I've done custom baling in Oklahoma for 3 years now and know several other people who do custom baling. We all use 4x6 net wrap balers. Some people want a full 4x6 and some even want 4x4. Most of what I do is 4x5.5 weighing in at about 1200 lbs. I have never had anyone ask for twine.
New considering custom bailing
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dmay
Gold Member
I think the best thing to do is to ask your potential customers. Ask what they prefer for bale size. Ask what tractor/loader size and capacity they have. If your potential customers have smaller tractors and therefor need small round bales and you go big and heavy then you immediately loose them as potential customers.
Most people like 4 foot wide for transporting and staying under the 102" width regulation. Farmers in Texas can get an overwidth permit for $10 a year if you have to haul 5x5's next to each other. If you get a 4x6, you can always bale 4x4, 4x5 and 4x6. People with smaller tractors can handle the smaller bales better.
A custom baler I knew around here just set up customers and drove his tractor from field to field and cut/baled if he was in your area.
tubewelder87
New member
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that is not the way the laws are here in oklahoma. I have ran a custom wheat cutting business in southwest oklahoma for 7 years now and have always had farm insurance and paid taxes on the farm although i only have 20 acres of pasture land and 3 horses. in oklahoma when you become a farm you can use your equipment to make money no matter whos farm you are on just and keep all the same insurance as long as you stay within 150 miles of home. as for the size of the bales i would go with 5 by 5. and also buy you a good older idiot block baler. by that i mean 2x2x4. there are alot of people that will have good pasture that will feed alot of cows and like 3 horses and need about two hundred little bales too. Just something to think about? this baler doesnt have to be a shiny new one, just something that will work when you need it. And also offer a better surface for the customer so the feel like you are taking care of them. I offer straw baling after i cut wheat if they need a little straw bedding. Kinda a pain but i have the tractor there for the grain cart all i do is throw the baler on a trailer and do it as soon as i finish the field. this alone has kept me several jobs for the last few years. I have a little higher prices than the big crews but they dont have to worry about who is gona bale the straw.
ModMech
Platinum Member
1) He can avoid highways
2) He will NOT be involved in INTERSTATE COMMERCE
3) He will not be transporting persons or property (in interstate commerce) any more than a person who worked fields and drove a class A RV will.
OK :confused2:
Notice that OK has the same requirements for intrAstate commerce as the feds do for interstate commerce.
What is a USDOT Number? - Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
When hauling equipment for doing custom work he will be transporting in intrastate commerce just like any other private carrier.
ModMech
Platinum Member
No.
Commerce is TRANSPORTING persons or goods for SOMEONE ELSE. If it were any other way, EVERYONE who carried anything for their job in a vehicle would qualify as commercial use and CLEARLY that is not the case.
Wrong.
A contractor towing a trailer hauling his OWN property is still operating in commerce.
Just because a vehicle is used in business doesn't mean it is a CMV. The OP's truck would clearly be a CMV.
While I am at it here is the definition of Highway.
ModMech
Platinum Member
If a contractor is moving his or her OWN equipment then they do not need a CDL nor are considered to be in "commercial transportation" unless they cross state lines (in most states).
Also, contractors are considered commercial transportation because they are effectively selling things they carry (lumber, nails, misc construction materials). At some level even weekend racers are "commercial" because they are hpoing (trying) to win money. However, that is the IRS definition and not the idea of the DOT.
By your definition and explanation, a 18 YO boy going to his parents summer cabin towing their 32' cruiser behine a 1 ton p/u with a lawn mower in the back is "commercial" since he will cut his neighbors grass. That's not even wrong it is so far off base.
Also, contractors are considered commercial transportation because they are effectively selling things they carry (lumber, nails, misc construction materials). At some level even weekend racers are "commercial" because they are hpoing (trying) to win money. However, that is the IRS definition and not the idea of the DOT.
By your definition and explanation, a 18 YO boy going to his parents summer cabin towing their 32' cruiser behine a 1 ton p/u with a lawn mower in the back is "commercial" since he will cut his neighbors grass. That's not even wrong it is so far off base.
I never said they need a CDL. But they would if they are towing at trailer over 10k, and the combo is over 26k or the truck alone is over 26k.
Besides a very few odd states, CDL requirements do not change between intra and interstate use.
More states than don't have the same requirements as the feds for USDOT number requirements, this includes OK, WI and TX.
They are in commerce even just hauling there own tools, they would be considered a "private motor carrier".
And yes guys hauling race cars are considered commercial use, at least here, some truly are CMVs and some aren't.
While being an extreme example, yes it technically would be a CMV. But there is a big difference between a kid doing the neighbor a favor for some side cash and a guy hauling tractors and hay balers doing custom work.