Good hay rakes

[Turbys_1700]

Around here the New Holland roller bar's are very popular...
That is all I knew for years...
We have a lot of smaller fields and the roller bar works well in those applications plus they are very reliable...

 

[Ross71]

As far as running into things, well I've run into things with all sorts of rakes, lol. It was operator error every time!

I never said it wasn't operator error, cos it was. No question.:ashamed: But when experienced and inexperienced operators make the same error, in the same way, I start to think maybe the equipment or set up was a factor.

 

[Bigfoot62]

If money is no object, and you want the best rake, here it is:
Vermeer Twin Rake
But, I hope you have deep pockets. New, they cost over $20,000. If you can find a good used one for $10-12k, grab it.
John Deere used to have one as well. IIRC, it was just a green Vermeer.

 

[DT86]

I had the chance to use one of those Vermeer rakes on a couple different occasions. I must agree they are fantastic machines.

 

[JasG]

My experience has been the a rotary works better than wheel or roll bar. I've used both, and a good friend of mine still has his NH roll bar rake yet never uses it anymore. The rotary makes better drying rows than a wheel or roll bar. The same friend has tried them all side by side and the rotary won every time.

IMO Kuhn and Miller Pro have the best rakes and Miller pro the best tandem hitch. You can hook any combination of raked together and use it to rake 2 at a time or 2 into one. I would recommend a hydraulic drive with the 4 wheel bottom.

My friend tried the miller pro but just couldn't swing the money yet.

Of course different conditions and likes your results may not be the same.

 

[Timm250]

I have used MF, New Holland & New Idea bars rakes & all are good. I have a New Idea hydraulic drive bar rake & a Kuhn Speed Rake. The bar rake rakes clean but it is slow.

The Kuhn does a good job but does leave some little clumps on the field. The little bit that is left is worth the speed that you gain while raking. It takes 1/3 of the time to rake with it as it does with the bar rake.