advice needed on trailer for hauling small square bales

[dodge man]

I can't imgine hauling hay in a enclosed trailer. Are the sides strong enough for a shifting load?

 

[Duffster]

I can't imgine hauling hay in a enclosed trailer. Are the sides strong enough for a shifting load?

The load really won't shift as much as it just need to be contained. So yes the trailer side would be plenty strong.

Rob, IMO an enclosed trailer would be the best way to go. Especially if you are selling high end hay to discerning buyers. Nothing will tick off your buyer faster then showing up with a load of soggy hay.

I think I would skip the ramp door.

 

[DanD78]

What about a U-Haul or Rider van truck and tow a small car behind it. Rent the van truck one way and drive the car back home.
Hauling small square bales in an enclosed trailer is the only way to go. No tie down just more time to load and unload. I can get 84 bales in my stock trailer and not have the stress of worrying about the load falling off and tie down time. But I can also get 225 bales on my flat bed goose neck and have had good luck hauling localy. I would want to add more straps and ropes if I were to go as far as you are talking.

Dan

 

[Diamondpilot]

Hauling that distance and over state lines is getting in CDL territory and away from the Farm Exemptions.

I think you are going to lose money fast on this one.

Chris

 

[Duffster]

Hauling that distance and over state lines is getting in CDL territory

Not if he sticks to a standard 2 axle trailer or under ~16k GVWR.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Not if he sticks to a standard 2 axle trailer or under ~16k GVWR.

True, but for hire its going to take a lot of hay to make each run make money. I would think the only way you could do it would be a very large trailer or hire a semi to haul it to make the money.

Around here for example we do hay. Don't own a single piece of equipment but I have a local farmer that will cut, rake, bale, and drop it off for $.75 per bale. (Last seasons price). I was selling it for $2.50 to $3.00 per bale delivered, still plenty of profit to be made and I do not have to own a single piece of equipment, maintain it, or do the actual work.

Work smarter, not harder is what a guy told me a long time ago and it seems to work good for me.

Chris

 

[zzvyb6]

An enclosed trailer would keep your load safe from inclimate environmental issues, but is a royal pain to load. My personal favorite is an 8' x 16' 4 place snowmobile trailer with "E" rated tires. I can put 150 on it and 200 once. However, max delivery distance is just 40 miles, not the distance you are talking. What about the return trip? Anything worth bringing home on the way back (furniture, whiskey, cigarettes, illegal immigrants, bee hives, ...) ?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

An enclosed trailer would keep your load safe from inclimate environmental issues, but is a royal pain to load. My personal favorite is an 8' x 16' 4 place snowmobile trailer with "E" rated tires. I can put 150 on it and 200 once. However, max delivery distance is just 40 miles, not the distance you are talking. What about the return trip? Anything worth bringing home on the way back (furniture, whiskey, cigarettes, illegal immigrants, bee hives, ...) ?

I think the return trip will be like an episode of American Pickers where I just wander around and see if there is anything worth buying and go from there.

I plan to stay with my friend for a couple days and hopefully while visiting the local area I will see something worth buying. I am always looking for running gears (cheap), metal kicker wagons, gravity wagons, and other farm equipment. Of course if I see an old Ford :laughing:mustang I just might have to drop the ramps

 

[Robert_in_NY]

True, but for hire its going to take a lot of hay to make each run make money. I would think the only way you could do it would be a very large trailer or hire a semi to haul it to make the money.

Around here for example we do hay. Don't own a single piece of equipment but I have a local farmer that will cut, rake, bale, and drop it off for $.75 per bale. (Last seasons price). I was selling it for $2.50 to $3.00 per bale delivered, still plenty of profit to be made and I do not have to own a single piece of equipment, maintain it, or do the actual work.

Work smarter, not harder is what a guy told me a long time ago and it seems to work good for me.

Chris

I am hoping to take 200-250 bales per trip. Fuel should cost me around $400 round trip. The reason I am even considering this is because my friend asked me and told me what she has been paying down there. Here in NY I am selling hay for $2.35 off the wagon. Down where my friend lives (in Virginia, I had a brain cramp when I wrote North Carolina) the current rate is over $7 a bale. I am selling it to my friend for the actual cost of transporting and once I know my costs exactly she can line up buyers if it actually will work out to where I can make my money still.

I am not doing this to get rich and make lots of money, I am looking at it as a good excuse to take a mini vacation and the hay will just help pay for the trip. If I can make a trip every other weekend I will be fine with it and I will get to explore the areas between and around my destination. If I find out on the initial trip that I am going to lose money or not cover expenses then it will end after the initial trip. My friends husband just had back surgery so he is not able to work and help out the farms he normally does and their hurting a little and I am hopefully going to be able to help them.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

What about a U-Haul or Rider van truck and tow a small car behind it. Rent the van truck one way and drive the car back home.
Hauling small square bales in an enclosed trailer is the only way to go. No tie down just more time to load and unload. I can get 84 bales in my stock trailer and not have the stress of worrying about the load falling off and tie down time. But I can also get 225 bales on my flat bed goose neck and have had good luck hauling localy. I would want to add more straps and ropes if I were to go as far as you are talking.

Dan

I can rent a Penske box truck but I don't own a small car. Only a 4wd F-250 diesel and I don't feel like towing that behind the box truck. I will look into the cost of renting the truck and go from there in making my decision but for the initial run I am thinking of just trying it with my utility trailer and go on a good weekend with no rain but with tarps just in case.