Need Your Expertise... I want to bale some Hay! Lifelong dream!

[Equipmentpro99]

Your tra

 

[Equipmentpro99]

Your tractor is too small for running most any square baler. You could cut/rake it and find a neighbor with a larger tractor and a square baler to do the baling for you.
I would suggest a 5 or 6 foot sickle mower and a side delivery rake.
If you get a larger tractor i would recommend a used new Holland or john deere square baler, look for one that has ben stored inside or recently refurbished.

 

[TractorToolsDirect]

Your Mitsubishi is a 20 hp tractor weighing around 2000 lbs. That is big enough for specialized compact hay making equipment. You won't find it this type of equipment in your local implement dealer's showroom. Your best bet is to do a search on the internet and look for companies that sell direct and ship to you. Make sure you check the country of manufacture. There is some cheap, low quality stuff being imported. The best equipment seems to come from Italy.

 

[Equipmentpro99]

A new compact baler will cost you around 15k, you can get a good used full size square baler and a bigger tractor for less than that. Also you will have a baler thats easy to get parts for, easier to work on, and you will have a bigger tractor that will handle a square baler, or any other job with ease.

 

[TractorToolsDirect]

A new compact baler will cost you around 15k, you can get a good used full size square baler and a bigger tractor for less than that. Also you will have a baler thats easy to get parts for, easier to work on, and you will have a bigger tractor that will handle a square baler, or any other job with ease.

That's the classic upsell you hear all the time. In reality, there is no difference in the ability to get parts or the ease to work on a compact baler. They are just a little smaller. And a lot of people don't want a bigger tractor. They like the size of their 20-25 hp tractor, and probably are also doing yard work with it, which a big tractor won't do. Also a lot of people don't want used equipment, ESPECIALLY a used square baler, which can potentially have a lot of expensive problems. Not to say that isn't the right way to go for a lot of people, but some folks want a trouble-free solution that allows them to use their existing tractor that they have already paid for and are comfortable on.

 

[Texasmark]

Have a www look at Small Farm Innovations in Central TX. He has balers especially made for small tractors like yours for around $15k new. He has rakes and cutters. I bought my drum cutter from him as I prefer it over a sickle which was always clogging up from crawdad mounds, fire ant hills, and precut hay in sharp turn areas of the field. I bought numerous things from him and a great business man...name's Phil.

Mark

 

[Tx Jim]

Your tractor is too small for running most any square baler. You could cut/rake it and find a neighbor with a larger tractor and a square baler to do the baling for you.

Really? Just yesterday I saw 2 draft horses pulling a ground drive JD 346 baler baling Alfalfa on Rural Heritage on RFDTV . I've pulled a JD 214 baler with a JD BO(14 HP) successfully

 

[Equipmentpro99]

Im not saying you couldn't pull it just you shouldn't. Small tractors aren't built as good or as heavy as the older ones were. The weight is the biggest issue when your pulling something that is two or three times heavier can be dangerous, also the motion of the running baler will move the tractor quite a bit. Another problem that smaller tractors have is, the pto clutches, transmission, axles etc arent built heavy enough to take the kind of abuse a baler will put on it. Speed is also a problem in the hayfield, a tractor that small you would be running in low 1st or 2nd, and going that slow not only does it take forever to get over the field, but it also is harder to get a really nice bale because the baler needs a consistent and even feed of hay to make nice square bale.
Again not saying you cant use a small tractor, just saying it makes everything harder.