Towing Iron and Oak Splitter

[G6 at Snook TX]

I noticed that Ariens has had trouble with towing their splitters. I have the Iron and Oak 26ton. I don't go flying down the road, but hitching it up to my truck is a plus. Am I in the wrong here? Do I need to trailer queen it?

Thanks.

 

[Trktrd]

They have no suspension, so I would imagine they are meant only to be towed slowly by a tractor, etc. I put mine in a trailer if going outside the property for any distance. I do have to deal with dirt roads and could imagine the shock to the engine going down the road at any decent rate of speed.

 

[nate379]

Made to be towed. Shock to the engine, what do you mean by that?

 

[LLigetfa]

Made to be towed.

Ja, clearly stated in the manual.

NEVER exceed 35 m.p.h. when towing your log splitter.

 

[seeyal8r]

Tires are the same tires on a wheel barrow. So I don't tow it any faster than I can push a wheel barrow. And I wouldn't tow it down a rough road at 34mph just cause the manual says it can. I trailer queen mine any distance. I've got a ball on my lawn mower to move it around the yard or I push it. Its hard to back it up behind my crew cab pickup anyway. I can't see it until its nearly jack knifed.

But hey do what you want with yours.

 

[ScotO]

I have a Swisher 22 ton splitter and my manual says 45 mph max speed.....and the tires are highway rated, not wheelbarrow tires. I think the big thing is the potholes and bumps in the road and the unit's lack of a spring suspension. Plus the lack of a lighting system. I've towed it faster that on some of the rural roads around here and never had a problem with the motor....

 

[LLigetfa]

Tires are the same tires on a wheel barrow.
...
But hey do what you want with yours.

The tires on mine are highway rated, not wheelbarrow tires. That said, at 35 MPH it would still be white knuckle driving. I was simply quoting the manual, not expressing an opinion. The manual also says to drain the fuel tank before towing.

Here's how I tow mine. It doesn't have any fuel shutoff so moving it any distance risks flooding the engine.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-wSlhlzw1h7U/ShB_Rt7uQlI/AAAAAAAAAUk/X3htZHuA6Qw/s640/100_0340.JPG

 

[nate379]

I looked at one just like that at Tractor Supply and I thought the wheel placement was a terrible setup. It was right in the way of where I would stand to operate it.

 

[MofoG23]

I noticed that Ariens has had trouble with towing their splitters.

Thanks.

huh? First I've ever heard of this...

 

[G6 at Snook TX]

The towing of Ariens behind vehicles was referenced in another thread. The axles broke in them? Anyhow, I purposefully have stayed at 35 mph when towing, but the County Roads around here leave something to be desired. It has no suspension, but wheels are highway grade.

 

[jensent]

Made to be towed.

Ja, clearly stated in the manual.

NEVER exceed 35 m.p.h. when towing your log splitter.

x2

 

[Beetle-Kill]

G6- Tow it at your own risk.
My I&O 22T is only hooked up to a truck to position it for splitting.
The spindle mounts won't handle repeated highway travel (pot holes, etc., etc.)
The bottom of the oil tank will fatigue after a point, and re-welding it will not be cheap.

It's not a "trailer queen", it's a 2K+ piece of equipment that doesn't like to be towed.
treat it as such, and it will provide you with a long life.

 

[MofoG23]

The towing of Ariens behind vehicles was referenced in another thread. The axles broke in them? Anyhow, I purposefully have stayed at 35 mph when towing, but the County Roads around here leave something to be desired. It has no suspension, but wheels are highway grade.

I've read most of the Ariens threads on a few sites - never seen that thread. Would you mind posting a link if you can find it again - I'd be curious to read it.


Anyways, with any splitter, you really should not tow it beyond 35-45mph unless it has the proper bearings, suspension and tires to handle the speed. If you're going anywhere far, put it on a trailer or the bed of your truck.

 

[Catspaw]

My local rental place rents I&O splitters. I've towed one to my house a couple of times at speeds of 40-45 mph and I'm sure many, many other renters have done the same. Not saying that you should but they don't seem any worse for the wear.

- Rich

 

[oldspark]

I put mine in the back end of of my pickup if I am going any distance at all, speeco manual says 45 but with no suspension it wont take much of a bump to get it airborne.

