Gravely / Ariens 22T vs 27T log splitter comparison - chose the 27T

  • Active since 1995, Hearth.com is THE place on the internet for free information and advice about wood stoves, pellet stoves and other energy saving equipment.

    We strive to provide opinions, articles, discussions and history related to Hearth Products and in a more general sense, energy issues.

    We promote the EFFICIENT, RESPONSIBLE, CLEAN and SAFE use of all fuels, whether renewable or fossil.
Status
Not open for further replies.

laxin213

Burning Hunk
Sep 18, 2014
154
Buffalo NY
I've read several threads here and on arborist site regarding these 2 splitters. I've narrowed my search down to them because I liked that they are made in the US (WI), that they have a smaller footprint for storage compared to most on the market, the cycle time is good (13sec on the 22T and 15sec on the 27T), they have a good dealer network local to me (that made me shy away from speedco/huskee and DHT because I don't think they have local devoted dealers), and mostly the price. I have a budget and I know iron and oak and some other high end splitters are really wonderful commercial grade units, for 3-5 cords a year or so I can't justify the cost. The Subaru engine is pretty well reviewed as well. They also both had a 3 year consumer warranty which seemed as good or better than most other splitters I could find. The operation could work from either side I liked that and seeing it the splitter at the dealer the layout looked good to me.

The question was then which model. I visited my local Ariens dealer and the sales guy there had the 22T at $1399 and the 27T at $1749. Dealer noted the weight difference being significant 367lb vs 498lb thus the 27T was deemed by Ariens to have a more professional frame and the 22T more a consumer grade frame. Also the 22T has the 4.5hp Subaru and the 27T had a 5.7hp Subaru. He noted that the 22T had a newer vertical shaft crankshaft and the 27T had a more "time tested" horizontal shaft design and the same engine they've been using for a long time. So he was really pushing the more expensive unit - go figure.

My budget was $1000ish. I was really leaning towards the 22t but I figured I'd check online and low and behold lowes had a 27T Troy built with a Honda gas engine for $1299. Also a website I'd never heard of tylertools.com had the Ariens 27T for 1299$! So I took print outs of these to my dealer and he said "no way I'd lose $ on a price match". I went to my local HD and they wouldn't price match. Talked to the manager and she was polite but wouldn't do it. No 10% off Lowe coupon accepted either. No military offered (my dad is a vet and we're splitting it). No real reason, and they showed "limited quantities" online and in the register in their store even though I found one In a crate in lawn and garden up on a shelf. I told her (manager) they should at least update their inventory and she shrugged her shoulders. So I called 1800homedepot in their parking lot and they price matched for me with free freight and lift gate to my house. So I'm at $1299 plus tax delivered to me for free. Has anyone ever done Home Depot freight? I was told the deliver driver will call first and they better I have a shared driveway and its narrow there's no way a semi is going to make it back out.

Contemplating calling HD corporate and reporting the manager's practices. If she would have updated her inventory to 1 Instead of limited quantities I could have bought at online picked up in the store - the same store that just turned me down. Instead she is making her store have higher profitability by not price matching. Also it is creating a system where they don't update their store inventory thus leading to a climate where items could "walk away" without their being an inventory system at HD that is accurate. I'd think corporate would like to have a say in that. As of now the store still says limited quantities on the item online, and if you may or may not have a $1500 item instock I think the inventory system ought to know...
 
Last edited:
Since I couldn't find any threads related to Home Depot shipping, I figure I'll detail the freight process as I experienced it. I got an email 2 days after I placed my order. It said a carrier called NEMF has the item and is shipping from their depot in NJ to my local dealer in upstate NY. Home Depot has a white glove delivery serivce they call it where it goes factory --> local dealer ---> me. It's supposed to be no additional cost. I've attached a pic from HD's website. I figured I'd get the splitter dry on a crate in my driveway and I'd have to check/fill all fluids etc but it looks like the dealer is doing that I - didn't even know. I'll update when the shinny orange splitter arrives.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1430352248.222789.jpg
 
I'm not sure what white glove treatment means but I deal with truck drivers a lot. including nemf. Keep a 20 dollar bill on you. Might help you get it all the way up the driveway. They usually have a pallet jack. Not sure how that are going to ship it after its assembled but it might be bolted down to a pallet.
 
Here was my invoice below. I asked when ordering "does the delivery service include lift-gate?" They said yes, but I figured I'd end up tipping the guy to get it on the ground. From what I'm reading it's "assembly checked" at the dealer, and then reloaded onto a truck (possibly in a pallet?) and brought to my house like 7 miles away. I'd rather just go to the dealer and pick it up but I'm going to let the process play out. I figure I'll have to take a half day of work off to meet the driver, I have a 1400' long driveway that is shared I'd rather he leaves it at the road I'll take it back in my gator utv

751058026466
169 cc 27-Ton Gas Log splitter
Subtotal: $1,299.00
Shipping: $0.00
Estimated Sales Tax: $103.92
Order Total: $1,402.92
 
I've read several threads here and on arborist site regarding these 2 splitters. I've narrowed my search down to them because I liked that they are made in the US (WI), that they have a smaller footprint for storage compared to most on the market, the cycle time is good (13sec on the 22T and 15sec on the 27T), they have a good dealer network local to me (that made me shy away from speedco/huskee and DHT because I don't think they have local devoted dealers), and mostly the price. I have a budget and I know iron and oak and some other high end splitters are really wonderful commercial grade units, for 3-5 cords a year or so I can't justify the cost. The Subaru engine is pretty well reviewed as well. They also both had a 3 year consumer warranty which seemed as good or better than most other splitters I could find. The operation could work from either side I liked that and seeing it the splitter at the dealer the layout looked good to me.

