What tractor to buy to move large round bales??

[johnking2]

I figured this would be the best place to ask. I need a tractor that can unloaded and move large round bales off a trailer. I buy most of my hay and cannot find anyone that will deliever hay because I cannot unload it efficiently. I hate to have to buy a another tractor but that is what i have to do. I have a 90 acre farm and will use the tractor for other things but I figure that anything that unload a large round bale can do anything else I need to do. I would like to get the least complex tractor I can(No DEF/emmissions stuff) but not scrimp on performance. What would you get? Age and price are not a factor, I want a solid machine that will get the job done 4x4 would be nice but not a deal breaker.

 

[LouNY]

Is it double stacked on the trailer or even tripple?
How much height do you need to lift to?
Are you using a grapple or a spear?
I would say that you need a 125 horse tractor with weights and preferably bar axles so you can get the wheel spread out wide.
Something to consider would be a tellahandler, very expensive and limited use other then loading and unloading,
unless it could be rented for a day when deliverys are made.
If it's just a single high trailer load most any 60-75 horse tractor could safely do it.

Just a note a round bale coming back over a loader can and has killed operators, care whe lifting high.

 

[ruffdog]

Do you have a skid steer yet?

 

[Xfaxman]

Get a compact telehandler with SSQA: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...pact-telehandler-post3243370.html#post3243370

Unloading 5x6 bales from a 12 foot long trailer:

View from the seat, it can unload all bales from one side of the deckover trailer:

The 7 foot brush hog:

4x4 and 4 wheel steer let it get around in the woods:

Moving dirt with the 6 foot wide 1 cubic yard bucket:

 

[johnking2]

Double high, no skidsteer

 

[LouNY]

Here is a good candidate;
Pardon Our Interruption

Or if you have more use for it a Telehandler could be a consideration.

Reaching up 2 high I'd want quite a bit of tractor for stability.

 

[Xfaxman]

Here is a good candidate: Telehandler V519 VersaHANDLER - Bobcat Company

Compact telehandlers are very stable when lifting up high because the front axle does not pivot.

 

[Tx Jim]

Is it double stacked on the trailer or even tripple?
How much height do you need to lift to?
Are you using a grapple or a spear?
I would say that you need a 125 horse tractor with weights and preferably bar axles so you can get the wheel spread out wide.

If it's just a single high trailer load most any 60-75 horse tractor could safely do it.

Just a note a round bale coming back over a loader can and has killed operators, care whe lifting high.

Triple high rd bales on a GN or 18 wheeler trailer will not pass under most highway overpasses(bridges). Double stacked 6 ft diameter rd bales won't fit under some overpasses. BTDT

I've handled many loads of 4X5.5 rd bales with my Kubota M7040(64 pto hp) that were delivered on an 18 wheeler trailer containing 38 bales. Ideally one should have 750#-1000# counterbalance weight on 3 pt to ""drastically relieve stress on frt axle"" plus give extra tractor stability. I previously utilized a Kubota M4900(45 pto hp) 2 wheel drive with 3 pt counterbalance weight to perform the same task but traded for the M7040 to get option of hyd reverser.

I agree utilize bale spears not bale forks.

Several yrs ago I baled hay for a wheelchair bound neighbor that had several yrs back moved RB hay with a FEL with bale fork that rd bale rolled back down FEL boom crippling him.

 

[LouNY]

We use a squeeze bale grapple to handle our round bales,
many of ours are silage bales which can get quite heavy and if you pierce a hole in the wrapping you just wasted that time and expense and the cost of that bale.
It also allows us to set a bale in a feeder or feed wagon
View attachment IMG_20170918_112944716_HDR.jpg
That is 125 hp tractor handling bales,
can it be done with less?, yes it can and has been done with less.
Throw in mud and ruts a few side hills, maybe hurrying for weather or just to get done.
Then if stacking 2 or 3 high the larger the easier and safer most of the time.

 

[CobyRupert]

2cents: Lift capacity, lift height, stability (width and weight) would be my primary factors. Bigger horsepower is usually on par with these.
4wd would be another, but I wouldn’t use it to cheat (much) on the weight (and/or counter balance).

 

[Farmer495]

Double high 4x5 on a gooseneck or flatbed you can get away with a 60-80 PTO HP utility tractor.

