Time for a round baler... need opinions

[Birdman]

I have an 8 acre hay field and can get another 3 acre field if I want it. I went to the local NH dealer (5 miles) to look at used balers but then found out NH has some great deals going on until the end of August. I can get a new NH BR740 for $13,000. Then I came across a used Claas, 2001 model 45 Rollant less than 500 bales, for $9,200, but the owner is willing to come down some. Nearest Claas dealer is about 25 miles. I also would like to consider a Vermeer, but the nearest dealer is over 50 miles away. So I would like opinions. Is that a good deal for the NH? Should I check out the Vermeer? Are Claas balers dependable? Any other advice on round balers? Thanks

 

[floridahay]

I have a Claas 46, which is the same as the 45 but it has afew more bells and whistles. I bought mine well used and have had it about 5 years now.The only money that I have spent on it is new twine knives which were about 20 bucks and a metal hydraulic line that cracked. I think that it cost aabout 45.I have probably put up 1000 or more bales in the time I have had it. I thinkn they are one of the most dependable balers out there. Their disadvantage and that is why many people don't care for them is they are a fixed chamber baler and the bales are not as dense and solid as the belt balers which are variable chamber balers. The plus side to the fixed chamber balers are that they will bale about anything! A friend has a 45 and he has baled corn stalks with his! They will bale baleage where most belt balers won't unless they are specially designed to. I also think that you can bale at a slightly higher moisture content with the fixed chamber because they will let the hay dry some in the bale without spoilage. The price sounds good for a 45 that has few bales on it. My friend paid about 13,500 or so for his about six years ago. I think that the Vermeer Rebel baler is about 12,000 or so now. Krone has a fixed chamber baler that sells for about 12,500 or so too. There is not many balers in that price range anymore.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

My son has a Vermeer baler (5400) and loves it. Vermeer pioneered round balers. No one does it BETTER. New Holland has had a shining history in hay equipment. Claas is a big name in Europe and gaining ground here. Can't say anything bad about them. Deere has a good rep too.

I'd price the Vermeer just for comparison. Look around your area and see which is most common "in the field". That usually means a lot too.

 

[Birdman]

floridahay
Can you shed some more light on the fixed chamber? I have no knowledge when it comes to round balers. Does loser bales mean more problems when trying to stack them 2 or 3 high in the barn? Any other concerns with fixed chamber?

Farmwithjunk
I called the Vermeer dealer this morning , he is sending me some info. Around here most round balers I see are NH, I guess in part due to having a local dealer.

Any one have an opinion on the NH BR740 for $13,000? Is this a good deal? Any issues with this model? Thanks

 

[floridahay]

I'll try to explain the difference in the fixed chamber and variable chamber. With the fixed chamber the chamber for the bale that the hay is fed into stays the same and the core is soft and the outside gets progressively harder as the chamber get fuller. This soft core is what makes it a looser bale, it also helps to keep mold down if the hay is baled a little high in moisture because it can still "breathe" to some extent since it is not baled tight. With the variable chamber baler the chamber starts out very small and grows as the hay is fed into the chamber. It is rolled as a jellyroll is rolled up in layers.Some differences in using the balers are that the variable chamber balers require more skill in making good looking bales. You have to weave from one side to the other to keep the hay fed evenly to both side or you will have a lopsided bale. This can be overcome to some extent by having the windrow the same width as the baler pickup. With the fixed chamber baler the bales tend to come out pretty even from one side to the other because the material is tumbled around in the chamber and levels its self out from side to side usually. Most people like the variable chamber because they do make prettier bales but most agree that the fixed chamber require less maintenance and repairs. From what i have read fixed chambers are more popular in Europe than over here. Claas and Krone are very big over there from whatt I read. Hope this helps you. One of the most important things is the dealer network that you have for parts and service. Any of the brands are very good now. In this area Vermeer never has been very big, probably because of no dealer network. I know they are very good balers and were the first to develope the round baler as someone has said. If I can help you anyway please don't hesitate to ask!

 

[Lindblom Lawn Care]

Does it make sense to spend $13,000 for machine that is used only on 8, or 11 acres? That would maybe amount to a hour to two hours of baling. IMO that doesn't add up.

As far as New Holland goes, I think they are a good machine. Dad and my brother have New Holland Round Bailer on the ranch, but I have never been around it during its operation.

 

[slowzuki]

It all depends on how you operate them too but some folk get a little less spoilage from soft core balers since the outer skin is so tight, but offseting that is the variable chamber ones pack more hay inside so the outside spoilage still leaves hay inside that is good. All this matters not for inside storage of hay.

