Bought a second-hand log splitter or log store for winter? How to get it home without the hassle

When the evenings draw in, plenty of people with a log burner start looking for a log splitter, a sawhorse or a proper log store to keep the wood dry. Second-hand ones come up all the time as people move house, remove a burner or upgrade, and they can be a great buy. They're heavy and awkward, though, and they rarely fit in the boot. Here's how to get yours home ready for cosy nights in.

1. Ask the seller the right questions

Is the splitter electric, petrol or manual? Does it have wheels, and roughly how big is it? For a log store, is it assembled or flat-packed, and does the roof or any shelf lift off? Find out where it's being collected from: a garage, a back garden, a yard or a smallholding.

2. Empty it first

Petrol splitters should travel with an empty fuel tank, and log stores should be cleared of logs before collection. It makes the item lighter and safer to move, and nobody wants a trail of bark through the house.

3. Secure the moving parts

Tie or tape down levers and handles, wrap the wedge or blade edge, and coil and tape any power cable. Bag any loose bolts or brackets for a flat-packed store and tape the bag to the largest panel.

4. Think about access at both ends

Garden gates, narrow side paths, gravel drives and steps all make a difference with heavy kit. Measure gaps before collection day and say where it needs to go at your end, whether that's the garage, the shed or beside the back door.

5. Getting it there

If it won't fit in the car, you can post the job free on Pink Pumpkin Logistics (https://pinkpumpkinlogistics.co.uk), a UK site where local drivers send quotes and you choose the one you're happy with. There's no obligation to accept. Give rough sizes, say whether it's electric or petrol (with an empty tank), and mention access at each end. We move the kit as it is, so assembly and fixing down are down to you.

Here's to a warm winter and a dry log pile.