Hello All

Just some pics of what I use to haul my round bales with. Hauled in the surplus pasture grass bales that I posted baling here about a month ago. Bales are stored outside so no big hurry to move them. Yes, you do lose something like 10% DM in 1 year of storing bales outside, but it does not pay to put up a building here just to store hay in. P.A.M.I. did a study on hay storage a few years back & found that hay has to be worth at least 6¢/lb. & the building has to be full all year long to make it pay. Hay isn't worth that here, nobody keeps the building full all year long & since that study was done, building costs have probably doubled. So my hay bales sit outside.



2 - 12 ton Farm King wagons with steel racks. Over the years they have served us well.



These were made about 35 years ago when steel was selling for around 35¢/lb.

 

Went to the round bales before I was welding. My dad had a neighbour who was a real good welder make them for us. I think he charged him something like $200/rack.



I added on this carrier for a spare & tool box with wrench & 20 ton jack.



11 - 5x6 bales on each wagon. All fields are within 3.5 miles from home so no real need for a truck. Have bought a few loads of straw over the years & had to go farther, but nothing over 10 miles.



Used to pull these with my 2750 back when I had the softcore baler. They would weigh 1,350lbs, these 1,750lb hardcore bales are a bit too much for that tractor.



In the hay yard next to some 2 year old bales off the same pasture. Use this stuff to mix in with the chop.



Expensive, good quality (I hope) feed is stored under cover.                          

Hello Feeder

That was 1 nice thing about pulling the wagons with the open station 2750. I had a piece of twine tied to the hitch pin & could at least unhook without having to stop & get off the tractor. Back then it was all dry hay, lighter bales & feeding way more cattle so I was putting up 1,500 to 2,500 bales/year. Now with most of my feed put up as chop, I'm only making 150 to 250 bales/year, so I don't mind getting off the tractor to hook & unhook. I consider it getting some exercise! 

Hello IL cow man

Good eye! Sometimes in our day to day lives we become complacent & miss these little things. Sometimes an extra set of eyes, someone looking from the outside in, can easily spot these mistakes. I will replace those old signs, no sense skimping on safety!  

 

Hello Jim Dandy

When Cargill was building a new elevator & farm store in Morris, MB & closing their farm store in Winnipeg, MB, they had abut 2 dozen of these 12 ton & 7 ton Farm King wagons that they wanted to get rid of & not have to move to the new location. My dad bought them all, 2 for the hay racks & 1 for a grain box. He sold the rest to neighbours. There was also some odds & ends like extra hitches, poles (I think that's what the pipe that connects the front to the back of the wagon is called?) & rims, so I had a spare rim & bought an extra tire to have a spare. After the first flat & having to drive back to the yard to pick up the spare & tools, I thought that there had to be a better way. The toolbox is an old army surplus ammo box. Big enough for a 20 ton bottle jack, 1/2" breaker bar, extension & socket, 4 way wheel wrench & a short piece of 2x8 to put under the jack if the ground is soft.

I haven't had to use it too many times over the years, but it's 1 of those things that is sure nice to have when you need it!!!   

Hello Tc806

The first set of Goodyear 11Lx16 10 ply lasted about 25 years (I think that is was about 10 years ago when I replaced them all?) & replaced them with the same. Tires seem to be standing up to the heavier hardcore bales, but I have split a few rims since I started hauling the heavier bales. I have noticed that companies that are selling round bale wagons have gone from implement tires to truck tires. A guy could buy some good semi takeoffs for the same price (or even less) than these rib implement tires. Sort of like the setup on my Richardton dump wagon.Truck tires would last a heck of a lot longer & carry more weight. Hmm,... only thing is, then I'm going to have to buy 9 new rims! Anybody know of a good deal on rims?

Hello Exit

I'm not sure where they did the study. It would've been somewhere in western Canada. If eastern Ga  gets more annual precipitation, than yes you would get more spoilage & the cost of a building could be easier to justify.

Hello Olivetroad

& then some, though it probably wont be me using them in 35 years! 

This is how I have done bale moving. The trailer is made from a 7in well casing and the crossmembers are made from 4in boiler tubing. It has a swinging jack that is secured by a chain that will let the jackstand overcenter when you backup.
 The scissor lift is made from 2X4 tubing and is tall enough to load on a wagon or stack 2 high on the trailer. When we haul without help we can load a wagon that is pulled behind the hay trailer. When we have help, we load 2 high on each. The front hook is made so that when the 3pt. is lowered it drops out of the pintle type ring, no getting out of the tractor to hook and unhook. 

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