doodlebug hay trailer

Soundguy · Oct 29, 2006

I was at TSC yesterday, and noticed they had a doodlebug single bale carry trailer. Had e-brakes.. but no lamps. The wireing for the brakes was just a 2-pin connector ( brakes full on/off? ) I was in a rush and did not ask for more info.. but was wondering if anyone else has any info.

It looks nice.. though can't imagine why no lamps. I mean.. you could buy a prewired lamp kit for 20$ hang them on, then cut the 4 pin plug off, and add a 6pin plug and incorporate the brake wires and wire to a controller.. but... I guess maybee this was just an 'off road' unit?

Anyone with any info?

Soundguy

burnetma · Oct 29, 2006

OK, I give... I need to see a picture to even know what you are talking about.

Soundguy · Oct 30, 2006

burnetma said:
OK, I give... I need to see a picture to even know what you are talking about.

Ok..I found a link to a -similar- trailer.. though this is not the one I saw. The link is to a spear that you stab the hay, then winch it up on the trailer with.

The one i saw clamps onto the hay, and then rolls over.. but both work to carry a single round bale of hay on a truck or tractor with a ball hitch. This is good for tractors that are not setup with a rear bale carrier, or a fel. Or if you need to haul a bale home from the feed store.. etc.

Soundguy

Round Hay bale Carring Trailer.

Soundguy · Oct 30, 2006

Here is another.. again.. similar concept.. different design.

Untitled Document

Soundguy

JerryG · Oct 30, 2006

I haven't look close at the TSC TB, but would also guess that is for off road use only. To many would be letting hay go everywhere going down the road.

JESSE1 · Oct 30, 2006

I've never seen any with lights on them. Just something to get knocked off by the cows. Tumblebug is another name for them.

Willl · Oct 31, 2006

Soundguy said:
brakes full on/off ?

Probably proportional, like regular electric trailer brakes.

Soundguy · Oct 31, 2006

I was thinking that after posting.. probably relies on the magnet field strength from the controller... Guess you'd have to butcher up a connector to get it all connected... etc.

Soundguy

Farmwithjunk · Nov 1, 2006

Willl said:
Probably proportional, like regular electric trailer brakes.

I've only been around one "tumblebug". It didn't have hydraulics to raise the bale. It required locking up the wheels and backing up to lift the bale. It had electric brakes, but they were wired "full on" or "full off". Brake was controlled via a toggle switch on a magnetic mounted controller that you could extend into a pick-up cab or place on a tractor fender. (Plugged into cig. lighter/power outlet) It wasn't DOT approved for hyway use so it was treated as a farm implement. I saw it used to move a 4'X4' round bale with a Volkswagon Jetta.

HayDR · Nov 1, 2006

A tumble bug is the best way to move hay. In 1975 we purchased one and start selling them the next week after the other farmers in the area saw one work. Since we started in 1972 with Vermeer round balers and were custom baling for everyone we sold all the Tumble bugs we could get our hands on. People could use a Tumble bug on a small 25 HP tractor and move 2000 LBS bales. But what sold many a tumble bug was cold weather and a open tractor. You could feed a bale with a 4 wd pickup on the way to church and never get out of the cab. New tumble bugs sell new for less than $1000. There are some copies but they will not last 25 years like the original Tumble Bug.