Front-End Loader Best loader attachment to handle wrapped round bales

[campbellrw]

I was wondering if someone could offer advice on the best loader attachment for handling wrapped round bale silage. Do the grab attachments work very well? I'm referring to the ones that squeeze the bale on the rounded side and stack them on their ends usually. Or would the other kind with two spears that swing in and out hydraulically be any better?

 

[Oldgreybear]

The simpler the better! Spears don't often require repair. Hydraulic clamps do.

 

[campbellrw]

This what I mean by spears. It still has hydraulics, and when lifting wrapped bales doesn't actually puncture the pale (or plastic).



And this is the type of unit I'm referring to when I talk about the grab attachment:

 

[dieselbeef]

individually wrapped rounds?

 

[campbellrw]

individually wrapped rounds?

Yup, like in the second picture I posted.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

The grabs work very well.

 

[Scooby074]

I only have seen the squeeze type (pic 2) as opposed to the "fork" type.

 

[campbellrw]

I've personally only seen the grab type as well, but never actually used one before.

 

[RickB]

Grab types work very well. I prefer the kind without a fixed side, a full floating grab is gentler on the bales when stacking or removing bales from a stack. With the grab mostly but not totally open, the 'arms' can float from side to side and reach between closely stacked bales without damage to the plastic.