. I think I am just going to get the 30 ton for an extra $10 and know I won't have any issues.

 

[SolarAndWood]

I would spend the extra 10 bucks and crank it out. No one ever complains about having too big a splitter.

EDIT: if the two splitters have the same pump on them, get the smaller one. I just recalled a complaint from someone with a bigger splitter that only had a 11gpm pump on it and it was super slow.

 

[Kyle19]

I used a 27 ton a few times this season which I rented. My property also has a slope in it. I was able to put the splitter where I needed it with my truck to start but then i had to move it around the yard to get to all my piles. Obviously moving it down hill by hand was easier then uphill. I couldn't fit my truck back there so I needed to grab my neighbor and have him help me push it uphill.

 

[Got Wood]

Either will split what ever you throw at it.
Do both have a vertical splitting mode? Dont mean to invoke the horizontal/vertical debate but if you have 30-36" big boys to split it sure is easier doing that in vertical mode.
I can easily hand move my Huskee 22 ton around the yard although it is mostly flat ground - I imagine trying to pull or push it up an incline wouldnt be much fun.

 

[eujamfh]

I would get the larger one unless the pump is the same as noted above.

I went the rental route for one year - but I hated the fact I had to work the entire day I had it - and even then did not get enough done. I then spent the eyer searching for a used one...low balling on most of them. I finally found one that was nearly new, and got it for $800 (27 ton troy built). So indeed it will take years to cover the rental costs, but now I can split a little here and there, and don't have to drive back and forth to get the splitter. Also, for me the rental was $80.

Also, working slitters are always worth about $500 where I am - even the ones that look like heck. SO although I have $800 invested, I will recoop a good bunch of that when and if I have to sell it. Just a thought.

 

[Backwoods Savage]

Usually big can be good but I have never understood why so many folks get hung up on the bigger splitters. Usually it ends up boiling down to cycle time which is a non-issue. We split some pretty large pieces and some awfully tough splitting stuff and was worried the 20 ton would not do the job. That turned out to be no worry at all as it splits all we need in a little time.

If you don't want the $10, you could always rent the adequate 20 ton and send me the $10 as a tip.

Good luck.

 

[North of 60]

A long day splitting with a rental 20 ton. $65 Almost got em all.

 

[Ronmbucket]

A 20 ton might be easier to secure on a slope if it's lighter. I rented one in the spring for level land use and I couldn't believe how powerful it was. Three men split and stacked gnarly maple for a half a day. That machine kicked our butts.