1 Ton Bales: unloading 18 wheeler

[Westendorf-RR]

Kioti DK65 (65hp) w/KL1730 loader
Mechanical self leveling.

MODEL KL1730

U- Lift Capacity to Full Height @ Pivot Pins 3,500 lbs

This is where I would be putting my money.

Wallace
That's a much larger loader. The specs are impressive - Self-Leveling will give you about 20% more lift. Can you tell me at what psi these specifications were tested at?
I suspect we are not comparing apples to apples - or maybe I am wrong?
I couldn't find anything on Kioti web site.

For example if I were to test my loader at 2750 psi instead of 2500 psi then my lift capacity would be 3300 pounds and if I added the mechanical self-leveling I'd be at 3960 lbs.

 

[N80]

He never said (unless I missed something) that the JD loader would lift that much weight

In his first post he mentions a high lift loader, but did not specify that he was talking about his loader in particular. He mentioned 11' lift which is close to the stock JD loader. So I misunderstood.

I would still debate the rationale behind lifting 2800 pounds with a light duty, short wheelbase, light weight (around 3400 pounds?) tractor like a 990. Not saying it can't be done, just not sure how practical it would be, even with 'adequate' ballast on the rear. I have a very similar tractor with a better loader than the 990 and I wouldn't even consider lifting a 2000 pound round bale on perfectly dry level ground, mush less on typical farm terrain. With loaded tires and 600 pounds on the 3pt hitch, a bucket full of rock makes my L4400 tipy and the fully inflated front tires get a little mushy.

 

[john_bud]

I have no doubt that the Westendorf loader will do as they say but I have doubts in a lot of the operators on compact tractors abilities to handle that much weight with a compact. Not all the operators but from my own experience there are very few people I would trust with my loader tractors and even then I tell them which tractor they will take depending on their skill and the job they are trying to do. The compact loader is very tipsy compared to the utilty loader tractor. I have never tipped one over yet but I do know their limitations.

Robert,

Now that's an un-mistakable truth! There werer several threads recently about folks that turned CUT's or SCUTS sharply with the full bucket up and suddenly found themselves getting intimate with the ground. Fortunately no harm was done to any person - aside from a brused ego or two! ROPS are a good thing.

Proper technique and a good dose of respect for Sir Issac is needed, especially when the load is about the same weight as the tractor!


Westendorf-RR,

I searched google and found the web page for your company. Lots of interesting things there. You guys do make some nice looking loaders and seem to be very flexible in what you can produce. Had I known about you 7 years ago, I'd probably have one of your loaders on my Kubota.

If anyone else would like a look....

Front-End Loaders by Westendorf: loader for tractor, shade canopy, wagons, manure & landscaping equipment.


I do like the look of the BC-4000. Would that fit on a Kubota loader and if you can PM me with the $$? Thanks

jb
Just for the record -> I have no connection with this company <- just sharing some information that looked interesting.

 

[daTeacha]

This may or may not (more likely) help, but I use a DX29 with the LX114 loader to unload large square bales from my pickup and carry them up the hill to the barn.

The bales are about 3 1/2 X 3 1/2 X 6 1/2 feet. The guy who makes them up says they are around 1000 lb each.

I replace the bucket with a common carry-all to which I welded plates to fit my loader arms. To unload, I can either approach the truck from the side or the rear. The bale is set into the truck onto two pallets through which I have ratchet straps run. From the side, I set the carry-all down hard on top of the bale, strap it to the arms, lift it up, and drive the truck out from under it. From the rear, I do essentially the same thing but drive the tractor backwards taking the bale off the truck. I could probably lift it over the sides, but I don't what to embarrass myself by standing the tractor on it's nose with the bale back in the truck.

Step two is to set the bale down on the ground, then slide the forks into the pallet and pick the thing up just enough to clear the ground. Then I drive gingerly up the hill and into the barn, being very careful on the part of the trip that has turns on a side hill. Finally, the hardest part, maneuvering the thing into position in the cramped quarters in my little barn.

I have about 1150 pounds of weights on the 3 point and rear wheels combined.

 

[KSopocy]

My self personally would not go less than 85 to 90 hp tractor to lift 2000 lb bales on to an 18 wheeler, because I'll bet you are double stacking them.

If you want to use a smaller tractor that is your business, but make sure you have lots of life insurance so your old lady will be a rich widow.

Just because a loader is rated to pick up 2000 lbs does not mean it is rated to lift that kind of weight to 10 or 12 ft in the air.

Someone mentioned they had a pucker factor when not on flat ground with their tractor. When tractors are starting to tip, you are **** close to dying!

Any dealer worth their salt will direct you to the proper tractor. Goto AG DEALER, skip the dealer who is only selling compacts, because they will tell you it will do all the work you want it to do, but in reality the "TOY TRACTORS" are not made to be workhorses. They are toys for big boys.

 

[N80]

I would agree that a compact is really not the tool for this job. A utility tractor might get by if not double stacking. And while a 90 hp tractor would be perfect for the job, my B-I-L (who cuts around 1500-2000 large bales a year) uses a JD 2355 with the 245 self leveling loader with hay forks for all his hay moving and stacking. This is a full sized Ag tractor but it is only 67 hp (and you can get one in decent shape for around $12k). So sure a 90 hp Ag tractor would be ideal, but you can function perfectly well with considerably less tractor. I've moved big, wet bales with this tractor with no ballast on the rear (tires are loaded) but no wheel weights and you can hardly tell the bale is out there.