Has anyone tried a bale sweep like the rocky mountain bale sweep? Have you tried too stack on a wagon? or barn?
do you think a compact tractor could handle it?
I have not used one but the issue is one of control and balance.
You have to keep the following in mind for ANY overhung load;
a. the wieght of the boom
b. the wieght of the bale sweep in question for 6 or 8 bales
c. the wieght for the individual bale
d. the total wieght of the 6 bales and the smaller bale sweep
e. the total wieght of the 8 bales and the 8 bale sweep
f. the actual size of the bale sweep with regard to the tractors actual foot print-
which is the square area of the tractor occupied by the tractor wheels as it will add to the units total working wieght when operating.
The above relates to the ground clearance of the compact tractor as the loow profile of a skid loader or a smaller tracked tractor like an M8540 narrow or the M8540 Narrow with tires will have no issues with stability as it has a very low center of gravity.
Which ever model you pick, you will want to have loaded tires and a wieght box on the rear to counter the effects of the over hing load on the boom, bake sweep, and the actual bale load with your decision
The major issue is whether the boom has the power and ability to raise and safely control the wieght and bulk of the bale sweep and the bales in question.
Ideally you want to install a needle valve to control the lifting speed function of the boom to assure the bales stay in place while loading them on a trailer as every jerk or bump will make the bales move.
Personally in my case I would rather have round mini baler to handle hay and silage crops as you can make a huge number of very low wieght mini marshmallows and even though you have more bales they are lighter and wiegh much less than a standard hay bale and occupy less room in the same area. A plastic wrapped round mini bale is also less of an invitation to rats and mice ruining it also.
The wrapped mini bale will not freeze if left out and has a much lower T.D.N. loss as the plastic is white in color and does not readily absorb heat from the sun if left out in the weather.