 

[MasterMech]

The problem with towing ANY splitter except for very large models with torsion suspensions is that they bounce like a 5 year old on a trampoline. Every little expansion joint or bump let alone pot holes or debris can send the splitter airborne. I have sucessfully towed mine 10-11 miles (usually an annual round-trip) but I have a specific route through one-lane roads that allows me to travel 30-35 MPH without becoming a traffic choke point. They are generally smoother than some of our two lane county roads as well.

I busted the continuous weld seam along the top of the hydraulic tank on my BHVH2609 after some pretty bumpy towing @ 25 MPH. It don't take much. And yes I & O replaced the tank/frame assy under warranty. Much appreciated that was.

The bearings and tires on most splitters are adequate for towing to at least 45 MPH. But with no suspension and a weight well over 500lbs and many approaching 900lb (like mine), something will give eventually. Anybody looking to tow frequently should be looking at models that ride on 12"+ wheels (rim size) and possibly some kind of suspension.

 

[G6 at Snook TX]

It was a Speeco, not an Ariens that had the referenced suspension trouble. https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/88928/
It was that remark that made me start this thread about towing the I&O, and after the responses, I will load it up on a trailer unless I am going across the road. I don't believe in abusing and destroying expensive equipment, and I won't take the chance with this machine. Thanks for the advice.

 

[wetwood]

When we bought the Husky 35 ton splitter I pulled it at 70mph for over 100 miles back to the house. We did stop and check if the bearings were getting hot every 25 miles or so. They ran nice and cool all the way home. After reading this thread I looked through the owners manual and found a warning. Don't think it would cause a 6,000 lb pickup to go out of control though.

 

[wkpoor]

Tires and beings are good for speed but with no suspension you are taking a risk for damage to the axle and some splitters case that is the tank. Speeco had some trouble with tanks cracking.

 

[ScotO]

Yet another reason to mount it on the front of my wood trailer. Gonna look into mounting it on the tongue of my trailer (sideways) so I have it at the jobsite.......yet ANOTHER project...... %-P

 

[triptester]

The main reason for not towing a splitter at high speed is that they are not designed for high speed use. Splitters are usually top heavy. The weight capacity of axles, tires, rims, and bearings are derated by 50% by the original manufacturers when used without suspension. The long hydraulic hoses are often unsupported which can to shorten hose life.
Towing a splitter at high speed without suspension can be done but it will shorten the life span.

 

[PNWBurner]

My local rental place rents I&O splitters. I've towed one to my house a couple of times at speeds of 40-45 mph and I'm sure many, many other renters have done the same. Not saying that you should but they don't seem any worse for the wear.

- Rich

Same here, no problems towing a rental I&O splitter. I wouldn't take it at 60+ but around town is fine. They did caution me about the fuel shutoff other wise the engine will flood while towing.

 

[MofoG23]

When we bought the Husky 35 ton splitter I pulled it at 70mph for over 100 miles back to the house. We did stop and check if the bearings were getting hot every 25 miles or so. They ran nice and cool all the way home. After reading this thread I looked through the owners manual and found a warning. Don't think it would cause a 6,000 lb pickup to go out of control though.

It won't cause your truck to go out of control, but the splitter could bounce around and possibly go out of control...then your testing your hitch and emergency chains...something I'd prefer to avoid testing.

 

[Kenster]

My local rental place rents I&O splitters. I've towed one to my house a couple of times at speeds of 40-45 mph and I'm sure many, many other renters have done the same. Not saying that you should but they don't seem any worse for the wear.

- Rich

Well, you know.... renters are rarely going to take care of something as well as an owner would.

 

[seeyal8r]

My local rental place rents I&O splitters. I've towed one to my house a couple of times at speeds of 40-45 mph and I'm sure many, many other renters have done the same. Not saying that you should but they don't seem any worse for the wear.

- Rich

Well, you know.... renters are rarely going to take care of something as well as an owner would.

Hold my beer and watch this !

It takes the rental company a few days rent to get the splitters paid for. As long as they last that long they are in the green. I've done some stupid stuff but I'm not towing my splitter anywhere of any distance.

And by the way my splitter tires aren't actually wheel barrow tires. I was being a smart A$$. Sorry.