Moving large square bales, with no machinery. Let’s do this.

[Hay Dude]

What are you unloading into for her storage area?

Right into the field.

Would round posts or pipe under bales make roll off easier on presumption only one bale high.

Sure, some schedule 40 under the bales could work. Nice idea.

 

[LHF2019]

I can't solve your problem but you seem like your determined to sell to this customer. I would hope your getting compensated above and beyond. Customers like this are a no deal. Of course we don't even consider delivery.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Maybe to assist in the pipe under the bales idea, if no slope is handy, bring your own, an 8"-10" high ramp under the front tires could help ... Even 2X12's made into ramps, hardwood would be better though ...

 

[dieselscout80]

Maybe mount a winch at the rear of your truck and a roller at the rear of the bed and use the winch to pull the bale off.

Another option would be place an air bag like this (below link) and not much $$. The question is would your bed’s headache rack take the force of pushing the bale off. These are designed to lift a suv/truck.

Amazon.com

Note may still need the PVC pipe rollers under the bale for either option.

 

[sandman2234]

I would use a roller bed down each side of the trailer, but ONLY BECAUSE i HAVE THEM!
Do you have a future project in mind that might need some PVC pipe? As was suggested, find several pieces of pvc pipe, probably in the 4" or larger range and put them on the deck spaced about 2' apart. That would allow the hay to roll, however as the pipe gets debris in front of it, the pipe won't roll worth a darn. The larger the pipe, the easier it will overcome piles of hay in front of it.
You know anyone putting in pipe that might have some drops that they might let go cheap?
Another thought..., and be careful with this one, is to unload them sideways. Now that is going to REQUIRE you to put jackstands of some sort under the pockets of the trailer so that the trailer doesn't capsize or flip. Going off the side reduces the distance you will have to move them, reduces the amount of pipe you have to put under the bales.
Putting a pair of 2x4's under the bales as opposed to another members' post saying use a piece of plywood.
Can you use satelite view of the address to see if there is any trees large enough to use as an anchor?
With limited knowledge of the property before going there, I would probably make it where I was self-sufficient rather than relying on something there that might not work out.
The idea I like best is to mount a winch in the receiver of the truck and use it (along with several chains to extend it's length). You would need to make sure you can pull from the front of the bale so that the bale will come off the bed before running out of chain. Obviously a roller on the back of the bed to change the direction of the pull would be needed. Tractor Supply and Harbor Freight have some nicer pulleys. Don't get the little small one, where the wheel is about 1.5" diameter, because the wheel is cast and will break under tension. (ask me how I know that, and I had 4 spares!! Broke them all before I went back and bought a good one!)
David from jax
Another suggestion, try this at the storage area for the hay bales BEFORE you make the trip to go unload them. A lot easier to "fix" stuff that goes wrong if you happen to have a big tractor sitting there.
David

 

[Hay Dude]

Yes, I have plenty of PVC pipe laying around to help.
I *think* me and my son might be strong enough to muscle them off, but PVC under them could help.
He pretty strong

 

[airbiscuit]

A second vehicle could be an anchor point

 

[MMC]

Use the dump truck or a small dump trailer.

I still believe a used dump trailer is a really good option. As I get older (OK, that ship already sailed), maintaining even one more engine is a pain.

And many times not really cost effective for the use a piece of equipment gets. I have had a 14K dump trailer for maybe 15 years. Amazing how much use it gets around a farm. Tires and some grease occasionally is really a lot of bang for the buck.

And I agree on tractors on the highway. Pretty high costs there (as you already know).

How about an intermediate dump trailer and maybe use it for some extra smaller deliveries behind a chosen prime mover?

 

[Hay Dude]

I still believe a used dump trailer is a really good option. As I get older (OK, that ship already sailed), maintaining even one more engine is a pain.

And many times not really cost effective for the use a piece of equipment gets. I have had a 14K dump trailer for maybe 15 years. Amazing how much use it gets around a farm. Tires and some grease occasionally is really a lot of bang for the buck.

And I agree on tractors on the highway. Pretty high costs there (as you already know).

How about an intermediate dump trailer and maybe use it for some extra smaller deliveries behind a chosen prime mover?

I’m working my way to a very nice 30K dump trailer, but have to sell my dump truck first.

One things for sure, I have realized a dump trailer can be a useful tool for these 4x4x5 smaller feed hay squares I need to deliver beyond the reach of my tractor.

 

[4570Man]

I’m working my way to a very nice 30K dump trailer, but have to sell my dump truck first.

One things for sure, I have realized a dump trailer can be a useful tool for these 4x4x5 smaller feed hay squares I need to deliver beyond the reach of my tractor.

If you put a piece of plywood under the bales the PVC idea would probably work but I don’t have a lot of confidence that you could overcome the friction between the hay and the pvc pipes. If you were willing to flop them on the ground to start with why don’t you just use the dump truck?