I built a prototype hay sled to move round bales that are too heavy for my MF1250. I'm having a 3rd year engineering class engineer something that should hold up much better. There is a local student run high school fabrication business that I plan on talking to about listing them as a product. If interested, you would be buying from them, I'm just facilitating the project.
The sled worked well for me. It didn't tear up the field and reduced my number of trips. I expect the final sled to carry 4 bales. How many folks are in my position with one tractor that is just a bit too small for hay?
Any thoughts on requirements that I should give the student engineers? How many bales? I'm targeting a 30 hp tractor. The hitch point should be high enough to use the 3 point hook without dismounting. Light enough to put on a trailer with a couple of guys. Short enough to trailer on a car hauler (maybe it's two sled chained together?). Maybe a rear set of wheels so it would work as a poor man's low boy.
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