The question was then which model. I visited my local Ariens dealer and the sales guy there had the 22T at $1399 and the 27T at $1749. Dealer noted the weight difference being significant 367lb vs 498lb thus the 27T was deemed by Ariens to have a more professional frame and the 22T more a consumer grade frame. Also the 22T has the 4.5hp Subaru and the 27T had a 5.7hp Subaru. He noted that the 22T had a newer vertical shaft crankshaft and the 27T had a more "time tested" horizontal shaft design and the same engine they've been using for a long time. So he was really pushing the more expensive unit - go figure.

My budget was $1000ish. I was really leaning towards the 22t but I figured I'd check online and low and behold lowes had a 27T Troy built with a Honda gas engine for $1299. Also a website I'd never heard of tylertools.com had the Ariens 27T for 1299$! So I took print outs of these to my dealer and he said "no way I'd lose $ on a price match". I went to my local HD and they wouldn't price match. Talked to the manager and she was polite but wouldn't do it. No 10% off Lowe coupon accepted either. No military offered (my dad is a vet and we're splitting it). No real reason, and they showed "limited quantities" online and in the register in their store even though I found one In a crate in lawn and garden up on a shelf. I told her (manager) they should at least update their inventory and she shrugged her shoulders. So I called 1800homedepot in their parking lot and they price matched for me with free freight and lift gate to my house. So I'm at $1299 plus tax delivered to me for free. Has anyone ever done Home Depot freight? I was told the deliver driver will call first and they better I have a shared driveway and its narrow there's no way a semi is going to make it back out.

Contemplating calling HD corporate and reporting the manager's practices. If she would have updated her inventory to 1 Instead of limited quantities I could have bought at online picked up in the store - the same store that just turned me down. Instead she is making her store have higher profitability by not price matching. Also it is creating a system where they don't update their store inventory thus leading to a climate where items could "walk away" without their being an inventory system at HD that is accurate. I'd think corporate would like to have a say in that. As of now the store still says limited quantities on the item online, and if you may or may not have a $1500 item instock I think the inventory system ought to know...
I bought the exact same splitter in the same way you did through HD. They shipped it to a local Ariens dealer who set it up and delivered it to my driveway ready to go. Its my understanding that this is white glove service. Enjoy your splitter. I know I do! Just double check the hydraulic fluid level after a full cycle while they are still there to make sure they topped it off during assembly.
 
Good tip thanks for it
 
My Arien's 22T is awesome. Destroys everything into nice wedges :). You got a good deal on your 27T, although I see no need for anything higher than 22T
 
I don't have a Ariens, but my Robin engine's throttle can be adjusted, so I usually split at half throttle.
 
My Arien's 22T is awesome. Destroys everything into nice wedges :). You got a good deal on your 27T, although I see no need for anything higher than 22T

I anticipate sharing a lot among the family, I liked the deal that I got on mine but I can't say a single bad thing about the 22T nor can I really point out anything that the 27 could do that the 22 could not, I'm Happy to get the slightly bigger, heavier machine and I think it's got a bigger frame that may tow better if it's going to be towed quite a
Bit like I anticipate.
 
I don't have a Ariens, but my Robin engine's throttle can be adjusted, so I usually split at half throttle.

I'll have to check on that not sure if mine has that ability but thank u
 
I never noticed any kind of throttle on my Subaru engine. Just the choke.

I actually like how light the 22T frame is. I can move it around my 2.5 acre yard by hand.
 
My Subaru engine is the 9 hp EX27 model.

That must be a large Tonnage commercial splitter ? I am not familiar with robin but my is going to be the 5.7HP
 
I've had similar experiences with a local HD. I was buying kitchen cabinets and one HD 20 min away had the entire line at 50% off but they did not have the exact unit I needed to complete the job. Another HD had the exact unit but no discount. A long discussion with the manager ensued. He confirmed the 50% discount but refused to honor price matching even though we were standing under a 20' banner that advertised it. I called corporate and they shrugged their shoulders and said it was at the manager's discretion. I ended up driving an hour to another HD to get the unit at 50% off. False advertising but not worth blowing a gasket.

I was looking at splitters last night but no sales on good units and I can't justify $1,800. My small electric does 90% of the wood but the other 10% will have to wait for a rental.
 
I've had similar experiences with a local HD. I was buying kitchen cabinets and one HD 20 min away had the entire line at 50% off but they did not have the exact unit I needed to complete the job. Another HD had the exact unit but no discount. A long discussion with the manager ensued. He confirmed the 50% discount but refused to honor price matching even though we were standing under a 20' banner that advertised it. I called corporate and they shrugged their shoulders and said it was at the manager's discretion. I ended up driving an hour to another HD to get the unit at 50% off. False advertising but not worth blowing a gasket.

I was looking at splitters last night but no sales on good units and I can't justify $1,800. My small electric does 90% of the wood but the other 10% will have to wait for a rental.

Not sure where your budget is at but lowes has the DHT 22ton for 999 and you could get a 10% off on it. I paid 1299+ tax for my 27T ariens , shipped free. I'm splitting ownership within the family though. Just do your math if you rarely need the big hydraulic guy, rent one once a year. Or buy the hydraulic, use it and rent it out $25/hour and it pays for itself in 40 Hours. Friend did that, minimum rental 4 hours. He put it on craigslist and worked the machine and stayed with it. 10 rentals and it was paid for
 
Finally picked it up today. HD HD it sent to my local ariens dealer. They uncrated it, filled it with all fluids and tested it. I actually saw the paperwork and HD paid them $82.50 to do that. The dealer then called to schedule a delivery but I just told them I'd pick it up. I ordered separate the work table and the cylinder handle and bolted those on.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1430957626.093790.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1430957644.154018.jpg
 
Status
Not open for further replies.