Which 1st?

Looking to upgrade my firewood side hustle. I only sell about 10 cords a year. Right now I have a box store splitter, a Stihl ms-250, and a homemade trailer. All my wood comes from tree service so the majority is cut to length.
So I would like to get a smaller dump trailer (6×10 8k gvw), a lower end commercial splitter ($5k range), and a commercial saw (ms 362 or similar nothing too big) I would like to get my sales to around 30 cord a yr.
Which would you guys upgrade 1st?

 

The one that breaks first.

 

The dump trailer would save wear and tear on you, allowing you to deliver wood faster to make more $ to buy a better saw and splitter.

 

A splitter upgrade would be first for me. That will increase inventory with less effort.

 

Hmmm... you get most wood from a tree service, cut to length. If you could still get plenty, for 30 cords, I'd upgrade splitter first. Why need a dump trailer? Do you deliver? If I were able to deliver and dump the load and not stack, a dump trailer might be first. If you are scrounging, upgrading that saw is certainly warranted. Instead of a 362, I'd get a 400, they are built on the same frame. All of that will cost quite a lot, good luck!

 

I’m with Yawner on this.
Most wood comes cut …. Saw on hold
No sense getting that size dump trailer until you know what your towing it with. Here I would bu a used 1 ton dump before trailer same prices.
Splitter wins.. good ones are back ordered 18 months.

 

Canadian border VT Wow, is that right? Holy cow. Does that include Super Split? I think of buying one every so often, lol.

 

I only waited 8 weeks for my super split.The wait might be longer now, but I can’t see it being 18 months.

 

I'd agree with the splitter first. Your threw-put will increase and your effort should decrease with a nice rig, like T.Jeff just got.
edit: Or a SuperSplit. I'd love to have one.

 

I was thinking the bigger better splitters, like Timberwolf or Easton made. I was trying to remember Tjeff brand

 

I already have a 1/2 ton Silverado with a 5.3 engine, so 8k gvw shouldn't be an issue

 

How much does your homemade trailer hold and is it pretty reliable? I’d lean towards splitter depending on your answer. Really only need the trailer for delivery as tree service brings it to you. Consider the supersplit. I would if I were in the market for one.

 

The splitter is usually the first bottleneck. I’d start there.

 

Barcroftb hit the nail on the head. What is your slowest/most painful part of your process? That's where you focus. You will probably need EVERYTHING on your list relatively soon but it's important that your business pays for the tools, rather than using credit to purchase if at all possible. The Super Split is far cheaper that any of the big commercial splitters. Of course tree service wood can be challenging sometimes. That's about 80% of what I sell as well. If a log lift or conveyor solves some of your problems, it might be worth the expense. You also need to streamline your production from start to finish (you may have already done that). Good luck!

 

I hate to keep sounding like a broken record but the super split really is the best/fastest commercial quality splitter in its price range

 

I agree the SuperSplitters are awesome. I've had mine 11 years. I hear a lot of people online say they are "too expensive" for what they are. I then ask what hydraulic options are available in that price range? What's the hydraulic in that range's cycle time? Is the hydraulic in that range a USA built machine like the SuperSplitter?

The reality.... is that the only hydraulics that are as fast as a SuperSplitter cost 3-4 times the amount of one. $3,000 vs $10,000+

 

There is an Amish guy in central Ohio that makes a very good super splitter that is very high quality, I have one that I used for years.

 

if you are looking at Stihl I would go 400

 

Anything to make it so you have to touch the wood a time or two less...or bend down less ! Good luck !!!