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Big Bale Buggy Tags Behind Baler
Slickest new system we've seen for handling big round bales is the "Tag-Along Bale Buggy" invented by South Dakota rancher Tom Konechne, of Kimball.
"It's a first and works great" says Tom, who for the past two years has extensively tested prototypes on his own ranch. He recently received a patent on the idea and
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Big Bale Buggy Tags Behind Baler HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling (5) 3-4-18 Slickest new system we've seen for handling big round bales is the "Tag-Along Bale Buggy" invented by South Dakota rancher Tom Konechne, of Kimball.
"It's a first and works great" says Tom, who for the past two years has extensively tested prototypes on his own ranch. He recently received a patent on the idea and is in the process of manufacturing 40 units.
The Tag-Along Buggy hitches right behind the baler to load each bale as it's kicked out by the baler. It holds five 6-ft. dia. bales (or six 5-ft. dia. bales). Bales are dropped off five at a time as the field is being baled.
"Pulling this Buggy behind the baler is just as natural as pulling a wagon behind a silage cutter or corn picker," says Tom. "The trailing Buggy doesn't bother turning and is easy to hitch or unhitch."
During the baling season, the unit stays hitched right to the baler. "I can haul six bales home from the field every noon and evening - five on the Buggy and one on the baler itself," Tom points out.
Tom notes that, in addition to saving time and fuel, the Tag-Along Buggy is also a real twine saver: "Except for the two end bales, very little twine is needed to hold the tops down on the 3 center bales since they stay pressed against each other from the time they're made until they are fed."
Any time after a field is baled, the Buggy can be hitched directly to a tractor and used to pick up and haul each 5-bale cluster to headquarters. Each bale rests on the exact same spot of its circumference regardless of how many times it's loaded and unloaded. "If there is snow on top of the bales, for example, you hardly disturb it in loading, transporting and unloading the bales," Tom points out.
The hydraulically-operated unit automatically loads or unloads five bales in less than a minute. It's powered by a single hydraulic moteor.
Hitches have been developed for hooking the Buggy behind most makes of balers. "Because of the design difference between baler makes and models, a hitch has to be designed for each," explains Tom. "We've found Gehi, Ford and IH balers are relatively easy to work with in designing the hitch. We don't anticipate any problems with Deere or Vermeer balers, nor with the 850 New Holland. The 850 New Holland, however, may take some improvising. We're taking each baler one at a time in working out the hitching arrangements," he points out.
"My plans are to market the initial production of 40 units, and to get all the hitches figure out. Hopefully, by next year, some company will buy the patent rights and manufacture them and I can get back to the business of farming," Tom told FARM SHOW.
For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tom Konechne, Route 1, Box 13, Kimball, S. Dak. 57355 (ph. 604 778-6834).
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