Ruggedmade 28 vs 37 ton

Howdy Y’all!

I am considering the 4.5” 28 ton RM splitter over the 37 ton, because it is in stock and because I think it is less likely to break the four way than the 5” 37 ton. What do y’all think? Wait for the 37 ton or grab a 28 ton?

amateur cutter would you get the 37 ton again?

Thanks for the input everyone!

 

37 ton is unnecessary imo, unless you plan on making a habit of running big nasty oak crotch through a 4 way

 

4- ways have a habit of breaking , twisting up- tonnage does not seem to matter other than to the extent it is mangled. If the 4way is a one piece cast steel those seem to do ok but welded up not so hot. It is mostly the slip on beat them back off, units suffer the most.

 

For the price I paid yes. For what they want now no! I'd get a Wolf Ridge or Easton Made. 28ton is plenty of power, it's the log lift I won't do without again. The 4 way has proven pretty much useless to me, I split big rounds & want big splits for my boiler.

 

What was the price? I swear they were much less before too.

 

Ah, I meant to point out that I split small. Thanks for the input!

 

I paid $2800.00 for mine at one year used. I think new price then was $3200.00. 2016 model I think. Bought in '17.

 

28 or 37 ton?

I don't see the need for much more than this really.
2k
22-Ton Push Through Gas Log Splitter w/ Log Lift (RS-322)

 

Prices have definitely increased.
I bought the 37 ton with the lift to replace my old MTD 27 ton , it served me well and I used it for years, sold it for very close to what I paid for it.
37 ton is way more that what I needed but at my age it will be my last splitter.
I am happy with it for what I paid but there were a few bugs they have with them.

Also keep in mind :
NOT American made ( however they are pretty well done )
doesn't come with oil
no battery for electric start
comes in a crate and you have to assemble it.

I don't recall what I paid and don't have a receipt here in front of me but sure they have gone up in price.

 

If this were made in USA I would have one!

 

I am going to get one too. Have called them and spoke with Paul.
The 28 and 37 are identical except for the cylinder and price.
I was seriously looking at the 22 ton but don't like the half beam and trunion mounted cylinder. The 22 also has a thinner wedge than the 28/37.
Was told that prices are gonna go up because of shipping.
Some mods are needed-
trailer tongue moved to wedge end,
log tray after wedge to sheet steel,
battery case to flimsy- longer battery cables to hook up battery carried separately.

 

Mine's the 37 ton. I added a car battery for starting & tongue to the other end. Only issue was breaking the 4way, but that was operator abuse. Welded it back up & went back to work.

 

On the 37 ton I know the filter and filter head is!

I bought both of them for my splitter and they are made right near me in Reedsburg, WI by Zinga Industries.

Zinga External Hydraulic Return Filter Head, 50GPM, 1-1/4

Home - Zinga

 

Yeah, the made in usa would definitely put it over the top. 2500-3k for the same thing if make in usa and I'd be fine with that. The engine, honestly, it's difficult to get an american made small engine. If the raven is as good as the predators are, I'd gladly spend $200 more for the 10 hp raven.

I have a feeling a log lift on a push plate splitter with the tray to be able to push the splits into the trailer would a game changer for me. Scrounges around here are mostly big rounds, because the little stuff anyone, even casual burners take. That big stuff though, that sits on CL as most can't deal with it.

 

28.

 

I would want it to be full beam as well.

 

Ahhh, zinga...

I used to buy a ton of hydro parts from them. Just remember, where they buy castings from. Many times calling zinga asking why my orders were late from them and the response was " the castings are delayed from Asia....". But they do some machining/ assembly on the Asian ( LCR aka low cost region) castings and now it's us made.

 

I missed that the 22 is not full beam. Grrrrrr..

 

Yes and big jump in $ to go to 28
I don't want to spend the $ but I will
log lift and push thru sells it and 4 way could come in handy too

 

Horkn its funny how your eyes miss things.
I never noticed the half beam until I was looking at pics trying to figure out how to put a tongue or receiver for one on the other end of the beam.
That and the trunnion mount made it a no go for me!