How many small square bales can a cargo van hold?

[RichZ]

When I had a goat dairy farm, with sheep, horses and other livestock, I had 2 large pickups with trailers. But recently, I greatly down sized and just have a few livestock pets now. My pick up just died and my wife and I are considering getting a cargo van. Does anyone know how many small square bales a normal full sized cargo van can hold?

Thanks!!!

 

[two_bit_score]

My guess is a dozen. I guess by “full size” you mean a long wheel base.

 

[square1]

Mine would hold a dozen per layer. Cargo area is 12'6"L x 56"W (between the wheel wells)x 78"H. Theoretically could go 5 layers high.

 

[lman]

Mine would hold a dozen per layer. Cargo area is 12'6"L x 56"W (between the wheel wells)x 78"H. Theoretically could go 5 layers high.

That must be a big van. I usually only go 5 high with my flatbed trailer. I used to put about 50 bales on my pickup. I don't think you could put more in a van.

 

[m7040]

Our Mercedes Sprinter van with long wheel base is 23 ft long and can hold a bunch of bales

 

[Moxie 15]

I have a 2005 Toyota Camry and put eight it once. My wife swore there was two bales worth of hay left inside it afterwards.

p.s. I should say in and on it. It was likely a sight going down the road.

 

[LHF2019]

Going to depend on size of bales. Lots of variables

 

[Diggin It]

Mine would hold a dozen per layer. Cargo area is 12'6"L x 56"W (between the wheel wells)x 78"H. Theoretically could go 5 layers high.

Guess OP needs to define 'small hay bale' cuz the ones I've seen are 2' x 2' x 4' which would make 10' high for five layers.

 

[CobyRupert]

Our Mercedes Sprinter van with long wheel base is 23 ft long and can hold a bunch of bales

… so, we can conclude a “normal sized” van must carry just a little bit less than a bunch! Eureka! OP has his answer!

…but wait, OP has small square bales. Are they “normal” sized “small square bales” or small “square bales”?

If only somebody would invent a way to quantify volume … or quantities.

 

[MossRoad]

More than you think...

 

[square1]

Everyone knows a small hay bale is 450 mm x 375 mm x 900 mm, sheesh!

 

[bullbreaker]

Does anyone know how many small square bales a normal full sized cargo van can hold?

Thanks!!!

It depends who's loading it Cheech or Chong ??? ...............

 

[Gee Ray]

Everyone knows a small hay bale is 450 mm x 375 mm x 900 mm, sheesh!
View attachment 740572

18 x 15 x 36 inches for all us old people.

 

[CobyRupert]

The 18” x 15” might be standard among popular baler manufacturers, but the bale length on baler I’ve seen is adjustable, and results vary within that setting.

 

[RichZ]

I should have been more clear. I use normal sized square bales, usually around 50 pound bales. I will stack them from floor to ceiling. I used to have a cargo van that I used for livestock and other things, but I never put bales in it. I'm guessing it'll hold at least 20 bales, but I'm not sure. At this point we're trying decide if we want a pick up truck or a full sized cargo van. When I had my dairy goat farm I had 2 pick ups and a cargo van, so I never used the cargo van for hay, but now we downsized, and I only want either a cargo van or pick up, and we're trying to decide which would be best. We also have an antique business, so the cargo van is more useful for that, but is it decent for transporting hay?? Having 2 pick ups with trailers was good, because I used to make my own hay and sell it, but now I buy hay, since I only have 8 acres now.

 

[Doughknob]

….I'll hold at least 20 bales, but I'm not sure.….

Depends on the van, but more like double that.

 

[square1]

At this point we're trying decide if we want a pick up truck or a full sized cargo van. When I had my dairy goat farm I had 2 pick ups and a cargo van, so I never used the cargo van for hay, but now we downsized, and I only want either a cargo van or pick up, and we're trying to decide which would be best. We also have an antique business, so the cargo van is more useful for that, but is it decent for transporting hay??

Why not a van with a trailer? I own a small resort, not a ranch, but still my vehicle sees many uses. I held on to my F-250 out of uncertainty when I bought the van. After a year and 1/2 discovering the van unmatched versatility I've decided to sell the F-250. I do have a couple trailers, but don't believe they see much more use than before the van became my primary work horse.

 

[LHF2019]

I should have been more clear. I use normal sized square bales, usually around 50 pound bales. I will stack them from floor to ceiling. I used to have a cargo van that I used for livestock and other things, but I never put bales in it. I'm guessing it'll hold at least 20 bales, but I'm not sure. At this point we're trying decide if we want a pick up truck or a full sized cargo van. When I had my dairy goat farm I had 2 pick ups and a cargo van, so I never used the cargo van for hay, but now we downsized, and I only want either a cargo van or pick up, and we're trying to decide which would be best. We also have an antique business, so the cargo van is more useful for that, but is it decent for transporting hay?? Having 2 pick ups with trailers was good, because I used to make my own hay and sell it, but now I buy hay, since I only have 8 acres now.

The only thing normal size is the 14x18 for small squares. Length can vary drastically from seller to seller and will be in the 28-38 inches. Any of those lengths can be around 50 lbs. Use a truck. With an 8ft. bed and stacked properly will hold 50 bales. 6ft approx. 40. Cargo guessing is half that.

Had a van pick up hay here but don't remember how many but cleaning out the mess as well as hard to load and unload would make me want a truck bed.

 

[Big Blue Florida]

We have owned our 2008, Sprinter 2500 since new. This is a pre blue fluid user. At one time there was an I-4 diesel & if ordered a V6 gas. But the main power unit is the V6 diesel.

They have 2 tow basic wheel lengths, ours is the standard 144. However there is a 170 inch length that also can have the extended (near) 2 ft ad on after the rear axle additional.
Then there is the roof height. We have the tall at just over 9 ft from pavement up. The standard will allow a 5'6'' person to walk around up right.

Keep in mind the Sprinter now has a 1500. Not familiar w/ this newer addition to their line up.

Our 144 2500 tall roof will tow 5,000 lb & came w/ a very find 2'' tow receiver. Average fuel usage is about 18-20 mpg. Only real down side, is the Sprinter does not take to sitting around.


Keep in mind most of these vans now don't come w/ a metal divider between driver area & cargo area. That might be a consideration in any van used for long hauling.

There is also the Fiat now under the RAM Pro Line label. V6 gas only. We see about the same as the Sprinter on the road here. Mostly used by the trades men in our area.

 

[MossRoad]

Why not a van with a trailer? I own a small resort, not a ranch, but still my vehicle sees many uses. I held on to my F-250 out of uncertainty when I bought the van. After a year and 1/2 discovering the van unmatched versatility I've decided to sell the F-250. I do have a couple trailers, but don't believe they see much more use than before the van became my primary work horse.

That's a very good idea. We also had a full-size 3/4 ton van conversion. We bought a car hauler trailer to move the tractor around. It also moves furniture, firewood, and would move hay bales as well, I'm guessing. We eventually sold the van and switched to Suburbans. Very versatile.