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Big Bale Transport
"We got tired of bouncing around with our big tractor while hauling large round bales. Besides the excessive wear we were putting on our rear tractor tires, we thought there must be an easier way. This rig was the answer to our problems," explains Richard Kouba, Regent, N. Dak. "The basic frame is from a neighbor's mob
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Big Bale Transport HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling (5) 2-2-19 "We got tired of bouncing around with our big tractor while hauling large round bales. Besides the excessive wear we were putting on our rear tractor tires, we thought there must be an easier way. This rig was the answer to our problems," explains Richard Kouba, Regent, N. Dak. "The basic frame is from a neighbor's mobile home that was destroyed by fire. The two center rails, the chains, the orbit motor, sprockets and bearings are from Lahman Mfg., of Hecla, S. Dak. Total cost, less labor, was $1,600."
The trailer is 42 ft. long and hauls 8 big bales which are loaded onto the transport with a front end tractor loader, "We have thought of putting on a fork to load with and I'm sure it could be done," Richard told FARM SHOW.
"To unload, we have an orbit motor on the chains. We put the chains in reverse and drop one bale off (our older model truck hoist won't lift heavy bales), then raise the hoist and let the bales push the truck away. It places the bales in a tight row.
"We have the unit on a truck (1949 Chavy 1 ton) and the controls are inside so we don't even leave the cab to unload. I'd say the hardest work we have in hauling hay is driving the truck - it doesn't have power steering," says Richard. "We have hauled about 2,000 bales and I've put about 1,200 miles on the unit without any problems or modifications. We could use a 2 speed axle or a lower gear ratio. However, we haven't had any problems with the truck. We wish now that we would have started with a newer truck and built a grain trailer to get year around use from the transport."
Richard speculates that, with a 12 volt hydraulic system and a gooseneck hitch, the transport could be pulled with a 4 WD pickup.
"If there is enough interest, we could build these trailers on order to suit the buyer, or help anyone with their own. The entire unit weighs 9100 lbs., so I'd estimate that the trailer alone weighs about 5000 lbs.," says Richard.
For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Richard Kouba, Regent, N. Dak. 58650 (ph. 701-563-4560).
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