Forks for FEL

dennisleary · May 5, 2017

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 · May 5, 2017

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 · May 5, 2017

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 · May 5, 2017

teg said:
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 · May 5, 2017

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 · May 5, 2017

Do you have the SSQA on your loader?

MHarryE · May 5, 2017

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 · May 5, 2017

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 · May 5, 2017

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

Titan 48" Pallet Fork Attachment Custom DIY Blank Back Plate

Xfaxman · May 5, 2017

dennisleary said:
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.

Fallon · May 5, 2017

I lost a big square off my L3200. I'm sure I was several hundred lbs over lift spec capacity (allegedly 1,200lbs bales hanging a ways out + pallet forks on a 1,200lbs rated loader). Lots of ballast & it was still sketchy.

I'd previously tried moving those big squares with a 3pt bale spear, but it kept pulling out. Kept working its way up through the flakes. So I switched to pallet forks for the remainder.

Forks ran off with the old machine. So I got some new forks from Titan (palletforks.com) & got ones that do forks and/or a spear. Not sure if you can mount the small stabilizing spears At the same time you have forks on, but you could do the main spear & forks. Have yet to do any hay with the new setup but the forks work great.

A spear will be more secure but might not always work.

Fallon · May 5, 2017

Found a photo. All said I helped a friend liquidate a few dozen of these bales after they got rid of their goats. The 3pt spear wouldn't stay in and/or tried to break the bales in half. Worked great on my new L4060 with a round bale for about 2 miles (other than not being QH compatible yet & the top was chained to my QH).

I'd still recommend the combo unit from palletforks.com. Gives you the most options & adding a spear to the forks is only $100 or something.

P.S. bucket hooks become semi-useless when you get pallet forks. ;-)

CDN Farm Boy · May 5, 2017

dennisleary said:
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

Xfaxman said:
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.

I'm guessing they are either round or large square bales. Never heard of anyone thinking a spear is the way to move small square -- just pick them up and toss them where you want. A few hundred is only a couple wagon loads.

Buy a dual spear either 36" or 42", they are by far the most versatile. It will work well for either round or large square. Having separate spear and forks is money well spent, they aren't all that expensive. A single spear will work for round but as others have mentioned, they don't work well for big square.

Xfaxman · May 5, 2017

My guess of small squares was based on the quantity and that they are used for mulch when planting trees.

Also they aren't likely going into a barn to store for bedding cattle.

dennisleary · May 5, 2017

Sir you are correct I am mulching trees and canes.

dennisleary · May 5, 2017

Thanks all for the info

CDN Farm Boy · May 6, 2017

Xfaxman said:
My guess of small squares was based on the quantity and that they are used for mulch when planting trees.

Also they aren't likely going into a barn to store for bedding cattle.

Apparently you were accurate with your guess but there is no info in the original post suggesting that.

dennisleary said:
Sir you are correct I am mulching trees and canes.

Ok, so that's what you are doing but does that also mean that Xfaxman was right with his guess that they are small square? Maybe you are planting a few thousand trees?