Anyone move round bales with a L3800?

[Grateful11]

I see it's time for folks to watch these videos from the TV show Rescue 911. It shows how not to move round bales. I still remember watching them when they aired originally. It left a mark on me.

Rescue 911 - Episode 512 - "Dr.'s Hay Crush" (Part 1 of 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nek7negsvMU

Rescue 911 - Episode 512 - "Dr.'s Hay Crush" (Part 2 of 2)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcaODRnISlw

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

I don't have any issues however I'm not lifting 1000lb+ bales either and don't plan to. I do plan on purchasing a bucket spear when I find one that i like.

YIKES! Even a spear that you don't particularly like is still WAY better than lifting them like that.

 

[kubotacres]

YIKES! Even a spear that you don't particularly like is still WAY better than lifting them like that.

That was to show lifting ability. Anybody with common sense should know not haul them that way.

 

[gsganzer]

I'm not planning to transport bales anywhere with a L3800. I'm merely looking to unload them from a 16' trailer to a hay ring. I think I'll be fine. If it was a full time operation, I'd buy a 60hp tractor.

 

[kubotacres]

I'm not planning to transport bales anywhere with a L3800. I'm merely looking to unload them from a 16' trailer to a hay ring. I think I'll be fine. If it was a full time operation, I'd buy a 60hp tractor.

Your fine. I would load the rear tires though.

 

[KevT]

I haul 5x5 bales 10 at a time and use my SSQA with a bale spear to unload and stack no problems, but my rear tires are loaded.

 

[Fallon]

I've helped some neighbors move large rectangular bales. My bale spear was breaking them in half. Ended up using my SSQA pallet forks. Those bales absolutely maxed out my loaded & tractor. Couldn't curl past level & they barely lifted. Went really slow with the bales almost dragging on the ground so I could drop things if I got instable.

Have a set of hydraulic pallet forks (could lift to semi trailer height allegedly) I really need yo fix up. Could probably put em on if I dropped my quick hitch, but that's not happening. Finished welding on my new to me snow blower last night adding more clevis 3pt lift brackets & citing out the var under the toplink. I'm sure forks on the 3pt would have no problems with the bales.

 

[Chilly807]

I've moved 4x5 dry rounds with the L3400 with loaded rears. We don't have a bale spear, so strapped them to the front of the bucket. We didn't move more than 4-6 a year, so it's not as bad as it sounds.

It worked, but the loader is close to it's limits when you factor in the weight of the bucket and the added distance from the pivot pins.

An SSQA adapter is about $500, plus another bucket, call it $1100 total. Then you still need a bale spear for the SSQA, around $400.

I wish I'd bought that option when we got the tractor. Saved $500 by not doing it then, smart move!

You can build your own if you want, I started one a few years ago then back-burnered it.

 

[jblac197]

Is this a homemade spear or a factory built one? I'd so where did you get it? I like that setup

I've got an L3901 and I unloaded 44 4'x5' (probably 6 to 700#) round bales from a flatbed and put the in my hay barn. I have now moved 6 bales out in my pastures without any problem. My pastures are far from level. The three point hitch will lift them with no problem but won't lift them very high off of the ground nor unload them from a trailer. As previously mentioned be sure and add ballast(counterweight on the 3pt hitch) and the FEL will handle them fine .I use a single spear with 2 short stablizing spears. As with any load on the FEL low and slow and straight as possible and you'll be fine.

 

[Chilly807]

Funny this thread popped back up again. I spent a few hours last fall building a chain-on bale spear for the loader bucket. Works like a charm on 4x5 rounds.
It's hard to see in the pic, but there's a brace under the bucket to take the weight of the bale.