3032E/3038E Round Bale Handling

[Yamezz]

How do the 3032E and 3038E tractors cope with moving and loading round bales? The specs look like it could be touch and go. Does anyone use their machines for handling round bales?

 

[AKfish]

Depends... if the bales are 4ft or 5ft diameter and crop type (alfalfa or grass or stover) as well as how many bales per year you plan on moving. Many of the dry, Timothy round bales here locally are 4ft and typically weigh 6-700lbs.

That's probably about 75%-80% of the load capacity of the 305 loader on the 3032-38E tractors. So, the loader will pick 'em up... but, will the tractor carry them - safely. Gotta have the tractor properly ballasted.

Of course, hauling and working with heavy loads near the upper limits of the tractor/loader is not something you really want to be doing with excessive regularity. 30-40 bales a year... yeah, Ok.

300-400 bales a year... probably not.

AKfish

 

[Cntryboy0075]

Lift capacity, 24-in. behind link arms, lb (kg) 1356 (615)
Lift Capacity (24-in. behind link arms), lb. (kg) 1356 (615)
Same rating from John Deere website for both the 3032e/3038e on the three point.
*305 LOADER-JOHN DEERE FRONT LOADER-WITH 1200 IBS LIFT CAPACITY
Per Quality Implements web site for the 305 loader.
If your looking at moving a large quantity of bales, I would consider looking at maybe a 5045e with a 553 loader. Just my :twocents:

 

[Yamezz]

Thanks guys. I have all the specs, just hoping to hear from people with actual experience handling round bales. The most I'd be looking at each year would be 100 or so, but more than likely no more than 50. Within the confines of being able to lift a few round bales, the smaller the tractor the better for me.

 

[DKCDKC]

I have a 3038 and have rolled some big bales around my fields. I have not tried to lift them, most are older and probably exceed FEL capacity. Honestly, given the narrowness of the tractor, I don't think I'd try to lift something that near capacity unless I was on a completely flat surface - paved would be best. I have carried stumps and other heavy stuff in the FEL as low as possible and with plenty of weight on the back (filled tires and big BB), but still had a tire come off the ground on big bumps or minor slopes. No CUT has the stability of a full size tractor, and stability is as important as FEL capacity in lifting and moving stuff.

 

[danedgington]

I use a 2520 w/ 200CX and 800lbs of rear ballast to move 4x5 round bales on a regular basis with a hay spear on the front and to put them in hay rings. It will lift them to full height. So, to answer your question I am sure it will do it.

Now, to go on, with a the 2520, I would want to be on level ground. I as far as stability...well I never let me kids do it if that tells you something. If you are reversing, say, and turn while rolling to fast, you will definitely feel the front end wanting to pull the tractor sideways. So, it is doable, but you need to way risk vs. rewards.

The 2520 never complains at all about having the bales on a rear spear, although, the do block the vision if lifted to full height.

Dan

 

[dstacy]

Ok I do have experience in this as you requested. Here is what I can tell you. If I put a boxblade on the rear of my 3032 I can lift 4x5 round bales and move them around without trouble as long as I go slow. Trying to move 5x5 or 5x6 bales with the front end loader is not going to happen. You'll end up dragging them and breaking them opem. However if you are very careful and use some tie down straps around the roll bar you can move them with the 3 point. But again you'll have to be very careful. If you're trying to move more than a few bales, forget it go buy a 5083E.

 

[Yamezz]

Thanks dstacy. 5x4 is the size I have. In a sample weighed this year, the heaviest was 420kg (925lbs). Are you able to lift them high enough to load onto the bed of a truck?

 

[dstacy]

Thanks dstacy. 5x4 is the size I have. In a sample weighed this year, the heaviest was 420kg (925lbs). Are you able to lift them high enough to load onto the bed of a truck?

I'm not sure I could get them high enough to get them on a truck. It would be close. It likely is within 50 - 75 pounds of "yes" or "no".

 

[arrow]

There are some other factors to consider. Personally I find this size tractor way too small and its not about lift..its about stability and tractor structure. When my JD 750 (equivalent size but with less lift) tries to haul a 800 lb log, it'll do it but it is quite squirly as I move it 50' to the splitter. This is with carrying the log at 1ft above ground. I would not trust this tractor at all if I had to regularly move this weight to an elevated platform. Front end components such as housings and axle members take a beating as well on such a small tractor.

 

[Yamezz]

Thanks guys. Looks like I'll have to step up to the 3x20 series. That's at least a $7 difference here.

 

[arlen4720]

Maybe a 4x20. You will feel allot safer. The 4x20 is 8" wider and about 1000 pound heavier. I think that my 4720 is a little on the light side for serious round bale handling. I have 1000 pounds three point ballast and 440 lbs of wheel weight.
I probably handle 50 to 100 bales a year, and going up. I need a 5085M. Where does it all end?

 

[Wagtail]

Mate, when I was shopping for my tractor I truly considered the 3000 series... Then the JD salesman showed me a price comparison and, because the 4105 had less 'pretties', it was actually less expensive. I've got a combination pallet fork/bale spike for the FEL from Fieldquip (Aussie "Frontier") that handles the round bales without a problem. A ballast box (filled with bricks) on the back ballances everything out no worries, high and low.

 

[robertalemany]

Thanks dstacy. 5x4 is the size I have. In a sample weighed this year, the heaviest was 420kg (925lbs). Are you able to lift them high enough to load onto the bed of a truck?

I have the 3032e, and feed the horses only round bales. we get the 4x5. The first year was a learning curve, the bucket and tractor can lift the weight, but the loaded tires and a bare 3pth meant that any bump on the back corners and i was on three, or two wheels (not a comfortable situation). I have since added about 400 pounds of steel weights onto a bar of the 3pt and it has no more problems.

I can lift them to the max height of the 305 loader (Placing them up top of our barn) so a pick up box would have no issue, last year i was able to pile them two high with ease.

that being said, it is limiting to where you can get your hay because it can't handle much more than 4x5, tried a 5x5 and that was sketchy at best

 

[JD3520Turbo]

I had a 3520 and I would not have tried to pick up big rounds with it, but our bales are 1400 lbs. I moved to a 5083E and seems to handle them pretty good. I have not picked one up with the 553 loader, because I don't have a fork for the front.

 

[Yamezz]

Thanks for your feedback guys.