Loader Ramp to increase height of bucket

[Bass]

I want to use my Kubota 3710's bucket with pallet forks and a pallet to raise bales of hay into the barn. The maximum height I can get the pallet to the bottom of the door is 2 feet too low. does anyone know where I can get ramps, like service ramps, that I could drive up on to get at least most of the 2 ft. I'm short?

 

[k0ua]

What about just building a dirt ramp or if no dirt available you can use the gravel that we call 0 to 3/4. which is gravel from dust up to 3/4 inch size. to make a ramp. I have used that for ramps on my garage bulding. Since I did not want it to spill off to the side too much, I built wooden retaining walls by staking some metal U channel down into the ground and fastening the wood 5/4 deck boards to that then placed the gravel to build up the ramp. It all sounds more complicated that it is to actually do, but if you have some dirt you can scoop up nearby with your front end loader, you can build a 2 foot ramp in about an hour. And if you want to tear it down, well just scoop it back up and remove it. I know that this is not what you asked about, some ready made ramps, but it is a cheap solution. You could also build your own ramps out of 4x4 and 2x12 stock if you wanted. But a dirt or gravel ramp is safe (when packed down and properly angled) and pretty cheap.

 

[bcp]

How about using a two foot stack of pallets (fastened together) on the forks to put the hay on?

Bruce

 

[k0ua]

Something to think about, using forks for hay bales is not a good idea really to begin with, because the hay bales can come off and crush you.. Been many a guy killed using forks for hay. A hay spike is the proper tool as it stabilizes the bale. Something to think about.

 

[bcp]

Hmmm..

I was thinking of small square bales, maybe because he was using forks and a pallet. But I guess we need to know what kind of bales they are so we can give better suggestions.

Bruce

 

[Fred Barbour]

Sounds as if your using small bales. Why not just get a used hay elevator.

I want to use my Kubota 3710's bucket with pallet forks and a pallet to raise bales of hay into the barn. The maximum height I can get the pallet to the bottom of the door is 2 feet too low. does anyone know where I can get ramps, like service ramps, that I could drive up on to get at least most of the 2 ft. I'm short?

 

[bcp]

I just looked on CL for my region and there are about 15-20 ads for hay elevators, with prices from $250 to $1100.

Bruce

 

[Bass]

Great idea! I only put 9 bales on the pallet at a time and raise it to door level. By strapping down two pallets on top of the first one I'll pick up a lot of the additional height I was looking for. Reaching down and muscling up the bottom 3 bales was a killer on the back! Thanks!

 

[k0ua]

I just looked on CL for my region and there are about 15-20 ads for hay elevators, with prices from $250 to $1100.

Bruce

I just assumed a big round bale,, but it could be a bunch of little square bales on a pallet.. so I dunno. the elevator would be the way to go in that instance for sure.
But I have heard of so many guys getting smashed by lifting large round bales with pallet forks, and misjudge the angles and have the bales come back down the loader arms and you are done for. All you have to do is make one mistake.

 

[Bass]

I had a hay elevator once and the problem is I only have to put up hay once a year and it took up valuable storage space.