How much does a round bale weigh?

MrP · Jan 10, 2003

I just unloaded one from the back of my truck. I was wondering if the weight could be too much for my FEL?

The round bale is about 6 feet in diameter and 6 feet wide.

Any guesses?

TWINKLE_TOES · Jan 10, 2003

10 lbs/cu ft +/- a lot

Guessing your bale at 1200#

looch · Jan 10, 2003

Depends how heavy it is.

Seriously, I'd guess anywhere from 600 to 1200 lbs.

Egon · Jan 10, 2003

Try liftin it. You'll soon find out.

Egon

art · Jan 10, 2003

A 6 by 6 should be roughly of 1800 to 2000 lbs of dry hay with a good baler and operator. Some one with out those options would make it about 1500 lbs.

beenthere · Jan 10, 2003

""I just unloaded one from the back of my truck. I was wondering if the weight could be too much for my FEL? "" 

If you unloaded it with your FEL, then would you please tell us what happened. If nothing broke, and the rear wheels stayed on the ground, then the weight isn't too much for your FEL, IMO.

If, however, you didn't unload it with your FEL, then I understand the question. What did you unload it with?

cowboydoc · Jan 10, 2003

I agree with Art. On a 6x6 bale you're at least going to be 1500lbs. and up to 2000 lbs. With that said I have lifted thousands of this heavy of bales with my JD 4600 loader tractor and not one problem to date.

normde2001 · Jan 13, 2003

I see where TSC has 3 point hitch round bale spears, rated at 1,500#, so I would imagine it is something less than that.

saw_dust · Jan 13, 2003

I always hated those round bales........always had a hard time getting my fingers under the strings and when I picked them up the strings would just about always break.....I always had a hard time getting them up on the back of a pickup....I would rather pick up a square bale any day.../w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Egon · Jan 13, 2003

No problem if you use several bale hooks. Easier on the hands and gloves too. When the load gets higher a pitchfork Helps.
Egon

saw_dust · Jan 13, 2003

Egon,
I always hated putting them on the hay elevator.....darn elevator could not hardly get the bale up in the barn...bad enough to put them in the manger....had to jump up and down on it to get it to fit..../w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

RichZ · Jan 14, 2003

I carry them around with my Oliver 1550, with a bale spear on the loader with no problem.

MrP · Jan 14, 2003

""I just unloaded one from the back of my truck. I was wondering if the weight could be too much for my FEL? "" 

If you unloaded it with your FEL, then would you please tell us what happened. If nothing broke, and the rear wheels stayed on the ground, then the weight isn't too much for your FEL, IMO.

If, however, you didn't unload it with your FEL, then I understand the question. What did you unload it with?


Well I did use my FEL with forks to unload the bale. I had to use two chains to stretch around the bale to keep it from falling. It worked well and didn't lift the rear wheels. However, I used the mower (700 lbs) as a counter balance.

I backed down the hill and dropped it right where my wife wanted it.

normde2001 · Jan 16, 2003

There is an article in the "safety forum" about a man getting hit by a 900# hay bale. I would assume that to be a standard size round bale.

ScottAR · Jan 16, 2003

The "standard" sizes seem to be between about 850lbs and 2000lbs. depending on baler. a 4ft wide bale is gonna be on the lower end, and a 6ft bale on the upper end...

Safety note, never attempt to move a bale without either forks or a grapple type bucket. Many have been killed trying move bales with a dirt bucket.

Bird · Jan 16, 2003

never attempt to move a bale without either forks or a grapple type bucket

Scott, I've moved several round bales with my B7100 and even a few with my B2710 using the bucket on the FEL. I just lowered the bucket almost to the ground, eased it up against the bale, then eased forward while at the same time, slowly raising the bucket, and rolled them along until I got them where I wanted them/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif No way you were going to pick them up with those little tractors./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

ScottAR · Jan 16, 2003

Perhaps I should have said carry... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

RichZ · Jan 17, 2003

But you'd better make sure you're on flat land, Bird! I have a friend who moved round bales like that, until one accidently rolled down a hill, and took out part of a fence on the way down!!/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif But of course, knowing you, Bird, I'm sure you made sure that there were no hills for it to roll down!!/w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif

Bird · Jan 17, 2003

I'll bet that was fun to watch, Rich, as long as you weren't involved./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

RichZ · Jan 17, 2003

Nope, I wasn't involved!! I've done a lot of dumb things on the farm, but that wasn't one of them!!!/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

But, I sure wish I had seen it happen!! I saw what was left of the fence, and that bale reduced it to splinters!!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif