best type of hay rake

[poorboy]

cci, I understand that as a dealer you may be able to get parts more readily than I can. If I break down I'm in tough shape. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I do like the fact that I can count on it. For the time aspect if I could get a right and a left handed rake for $1400 I would connect them in tandem. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Except for third cutting I usually don't have to wait at all for the raker. In all fairness though I do need a larger baler. Feeding four 4x4's a day is getting old. Did the g-hog say only six more weeks? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Patrick

 

[5030]

I've read all the posts, some biased and some not. My partner and I are commercial growers here in Michigan. My rake recommendation is this:

For a guy like you, just starting out, buy a used CHEAP side delivery rake. Cheap is the key word, probably all the replacement parts on an OLD CHEAP side delivery rake are universals, tires and teeth. Besides, a side delivery rake can be pulled by a quad (we do) and a side delivery rake will cause less leaf loss that other types. We do 450 acres of commercial hay and my favorite rake is our old side delivery International. We have 2 v rakes and I don't think much of them.

Daryl
Forage Services, L.P.