oosik
Epic Contributor
This is my ten ton farm wagon. Horst 185 running gear. Purchased the running gear, new in 2012. Built the wagon that same summer. It is now used with the experience gained from previous "adventures".
Hay sled demand?
- Thread starter Joe Batt
- Start date
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This is my ten ton farm wagon. Horst 185 running gear. Purchased the running gear, new in 2012. Built the wagon that same summer. It is now used with the experience gained from previous "adventures".
workinonit
Elite Member
But wait. You've used this contraption for a year and you are still here to tell about it?
My guess is that cutting grass on a zero turn is more dangerous than pulling bales with a sled that's on the ground.
OP
Joe Batt
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,540
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
Not something I'd do simply because dragging sleds loaded with round bales over a hayfield will crush hay plants even more than driving a tractor over them and substantially reduce yield plus they can rut soft ground. What round bale grabbers and hay spears are for.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,540
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
You need tp practice loading your bale chamber as well. Tapered and oblong bales don't stack well and looks to me like your net wrapper needs adjusting as well. I don't get loose net tails as my wrapper maintains the tension and the net knife is sharp. Let me guess, it's a New Holland bailer.
OP
Joe Batt
Bronze Member
1. If I could afford hay equipment, I'd have a tractor large enough to handle these bales.
2. It turns out that the sleds are doing less damage to the alfalfa than the empty hay wagon, the tractor or fertilizer truck. The sleds generate 2.4 psi.
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2003
- Messages
- 26,540
- Location
- SE Michigan in the middle of nowhere
- Tractor
- Kubota M9000 HDCC3 M9000 HDC
Really? How did you measure the impact of the runners on the hay plants... Curious.
You cannot afford hay handling equipment but you can afford to have the fields commercially fertilized... Interesting in as much as I fertilize my own, I get a fertilizer cart from the co-op loaded with fertilizer and spread it myself and the cart is no charge.
Last time I checked, a 3 point hay spear was under 300 bucks and I'm sure your 3PH can lift a round bale with a spear attached, no issue, but then maybe it cannot as I have no idea what size tractor you have. I'm also curious as to how you unload the bales from your 'sleds' and stack and store them. Hopefully, on end as conical shaped bales don't stack well.
Just curious is all...... Inquiring minds want to know.
You cannot afford hay handling equipment but you can afford to have the fields commercially fertilized... Interesting in as much as I fertilize my own, I get a fertilizer cart from the co-op loaded with fertilizer and spread it myself and the cart is no charge.
Last time I checked, a 3 point hay spear was under 300 bucks and I'm sure your 3PH can lift a round bale with a spear attached, no issue, but then maybe it cannot as I have no idea what size tractor you have. I'm also curious as to how you unload the bales from your 'sleds' and stack and store them. Hopefully, on end as conical shaped bales don't stack well.
Just curious is all...... Inquiring minds want to know.
OP
Joe Batt
Bronze Member
Sorry, I thought you had watched the video. My tractor, my process and video of the sled damage are included in that.
Where the fertilizer truck drove, the plants were dead. You could see the tire tracks for two cuttings (I can feel the tread lugs when driving my tractor over those tracks). Similarly I can see where the 5th wheel truck drives when picking up the hay that the baler takes for payment. I can't see the sled tracks.
For the 23 acres, fertilizer is $2,000; it was a couple of hundred to have it spread ($20/acre I think). A baler and enough tractor to run it is at least $50,000. The guy who does my field spent about $120,000 on his equipment.
Last I checked, you can't stack with a 3 point spear. I use the tractor and front end loader from the video to roll the bales onto and off of the sleds. My 3 point forks (instead of a spear) will barely lift these bales. Before the sleds, I had been putting one bale on the rear forks and another in the bucket, but I think that resulted in a leaking front axle and I know that put ruts in the field. Using the sled allows me to make about 1/4 of the runs across the field. Again, I'm on clay that never really dries out.
I have a hay wagon, but it's much more involved to use for this. I have to get on and off the tractor to load each bale and reconnect the hitch. With this setup, I don't get off of the tractor. The wagon also requires that I lift the bales up higher than I am comfortable with on my tractor.
Where the fertilizer truck drove, the plants were dead. You could see the tire tracks for two cuttings (I can feel the tread lugs when driving my tractor over those tracks). Similarly I can see where the 5th wheel truck drives when picking up the hay that the baler takes for payment. I can't see the sled tracks.
For the 23 acres, fertilizer is $2,000; it was a couple of hundred to have it spread ($20/acre I think). A baler and enough tractor to run it is at least $50,000. The guy who does my field spent about $120,000 on his equipment.
Last I checked, you can't stack with a 3 point spear. I use the tractor and front end loader from the video to roll the bales onto and off of the sleds. My 3 point forks (instead of a spear) will barely lift these bales. Before the sleds, I had been putting one bale on the rear forks and another in the bucket, but I think that resulted in a leaking front axle and I know that put ruts in the field. Using the sled allows me to make about 1/4 of the runs across the field. Again, I'm on clay that never really dries out.
I have a hay wagon, but it's much more involved to use for this. I have to get on and off the tractor to load each bale and reconnect the hitch. With this setup, I don't get off of the tractor. The wagon also requires that I lift the bales up higher than I am comfortable with on my tractor.
