Moving round bales without a spear??

[clovergamecock]

The dairy company that I provide hay to just finished baleing it into round bales. They usually leave me 3 or 4 bales depending on what I want\need. Sometimes I am home and can catch them and they will take the bales to my barn with their skidsteer and spear. I was not able to give them access this time so now I need to figure out a way to move them without busting them open which I have done in the past.

I don't get enough hay to justify a spear purchase so I have done eveything from pushing or dragging with my Kubota L2800 w\FEL to tieing straps around them and trying to lift with my bucket. The straps just stretched.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Wade

 

[SPYDERLK]

With the bucket lip under the edge of the bale you may be able to loop a ratchet strap around the bale and back to the lift arms at the top of the curl cyl mounts. Ratchet tight to pull the bale in as far as possible - then curl a little and ratchet some more, etc. You can probably establish a balance this way. Then lift it an inch and drive where you need to go. Be sure to have some counterweight on the tractor.
larry

 

[Western]

I' try Larry's idea, if that didn't work, maybe some type of "skid" to roll the bale onto. A piece of tin? Sheet of plywood, something you can lift a couple inches and pull.

 

[7879fordman]

A stronger strap . A 3" wide one would have no problem doing what your doing .

 

[buickanddeere]

Get a spear or prongs. Ask the local rural fire department how often somebody rolls a round bale down the loader onto themselves.

 

[7879fordman]

If ya strap it to the bucket right it can't go anywhere . And if ya just raise it enough to clear the ground there's no way a bale is going to jump on u on the tractor .

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I agree with Western. Build a sled, roll the bales on it and drag them.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Get a spear or prongs. Ask the local rural fire department how often somebody rolls a round bale down the loader onto themselves.

L2800 ... Round bale ... raising the bale high enuf to roll down the arms? There would be many prior clues that something was wrong.
larry

 

[Gale Hawkins]

We have a 5x10 tilt trailer with a solid steel floor that works OK for one bale at a time.

Today we would use a set of our chain on forks.

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Tractor supply i believe sells a cheap carry all that mounts to the three point. Should be enough to get done what you need.