Flat Deck Trailer Doubles As Round Bale Hauler

Flat Deck Trailer Doubles As Round Bale Hauler BALE HANDLING Bale Handling (31B) 26-5-4 "It allows one trailer to do the work of two," says Gary McCrea, Ag Shield Mfg., Benito, Manitoba, about the company's new flatbed trailer that doubles as a side-unloading round bale hauler. It's equipped with a 31-ft. long steel tube deck that holds two rows of bales - up to six on each side - or three rows of lighter bales when a row of bales is added on top. The deck is built in several sections, with a side rail on each side that flips down to unload bales. Hydraulics are used to raise and lower both the floor sections and side rails. Power is supplied by a self-contained electric/hydraulic power pack. All controls are located at the front of the trailer. Built-in ramps on back allow you to load tractors and other machinery and vehicles. The ramps store under the frame to leave the deck clear. "It eliminates the need to license and maintain both a flat deck and a bale hauler," says McCrea. "It also eliminates the need for a second tractor and loader when making hay. You can load the tractor on the flat deck and haul it to the field, then unload the tractor, raise the floor sections and side rails and start loading bales. At the yard, you can dump the bales off. At the end of the day, you can drop the deck to flat, pull out the ramps, reload the tractor, and haul it home. "The tube deck is self-cleaning - you won't be replacing rotted planks and rusted-off screws every couyple of years. flat deck can be used to haul anything from lumber to water tanks, fence posts, square bales, etc." McCrea says a loader-mounted spike can be used to load bales from the back and push them forward. "When the bales are loaded this way, they stay tight together when they roll off and the ends are protected from the weather which results in less spoilage. Another advantage with the tube deck is that loads can be tied down anywhere on the deck. The side rails drop independently so after unloading the bales from one side, you can turn around and dump the other side into the same row." The power pack battery can be recharged by plugging into a standard RV plug on the pickup. Sells for $11,800 (U.S.) A 26-ft. model is also available and sells for $9,700. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Ag Shield Mfg., Box 9, Benito, Manitoba, Canada R0L 0C0 (ph 800 561-0132; fax 204 539-2130; Website: www.agshield.com).

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