Hauling rounds on 16' equipment trailer, flat side or string side down?

[petebert]

I've only done squares up until yesterday when I picked up some round bales. I had the guy put them string side down. Two rows of 4 on bottom, two rows of 3 on top sitting in the V's. I ran a cargo strap front to back along each row. I then went to add some side to side straps and realized I couldn't hook onto my frame on the sides, there's no lip. Being an equipment trailer there's one set of tie down points about 3' from the front and another 2' from the back, so you can strap down your vehicles axles but they didn't add any anywhere else.

If I continue to get round bales should I continue to stack on string? This method just leaves the middle stack with no side to side strap. What if I stacked on the flat side? I would still run the front to back straps but the middle two stacks would have no side to side support. That being said it seems like it would take WAY more force to knock down round bales stacked on the flat side. Plus the strap down the middle should be holding it pretty well too. Stacked on string side the top bales did have some sway, I could shove them a little by hand. I'm guessing on the flat side I couldn't make them budge at all.

 

[boomer1025]

Why not add a rub rail on both sides of your trailer.

 

[petebert]

Here's 1000 words

 

[RedNeckRacin]

Those are some mushy bales! I would add some tie down points but I don't see a problem with that as long as you are not hitting the highway. If you lay them on the flat ends, you are going to have to strap them in better.

 

[joeu235]

I've always seen round bales hauled strings down

 

[RickB]

I've always seen round bales hauled strings down

Or strings up?

 

[M5farms]

nothing wrong with how you have it tied down . All I ever do it a strap over the side across the top bales and go. If its less than 5 miles I don't even do that

 

[joeu235]

Or strings up?

Axis of the round bale cylinder parallel to the ground and perpendicular to the direction of travel

 

[powerscol]

You did good - probably more that what I would do. The front to back straps is all I would have done. I agree those bales sure look soft and possibly not the best quality. Hopefully its not for horses. Did you check the moisture content?

 

[aczlan]

If you want to tie the middle bales down, see if you can bolt a D-Ring to the top of the fender and strap to that.

Aaron Z