patrickg
Veteran Member
I was moving some round bales from the field to hay barn today and about 30 bales into the operation I guess I got a bit sloppy (familiarity breeds contempt) and tilted one back a bit too far and it leaned on the "backup platform" or whatever it is that is in the vertical plane and keeps stuff from falling back on the tractor as I was stacking bales in the hay barn. It bent back at a 45 degree angle. So, my question is... how wrong is it to use pallet forks to move round bales? I have a 18 ft utility trailer and I can set three bales on it, flat side down, and then three more bales, one atop each of the first three real easy with my L4610 FEL with pallet forks in place of bucket.
Sure, I know about round bale spikes but had the forks for other reasons and thought they would do double duty. I can bend/straighten/weld/reinforce/etc and probably never have the problem again but just wonder if I am being particularly stupid. I don't recall the dealer saying to not do it but my wife claims they said they wouldn't sell us pallet forks to handle round bales, only for pallets. I think she is a reliable source with no axe to grind, yet, as she was driving the truck pulling the trailer and doesn't know the implement bent.
Patrick
Sure, I know about round bale spikes but had the forks for other reasons and thought they would do double duty. I can bend/straighten/weld/reinforce/etc and probably never have the problem again but just wonder if I am being particularly stupid. I don't recall the dealer saying to not do it but my wife claims they said they wouldn't sell us pallet forks to handle round bales, only for pallets. I think she is a reliable source with no axe to grind, yet, as she was driving the truck pulling the trailer and doesn't know the implement bent.
Patrick