A 2wd with loader would do the job. What make or model depends on what is locally for sale. If cost is no issue you will be easily able to find what you want.

You likely want something 10-20 years old to get:

no emissions junk
quick attach loader w/euro or skidsteer coupler (to use proper bale spear attachment)
Nice to have 4x4, but not needed if you are on hard ground (no mud)
nice to Shuttle trans (synchro or power/hyd)
cab optional, I always found you had to lean ahead to unload two tiers because cab roof blocked view.

In that age range....I personally would consider

Kubota M7040 to M9540
Kubota M6800-M9000
CaseIH CX80-CX100 CaseIH C80-C100
New Holland TL80-TL100
Deere 6110-6410

 

[RickB]

I handled a couple thousand 4x5 silage bales weighing up to 1800 lbs with a bale squeeze on a Deere 5520 and 541 loader. Stored stacked two high. Would not want anything one iota smaller or lighter.

 

[Xfaxman]

johnking2, here is a thread about the Bobcat V519 that I recommended earlier: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums...1162-v519-compact-telehandler.html?highlight=

 

[johnking2]

Double high 4x5 on a gooseneck or flatbed you can get away with a 60-80 PTO HP utility tractor.

A 2wd with loader would do the job. What make or model depends on what is locally for sale. If cost is no issue you will be easily able to find what you want.

You likely want something 10-20 years old to get:

no emissions junk
quick attach loader w/euro or skidsteer coupler (to use proper bale spear attachment)
Nice to have 4x4, but not needed if you are on hard ground (no mud)
nice to Shuttle trans (synchro or power/hyd)
cab optional, I always found you had to lean ahead to unload two tiers because cab roof blocked view.

In that age range....I personally would consider

Kubota M7040 to M9540
Kubota M6800-M9000
CaseIH CX80-CX100 CaseIH C80-C100
New Holland TL80-TL100
Deere 6110-6410

Thanks just what I was asking for.

 

[Tx Jim]

In that age range....I personally would consider

Kubota M7040 to M9540
Kubota M6800-M9000
CaseIH CX80-CX100 CaseIH C80-C100
New Holland TL80-TL100
Deere 6110-6410

IMHO JD6110-6410 aren't in the same league price & conveniences with the other brands you mentioned. I think JD 5075E & 5085E would be a more realistic match to the other brand tractors

 

[Farmer495]

IMHO JD6110-6410 aren't in the same league price & conveniences with the other brands you mentioned. I think JD 5075E & 5085E would be a more realistic match to the other brand tractors

Yes they can be spec'd higher, A 6000 series can have 16x16 powerquad which is certainly not found on the the others and a few other features like HMS.

Find a 2wd open station 6X10 with 12 speed syncro plus and you are on same footing as anything else equipped the same on the list.

I ran a TL100 (24x12) beside a 6310 (powerquad) both cab and 4x4, both were less than a year old at the time. The Deere wasn't much nicer despite the NH TS100 16x16 being the more comparable model.

OP didn't want emissions, so 5085E out, but an early 5075E with flattop fender (TierII) would still be capable. Deere 5410/5510 Would fit in the mix too.

 

[Farmer495]

Thanks just what I was asking for.

Good luck, let us know what you end up finding. Always neat to see what was actually available in the real world in real $$$ that meets the need.

 

[LouNY]

Well I just went to tractor data . com and just in the CIH (Case International) lineup when I sorted by hp,
there are over 55 Models between 95 and 125 HP which to me would be a good range for the intended use.
Personally I'd be looking 115 HP+
Pardon Our Interruption
And I prefer Red

 

[Hay Dude]

Id want a 10k or heavier tractor if you want to spear 2 bales at a time. I do 2) 850-1000lb bales at a time with a dual bale spear on my M126x and M135x. Both have cast rims. Why unload 1 bale at a time when you can do 2?

One at a time, you can go to maybe a smaller M7040.

All those tractors I have owned for a long period of time. All have 4WD and no emissions. They are very good tractors and can be had with a lot of nice features.

 

[RustyA]

50+ hp mfwd utility tractor will do what you want safely. Load rear tires set at max width. Put 3pt spear on and spear a bale with ratchet straps holding it together for ballast. I used this method with a 36 hp JD 1070 compact for years. Go slow and lower bale close to ground before turning sharp.