log splitter mod

I'm just thinking out loud, is it possible to mod different tires onto these Bigbox stores log splitters?
So you can safely take it down the road faster than 45 mph?
I live off a highway and if I want to take my splitter anywhere it's all 55 mph or higher to get there basically.
I really don't want to do 45 in a 65, and I wouldn't I would take back roads as much as possible.
Even 45 in 55 is asking for someone to give you a dirty look at the least.
Short of loading it up on a trailer which I don't own yet.
Honestly I don't even know if 45 mph is safe for these things.

 

good points and something I didn't consider with the vertical placement.

 

I would recommend a wheel upgrade, and as long as it was the same bolt pattern and no rubbing I wouldn't think it would be an issue. Just have to remember there is no suspension so wheel hop will be noticeable.

 

yes wheel hop is a concern, but same with the little tires on it.

 

I trailer mine.
Or, I take the wood to the splitter.

 

I have a dirty hands 35 ton splitter with no modifications to wheels or tires. Last winter I pulled it down the highway about 18 miles each way to a score. Ran between 45-50 mph, (maybe a little more a couple times), had no issues. But I live in a sparsely populated area, probably only got passed 3-4 times. And it’s a major federal highway for this area

 

My county line 25 ton has been towed three times. First time was 2 miles home. Second time was 13 miles to Molly's house, all backroads with maybe a half mile at 55MPH. Bearings on one side were seized when Molly went to move it. Definitely not something to tow around on its own.

Molly put in a warranty claim for new bearings, and they sent us new wheels and tires with the bearings loaded in them.

 

I’m eager to see what ideas y’all have too. I like to bring my splitter to the wood. I was thinking about wheel dollies until I saw a few prices.

 

I brought mine home on a trailer.

I did end up putting bigger wheels on it, but that didn't have anything to do with road towing. I wanted a bit more ground clearance & for it to be easier to pull through through the woods with my ATV. I'm usually splitting at the tree on rough ground so not a big deal to situate it so the foot is on a high spot and wheels in a low spot if I have to go vertical. When horizontal it has a better height for my back now also.

I still would not head down the highway with it. C of G is higher now, and it still has the same short wheelbase and narrow track width.

 

I drive 62 MPH
every one waves at me going by
friendly drivers LOL.

 

Most consumer grade splitters will have wheels that are mounted to the spindle with a single nut, no lug nuts. These wheels are used on lawn tractors and wheel barrows.

 

you all must have some really nice smooth and flat roads , or a heck of a lot of guts to zipping down the roads at those speeds with box store splitters.

 

I have a Countyline 25 ton, have wondered about larger tires. I only have to go 5 miles to my land and I can drive slow but comments in here make me second guess that. But I would like larger tires for moving in the woods, like somebody else in this thread. How big a wheel would you get and where do you get them? Can you find them used? It's not like I would need new and I'm cheap when I can be, lol.

 

Yea right now I only have to go a few hundreds yards down the highway to get where this guy drops wood off.
I don't have space really for a trailer. So just thinking about if larger tires would make more highway friendly.

 

My tires have only ever been pushed by hand across 3 different driveways. I load into my trailer and fly down the highway.

 

As mentioned above, it depends on your bolt mounting pattern. Commercial splitters (well, some) have the trailer style 4.8 x 12 but still recommend max speeds of 35/45 mph. This is due to the axle design on most splitters being the hydraulic reservoir and not utilizing a suspension axle.
I would advise using a trailer unless you want to get really crazy with some steel and a welder. Anything can be done, but by the end you’ll probably have the same cost as a cheapo garden tractor trailer that are ubiquitous on Craigslist (and worth every cent, imo).

Rental companies up here use Barreto, Iron and Oak, and a few box store brands... they all cap the speed at 45mph when you sign for one.

 

around here if you can get to 30mph you should buy some lottery tickets.

 

You probably have wheelbarrow tires like my cart did. First time I loaded it with rounds it flipped in the woods. High center of gravity made it useless.

Now the problem with my mod is it’s never going to be on the highway. Those are 20” rear tires from a lawnmower. And the problem is there’s no bearings in a rear tire LOL it’s simply a grease slathered shaft spinning in the hole.

Now the front tires of a lawnmower do have bearings. And smaller rims of course.
Off the cuff possibilities. Find high profile tires that fit the small rim. Not easy I’ll bet.
Weld the hub of the front rim to the rear rim. Better get that mod perfectly centered or it’ll be worse than stock.

Shouldn’t be hard to find some small hubs and rims off a small trailer that’s junked. Could retrofit that to your splitter.
That axle will need to be perfectly square to the beam. I’m thinking it would wobble walk if it weren’t.
You’d also want to widen the stance from stock.
Bottom line yes of course it can be done. Look at all the old beat up cement mixers getting towed down the highway. May be another place to look for an axle you’d need a welder.