how big for round bales

[jimmyj]

Hey Texasjohn and xxxsandman,
I am lucky because I get my hay from a friend and he makes the bales 4x5 at the largest and they are usually light enouth to push around by hand with a bit of elbow grease. I figure they are under 500lbs as long as I keep them dry. I don't have to stack bales either as he fills his barn and I visit every once + a while for a safety meeting and chit chat to buy 2 or 4 bales at a time. (Safety meeting = nobody workin', nobody gets hurt).

So far I have been using either an ATV or my Allis Chalmers 616 compact to "tow" them on a trailer and then I tip over the basket type bale feeder, shove the bale inside and tip it back onto its "feet" with the bale inside. The Allis loader can only lift 400lbs if I'm lucky and the machine is 1300lbs, plus 200lbs for me and another 200 - 250 with the loader. I have had the back end lift up more times than I would like to admit and I don't want to get hurt or break the little tractor (only has 3/4 inch front spindles to the wheel hubs). However, the little tractor is awesome for little stuff and getting into small areas so I want to keep it for sure.

I looked at the New Holland line the other day, they are very nice too and I like the fact that the loader comes with a skid steer mount as a standard feature.

My first choice would still be Kubota though as my uncle had one for years and it was so reliable and handy I'll be impressed for life by the brand. Plus the dealer is 3 miles from my house.

Hope there are good larger L series specials in March, if anyone knows where I could see US prices for new or used let me know. Even if I don't buy in Michigan, I could maybe use the info as a negotiating tool.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Some of the big Kubota dealers that seek business all over the US advertise here; Messick and Carver come to mind.

In Michigan, I would give a call to Williams Farm Equipment in Charlotte. If I bought a Kubota or New Holland I would buy from them. There are probably good dealers closer to the border, I just don't know who they are.

 

[canoetrpr]

Jimmy - check out Used Tractors at TractorHouse.com: John Deere Tractors, used farm tractors and farm equipment, Case IH, New Holland, Agco, Caterpillar. to get an idea of USA pricing.

 

[1953greg]

Just a quick note, while not the tractor(s) in question, my Kubota L48 is quite a nice hay machine. I put out hay weekly with it. My bales our baled with the BIGGEST New Holland baler made and it's cranked up tight. They are 5X6 and weigh at least 1,500lbs. The L48 will lift them to max height without even breaking a sweet.

I had a Montana 4540 tractor before the L48. It couldn't even get one of these bales off the ground!

sand, good observation but is that a fair comparision of the two tractors?
engines bout same but the L48 is designed for hydraulic power and out weighs the 4540 by bout 2500lbs. i agree the montana hydraulics are sonewhat weak though. i own a 4540 and am disappointed w/ the hydraulics. everything else is fine.
may i ask why you dont own the 4540 today?

 

[xxxsandman]

sand, good observation but is that a fair comparision of the two tractors?
engines bout same but the L48 is designed for hydraulic power and out weighs the 4540 by bout 2500lbs. i agree the montana hydraulics are sonewhat weak though. i own a 4540 and am disappointed w/ the hydraulics. everything else is fine.
may i ask why you dont own the 4540 today?

Your right, comparing a Kubota L48 to a Montana 4540 is not fair at all. The Montana 4540 is a fine machine. I had mine for a couple of years and put over 200 hours on it. It was a very powerful machine for it's size, with more power then weight and strength in my opinion. The hydraulics on the 4540 was average for a tractor in it's class. I'm VERY impressed with the hydraulics and strength of the L48. The hydraulics are strong and super fast. They should be, the L48 cost over twice as much as the Montana 4540!!!

I was simply trying to point out a compact tractor, such as the Montana 4540, will likely have trouble handling the larger round bales. I wasn't trying to run the 4540 done or even compare it to Kubotas in anyway. The reason I don't own it anymore is I needed something that could do heavier front end work and I bought a ZTR style mower and no longer needed it for finish mowing. BTW, the Montana 4540 is an increadable mowing machine, with lots of PTO horsepower, small size, tight turning, light weight...