Forks for FEL

[dennisleary]

I need to move a few hundred straw hay bales around my property and I'm wondering if I should buy a bale spear attachment for the FEL, or buy a set of pallet forks instead, with the idea that they might not do the job as well, but might be more versatile, in the long run. Anyone have an opinion on this? Thanks

 

[M5farms]

You can do it with forks and you will have other uses for the pallet forks , if your not feeding cows or moving hay all the time the spear will bot see a lot of use. Its more ideal IMO and I drop the forks and put mine on if I have to move more that 2 bales . the trick with the forks is to set them as wide as they will go so you don't have to go under the bale and can just slide on each side of the round bale

 

[teg]

Bales can come in different shape and sizes... I assuming, large round bales? Do you already have a 3ph hay spear and adding another to the FEL... A few hundred bales seems to be a bunch, do you have pretty flat land? If not I wonder if the bales could roll off of the forks. You also might have to drive slowly with forks (again so they don't roll off).

I'm sure they will work but not as well... :2cents:

 

[M5farms]

Bales can come in different shape and sizes... I assuming, large round bales? Do you already have a 3ph hay spear and adding another to the FEL... A few hundred bales seems to be a bunch, do you have pretty flat land? If not I wonder if the bales could roll off of the forks. You also might have to drive slowly with forks (again so they don't roll off).

I'm sure they will work but not as well... :2cents:

if the forks are not wide spread then yes they could roll off. before spears and FEL most all was move with a 3 point hay fork on back of tractor . I still use one of these on the rear when moving bales . They are wide set so the bale sits in it like a cradle

 

[newbury]

One of my first purchases for an "attachment" were clamp-on pallet forks. They have proved invaluable.

If you need to move

a few hundred straw hay bales around

(and they are round) every season I think a spear would be better.

 

[kennyd]

Do you have the SSQA on your loader?

 

[MHarryE]

I have forks and spear. The spear is far and away better for moving large round bales. I found it hard to judge the fork angle and found myself with forks stuck in the ground because just a slight angle can throw them off. So I have both as there are places the spear wont work.

 

[k0ua]

Large round bales have fallen from the forks and came back down the loader arms and killed the operator. This usually happens when lifting the bale for stacking and some angle is applied to the bale (not kept level). The spike is better in all cases, you can move faster, easier to "hook up" and is far safer when lifting for stacking. Get the spike.

 

[George2615]

If you have QA you can get the combo forks with bale spear.

Titan 48" Pallet Fork Attachment Custom DIY Blank Back Plate

 

[Xfaxman]

I need to move a few hundred straw hay bales around my property and I'm wondering if I should buy a bale spear attachment for the FEL, or buy a set of pallet forks instead, with the idea that they might not do the job as well, but might be more versatile, in the long run. Anyone have an opinion on this? Thanks

My guess is that they are small square bales and that you have Quick Attach on the FEL.

I have used forks (front and rear) for picking up small squares an it is hard to get them under without getting some dirt under the bale.

We need more details, like how many need to be moved at one time and how far?

I assume that you don't have a grapple.