It sounds to me like you are doing it all wrong Nate if you have to get up a bunch of times. And what about lifting without killing your back? That is one of the ideas of splitting veritcally; so you don't have to lift! If you sit correctly, there is no strain on the back. The only time I lift is sometimes when turning the log. Getting them to the splitter is the easiest work and no lifting required. And yes, I do use a 36" pickeroon many times. It saves a lot of work.
Some good points on splitting But Loading the truck with those big rounds makes my back hurt . LOL Good idea with the hand truck too, back saver ! A splitter in the horizontal position , is just for transporting to & from. LOL
That was one that I almost left behind (saw not with me at the time).. But then I backed the truck up to the stump.. Put a rock on the stump.. Rolled the round on top of the rock and asked the tailgate to kindly support half the weight of lifting the round... As they say, "Necessity is the mother of invention.."