when is is big enough to handle a 1200 lb. round bale

[MHarryE]

Here is my L5740 with 2 x 1200 pound bales. I previously had an L3710 which could do okay with the bale on the rear but did not feel comfortable with the additional bale on the front. This tractor is out of your price target range but I don't know what it would be without the cab. Also, I don't know what the front wheel bearing capacity is. Sure, it can handle what the loader will lift for general loader work, but will they stand up to load and carry. That would be a concern of buying a small tractor. By the way, the standard loader with my pallet forks is marginal on loader curl. On the heaviest bales the angle shown in the picture is the limit. Beyond that mechanical advantage of the curl linkage drops so it goes over relief. I imagine it would have the same problem with a spear on front instead of the forks although I don't find it a disadvantage. I don't need to tilt the bale any more than shown and the loader has plenty of lift capacity to raise the bales to the second tier on a trailer. Third tier requires one of our larger tractors.

 

[boggen]

move round bails with a FEL. double check on rear tire weights, or filled rear tires, or a 3pt ballest box. or other heavy piece of 3pt equipment. to counter balance the heavy load on front and not lifting the rear tires off the ground.

make sure you find something with "split rear right/left" brake pedals. and brakes are in a position you can use them, vs using foot to operate clutch or gas pedal.

when ya get tractor, double check rear wheels are positioned to there max width. to help stablize tractor. it could be possible rear tires were set to "min width" for shipping. and you may need to swap rear tires around to get max width in the rims. or like.

wet larger size round bails can be a heavy beast to move. more so when ya need to place one down and its not coming off of the FEL forks. and the tires on tractor are spinning (snow / mud). and needing to lift bail up at an angle and partially lift front tires on tractor up. a bigger size basic tractor with some more lifting capacity is what ya dream for when ya get into them nasty weather conditions.

 

[Isaac1]

Every market is different, but if all your needing is to move the occasional round bale, just about any 30-40 HP tractor will do it on a rear lift if nothing else, somewhat larger might be nice if your dealing with hills, etc. Factors that may effect this include how high you need to lift the bale (do you have them stacked in a barn, dropping them over a fence or into an elevated feeder) Sure you can go out and spend $30,000+ and get a tractor with 4 wheel hydro drive, joystick controlled front end loader, and all the other bells and whistles, however the truth is a basic used 20-30 year old tractor with lever operated FEL and traditional transmission will work fine here. Instant reversing foot pedal controls can be nice if your handling dozens of round bales at a time, but if it is one every now and then the old fasioned way still works, and at least in my area you can buy very lightly used older basic tractors a fraction of your budget. A quick search of online ads within 100 or so miles of my location found 5 or 6 possible candidate priced under $15,000, the newest being a 31HP 2006 4x4 Kubota with FEL and under 750 hours of run time. And the cheapest being a 1970's Ford 4000 55HP gasoline powered tractor with FEL for $5,000

 

[Soundguy]

yup... if limited use you can get away with alot less.

here's a pic i like posting. this is my 1955 ford 850,, it has a single boom loader ( 1-arm, ford 722 model ).. that bale is a large tifton.. dry but medium heavy at about 100#.. rolled off wagon accidentally when parking the trailer in the pasture.. split the wrapping too. it is ratchet strapped into the bucket to hold together. right up within a few pounds of the operational max of that old setup.. but works.. back before i had a heavier 2 post loader, that 850 fed out about 15 rounds a year

 

[1969grandpa]

Narrowed down to Kubota L3540 and Bobcat

 

[RPW]

I wouldn't be so quick to ignore JD's. I got my 5103 with FEL,6ft mower and box blade for a tad over 21k new. It will lift 2k bales easily. For 1200# bales I don't need any ballast.

 

[1969grandpa]

I wouldn't be so quick to ignore JD's. I got my 5103 with FEL,6ft mower and box blade for a tad over 21k new. It will lift 2k bales easily. For 1200# bales I don't need any ballast.

Thats a bigger tractor than I want. I have been to the JD store a couple of times and its like pulling teeth trying to get them to sell you a tractor. I've seen 2 different salesmen and can't seem to get them to even talk to you about ANY tractor if its not on their lot. Still haven't got a price on one.

 

[B Hoofed]

My wife and I can spend 30 minutes on the lot at the local John Deere dealer looking at tractors and no one will come out and talk to us. They just watch from inside. Must be a psychological tactic or something.

 

[murphy1244]

Narrowed down to Kubota L3540 and Bobcat

Any Kioti dealers by you?

 

[RPW]

That's to bad about your dealers. My dealer has busted his gut helping me. Anyway a utility dozed tractor is what I'd go for. May seem a bit big but after a few months it will feel just right.