Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor!

   / Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor! #21  
There was a thread on unrolling vs round bale feeder on this forum
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/haying/298477-hay-ring-vs-unrolling.html
Lots of thoughts but more work was not part of the discussion. I would agree that if you just have a few horses to feed a round bale feeder is better.

If you are planning for the long run you should get a FEL tractor that can lift a real round bale 750 - 1000 lbs. Your source of little round bales may disappear and then you are looking for a larger tractor again. If you only put 450 hrs on your tractor over a period of 8 years and economics is important I would look at a used
tractor of the right size. If that is not important go for a new one.

I got my first new tractor last year after 40 years of used tractor use that was very successful. Fed round bales to cows for over 30 years. Had a IH574RC tractor with FEL and bale spear. Good for all haying operations. Was a good investment.
 
   / Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor! #22  
I tell my wife I need a bigger tractor and she gets bigger! She's gone from a BX to Grand L in the last eighteen years.:laughing:
 
   / Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor! #23  
Iowan said:
I tell my wife I need a bigger tractor and she gets bigger! She's gone from a BX to Grand L in the last eighteen years.:laughing:
Click to expand...

Lol! That's hilarious.

Wait, does that mean she's also gaining value? Sounds like a good investment!
 
   / Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor!
  • Thread Starter
#24  
Just so that you folks are aware of the feeder that I'm loading. Opening is good for a 60" x 60" bale. Vet likes that fact that the hay is off the ground to lessen the chance of sand colic. I designed and built it last summer after seeing one from Klene Pipe on video.
 

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   / Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor! #25  
Nice looking setup.
 
   / Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor! #26  
My next one is going to be a 5045 or 5055, gonna keep my 790 though. I do the same thing, trick I learned is you can curl more than you can lift, I roll the bale spear forward a little, lift the bale, then curl it back. It will gain you another foot or so on the front of the bale, at least it does for me. The other thing I have is a forklift mast that hooks into the backhoe sub frame, I can lift 1500 lbs. on the rear with no troubles at all. Cant dump or reach but it works well when its on the tractor. I just lift the bales between the forks and set them into the feeder. Trouble with that is I don't keep it mounted on the tractor most of the time. By the way I love your feeder, nice design and looks well built.
 
   / Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor! #27  
Wow... nice feeder. Any pix of it with a round bale in it? Great for horses... off the ground and covered. How meny horses do you feed with it? Looks like the sides fold down as the hay gets eaten, so they can get to all of it? We do our own squre bales, and with only 1 horse and 3 ponies its not too hard to keep up with. If we had more, and fed in the field I would steal your design in a heartbeat!
 
   / Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor! #28  
you need a tractor along the lines of a 7060 kubota or any brand 70hp tractor.
 
   / Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor! #29  
I have a Mahindra and like it. Is a 2816. It has been a real workhorse. It may also be cheaper but not sure for I have not compared the prices and other details. I use mine in construction not on a farm. Hope this helps.
 
   / Wife tells me that we need a bigger tractor! #30  
Nice job on the feeder.
 
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