 

[redlevel]

You probably can't go wrong with any of the brands you have mentioned. People around here swear by either Vermeer or New Holland. I had a neighbor who had a Claas and it stayed in the machine shop all the time; however, all his equipment was like that. He knew only two speeds; stopped or wide open.

That sounds like a pretty good price on the NH. I'm not sure about the new numbers, but I believe that is their small baler. I sold a NH 650 baler this week, a 10 year old machine, for $7100. NH hay equipment holds its resale value very well.

Lindblom LC, whoever said it had to make sense? If it had to make sense, most of us wouldn't own even a tractor.

Mark

 

[jwcinpk]

I don't know how any baler could be simpler than the Vermeer Rebels! I bought one new 3 years ago and have put up about 400 rolls every year with 0 problems. This was my first round baler. $13000 is about the base amount for the small round balers.
The plus to non fixed chamber balers is variable sizes, e.g 4x4 or 4x5!

 

[deereguy]

I am also new to the hay making end and recently priced a New Holland 740 and was told the base unit was low $20K, the next size smaller (730) was in that $13K range, it only baled 4x4 bales, twine wrap (no net). I went to a Hay Day in July and saw a New Holland 740 with net wrap, silage special, and x-tra wide pick up- dealer said it was in the $29500 range. I felt the New Holland 730 might do the trick in a horse hay market and only need smaller equipment to move bales around. For now I will borrow a friends New Holland 648 and dream. Good luck in your decision.

 

[Birdman]

floridahay
Thanks again for your help. I took a look at the Class baler and it seems to be in excellent condition. I offered $8,500 and the owner said OK. I will be picking it up this week-end.

Lindblom Lawn Care
Well it might not add up if I were an accountant, but I need to make hay. I have been sharing my hay with my neighbor in exchange for him round baleing it for me. That deal is starting to go south and my hay is not getting cut anywhere near the proper time.

deereguy
Might be a good time to revisit the NH dealer. My dealer said the prices are good until the end of August.
730 makes 4X4 bales $11,000 cash
740 makes 4X5 bales $13,000 cash
Both are basic units with no options.

Everyone else, thanks for your input, it has helped a lot. I wanted to look at the Vermeer but it was just too far away

 

[floridahay]

I think that you will be very pleased with the Claas baler and it sounds like you got a very good deal on it also. The reason you chose to get the baler is the same reason so many people chooose to get their own equipment even though they have small operations. You cannot get the hay done at the proper time! When the weather is right everyone needs their hay done and if you cannot do it you will sacrifice quality.

 

[deereguy]

Birdman, you are completely correct on your pricing, I had to go to my NH dealer today for parts and asked, he mentioned 0% interest for up to 60months on certain models including some "A" series. My previous post was from information obtained in mid-July, companies are constantly changing incentives to make decisions "easier"? Enjoy you day!

 

[Birdman]

UPDATE!!!!

Mowed hay on Friday. Picked up the baler Saturday morning and spent the rest of the day going over it and installing electrical outlet and switch on the tractor. Sunday afternoon I tried it out. Made some nice looking bales. I even baled some for my neighbor and he said they were better looking bales than his baler makes. A very quite running baler.

 

[floridahay]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your new baler! I too was surprised at how quiet they run compared to the previous round baler that I had. I am sure you will get many troublefree years service out of that baler.

 

[Hard Knocks IV]

I have 2 New Holland 851 round balers I use regularly and bale about 400
bales a year. |Bought both at farm consignment auctions 1 for $1000 and the other for $300. No need to break the bank these days on round balers I see them at every big auction I go to these days at bargain prices

 

[calf feeder]

I would not buy New Holland. Bought a new BR 770 last summer and the sledge rollers have broke out three times so far with only 378 total rolls on the baler. New Holland can't fix it, won't replace it and refuses to give me my money back. After it stayed in the shop 38 days I put it in the field and rolled 58 bales before the rollers broke out again. Buyer beware, New Holland has my money and my baler because it's a fact I didn't get one.

 

[slowzuki]

What the bale looks like has more to do with the raking and the operator than the baler. So it sounds like you're doing a good job.

 

[D7E]

I have 2 New Holland 851 round balers I use regularly and bale about 400
bales a year. |Bought both at farm consignment auctions 1 for $1000 and the other for $300. No need to break the bank these days on round balers I see them at every big auction I go to these days at bargain prices

I agree ...I bought a 1989 NH855 for $2250 and it's done almost 1000 bales of alfalfa this year and will have third cut and straw to do......