Pallet forks to move round bales

[Sawyer Rob]

Not to say it will happen to everyone, but there have been more than one person stacking round bales with pallet forks and have the bale fall backwards, causing injuries and damaging the machine. The spear prevents this.

IF, a guy rolls the forks back too far, it can happen, It's called operator error!

I've moved thousands of bales with pallet forks, it hasn't happened even once, not even close.

Don't forget, you can't fix stupid.

SR

 

[D&D]

Not to say it will happen to everyone, but there have been more than one person stacking round bales with pallet forks and have the bale fall backwards, causing injuries and damaging the machine. The spear prevents this.

A bale clamp would help prevent an accident. A fork lift frame with a guard would help prevent an accident. Self leveling systems help prevent an accident when stacking. A bale spear does nothing special with regards to handling hay.

When stacking, pushing a bale off the far side can be disastrous for the help or bystanders too. Moving big stuff with big equipment requires attention and precautions.

 

[jyoutz]

IF, a guy rolls the forks back too far, it can happen, It's called operator error!

I've moved thousands of bales with pallet forks, it hasn't happened even once, not even close.

Don't forget, you can't fix stupid.

SR

No but I’m still going to install a bale spear bracket to my forks.

 

[Hay Dude]

What prevents bale roll back is a pair of masts.

 

[jyoutz]

What prevents bale roll back is a pair of masts.

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That would also work.

 

[D&D]

What prevents bale roll back is a pair of masts.

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to be fair about it, what happens when you raise the boom to full height and curl the forks full up?

 

[Hay Dude]

to be fair about it, what happens when you raise the boom to full height and curl the forks full up?

The bales stay put if speared correctly. If you are foolish enough to raise to full height and curl all the way back on pallet forks, it would depend on the roll back angle.

Who would do that?

I guess we could do goofy “what if…..” scenarios all day?

 

[Sawyer Rob]

to be fair about it, what happens when you raise the boom to full height and curl the forks full up?

Like I said, you can't fix stupid!

SR

 

[EddieWalker]

I've bought round bales from feed stores that used forklifts to load them at two different places. It was awkward, but they where able to get a single bale in the back of my pickup truck.

When I first got into feeding round bales instead of small square bales, I tried using my pallet forks. In time I might of gotten better at it, but just driving down my driveway, I had trouble keeping it on there. I might of had better luck if I widened them. I only did it a couple of times before buying a hay spear.

The hay spear is night and day better. It stays on there no matter how fast you go, or how rough the ride is. You have total control over the bale, so you can stack them, put them side by side, or make as long a line as you want. You can unlade a trailer, or get one out of the back of your truck easily. They really are a must have attachment if you have round bales.

This is what I have. I paid a lot less for it ten years ago, but it's probably still priced pretty good. A few years ago I pulled a wood post with it that I thought was set in compacted dirt. The first two where, but the next one was set in concrete. It bent my spear, which ruined it. You have to have straight spears to get them out of the bale. Otherwise, the bale just wants to stick to it and not come out. I ordered a replacement spear from Titan, and it arrived fairly quickly. No issues or complaints.

Amazon.com

 

[D&D]

The bales stay put if speared correctly. If you are foolish enough to raise to full height and curl all the way back on pallet forks, it would depend on the roll back angle.

Who would do that?

I guess we could do goofy “what if…..” scenarios all day?

Not a goofy scenario, it has happened more than once. Here is where we started on this

Not to say it will happen to everyone, but there have been more than one person stacking round bales with pallet forks and have the bale fall backwards, causing injuries and damaging the machine. The spear prevents this.

 

[Hay Dude]

Not a goofy scenario, it has happened more than once. Here is where we started on this

Ok, lets clarify:
1. I was talking about a bale spear.
2. Pallet forks cant stack hay when rolled all the way back.

 

[mo1]

Hi guys, We have a small property so we have only baled small rectangles previously and I'm giving rounds a go this year for ease of handling (Kioti RX 7620). I have a set of pallet forks and considering I am only doing this as a trial this year I'm wondering whether I could get away with just using the pallet forks to move and stack the bales. I will have somewhere between 40 and 60 (4' x 5') bales, and will be moving them over some bumpy ground and up a hill to stack in a shed. I plan to get an old 3pl bale spear to carry one bale on the back for ballast, but hoping to get away with using the pallet forks on the front. Does anyone have any recommendations on this?

It is doable but I would not generally recommend it as it is not hard to have a bale fall off of a set of pallet forks if you are not very careful. There are bale forks, but they are different from loader-mounted pallet forks. The differences are that the bale forks are larger tubular pieces of steel that are firmly welded to the frame, and usually at least 5' long, while pallet forks usually are 4' long or less and can move left and right. Pallet forks being able to move left and right on the frame. The bale can fall through if they move outward, and the bale doesn't nestle between the forks and thus can roll off of the forks to the side if the forks are too close together.

A 3 point bale spear or set of bale forks are not very expensive, particularly if you find them used. A loader-mounted bale spear is usually quite a bit more expensive than a 3 point mounted spear or forks. You may just consider getting a 3 point spear or forks and carrying the bales one at a time and forgetting the loader mounted spear until you decide you want to continue handling round bales.

 

[Hay Dude]

Only downside of that being a 3pt spear can load/stack only one layer, not stack and cannot load trucks/trailers (unless there’s a ramp)

 

[LHF2019]

To the OP if he comes back. Had a customer use a pallet fork to move round bales from field to wagon to barn. Thousands of them over the years. He didn't have hills he had HILLS. Was a pain round baling but got good placing bales. Only lost one out of all the years I baled for him.

For the grapple idea. I originally bought one in the early 2000's for only one reason and that was to feed the cattle on pasture. I got so annoyed taking a bale to them, open and close gates. Have them crowd me while trying to remove strings. Pissed me off. Bought the grapple. Take strings off at barn. Grapple. Lose no hay on way to pasture. Open gate, drop bale, leave, close gate before the cattle even knew I was there. Side benefit was stacking 4 high safely.

 

[5030]

Looks like net not strings to me....

 

[LHF2019]

Looks like net not strings to me....

Now. When I bought the first grapple had strings. Sold the grapple when I sold the farm the first time. When I started again I knew I needed a grapple for storing bales in the barn. I no longer feed cattle in the pasture.

 

[5030]

Your barn looked a lot like mine before I had it painted this last summer.

 

[5030]

Actually, I have become very proficient at stacking rounds with my pallet forks. With my M's, I can stack 3 high no issue. I'd never attempt that with twine bales but tight net bales, no issue.

 

[sd455dan]

What prevents bale roll back is a pair of masts.

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Or even a Grapple lid

 

[LHF2019]

Actually, I have become very proficient at stacking rounds with my pallet forks. With my M's, I can stack 3 high no issue. I'd never attempt that with twine bales but tight net bales, no issue.

If I get a double bale grapple I will go higher yet. Did 5 high once lifting 3 at a time. Very unnerving when I had it lifted full height and could see it moving. That was the last time. I pushed it off the top when time to get it. Wasn’t even going to attempt with the loader.