Stacking bales with a L4240

[canoetrpr]

I have previously stacked 4x5s 3 high with my little L3400 - although only 2 high was comfortable.

Can someone with a L4240 tell me how high you can stack 5x5s or 4x5s. Should I comfortably be able to expect 3 high.

 

[Verticaltrx]

As far as stacking 4x5 or 5x5's regularly and comfortably, I'd be looking for something a little bigger. I haven't used the L4240 but I have stacked many bales with our 5045E John Deere. It has a lift height of 122" and 35" of reach and you use most of that to really stack them well. Another important factor is reach, having the front of the tractor right against the stack of bales great, plus it means you can't stagger the stack back enough to keep them stable. Another benefit of having plenty of reach is being able to load/unload the bales from one side of the trailer. Saves a lot of time, especially if you are in a confined area. Hopefully someone with a L4240 will chime in, but I'd say for occasional stacking of that size bale it'd work, lots of bales I'd look at the M-series.

 

[canoetrpr]

Yes we are only talking occasional stuff here. I went thru 60 4x5s last year. A few more this year and on this property my herd is unlikely to expand much furthur than needing 80 bales per year. Here I put them end to end in a row so there is no stacking.

Where I could use a bit more height and reach is when they are delivered on a flatbed trailer. Hard to justify a bigger tractor for it as there are ways around it.

Some day I plan to move to a bigger property and have hay storage and a bigger herd so I will want to stack. I don't think I will ever be going much past 250 bales per year though. If I do though, I'd like to ensure that any tractor I go to now will handle stacking those 3 high under a coverall. Anything much bigger than a 4240 right now would be too bigg for my current place.

 

[07 LMM LTZ]

You should have no problem stacking them three high I do it with my L3940 with pallet fork on the loader. Hope this helps

 

[suzy]

I have a little m7040 and it will stack 5x5 bales two high, I'm stacking uphill into a hayshed and it's a good reach. I miss the smaller bales as they fit better into my storage sheds...