I just got a small farm (30 acres) and was about to buy a Mahindra this weekend, when I stumbled on the possible need to add hay moving to my list of needed chores of this tractor. I must have the tractor for doing some dirt moving and digging, driveway work, hauling things in a wagon, and some shredding. I'm working with a hay baler who will likely agree to bale hay for me on my land for a fee, but I'll have to sell it myself- which means I'll need to have the ability to move it around the farm, into a barn, etc. I had decided on an 2615 4WD with front end loader. But, if I have to move round bales around, what is the minimum Mahindra tractor I need? What sort of implement would I use to move these bales? I won't have to lift them into a feeder or anything, and I'd prefer not to have to remove the FEL all the way if that's possible. Thanks!!!
Tractor for moving round bales?
- Thread starter tower59
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LAWALLSTRACTOR
Veteran Member
I have a customer who does move round bales with his 2615 and ML106 loader. (The bales are under 1000 lbs) He is accomplishing it but I really feel he is overdoing what the tractor was designed for and one of these days I expect to find out he has tipped the tractor over. I would move up to a 3510 for moving round bales safely. That is my opinion.
VistanTN
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You don't say what your terrain is like or how big the round bales are, but my neighbor round-baled for me when we first moved here and they were the biggest bales you can get out of the biggest JD baler -- nominally 5x5 but the diameter was closer to 6' than 5'. They weighed about 1500 lbs and lifting them was not a problem, but to be stable on my hills I should have had a spear on the 3PH and put a bale on there first. As it was (and this was before I fluid filled all four tires) I had a 6500 on three wheels twice -- and wore a nice little hole in the middle of the seat. A smaller tractor will handle round bales -- but you need tractor weight on hills.
chh
Veteran Member
If your ground is flat(and not extremely muddy during the winter), the bales are not larger than 4x5's(800 or 900 lbs), you keep the FEL on for weight and use a rear spike to move the hay,(especially if you are not using it often) I would say that you could get away with a tractor that size. I personally would not try and put one on the FEL or use the FEL to lift bales off of a tall trailer. This is smaller than my comfort zone for regular use moving a lot of round bales, but I know people who move a few with tractors this size.
Egon
Epic Contributor
If you are selling the hay also take into consideration the height to which you must lift the bales to get them on the customers equipment.
flusher
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tower59 said:
I have a new Mahindra 5525 2WD with the ML250 FEL (2900 lb lift capacity at the bucket pivots). I would feel comfortable lifting 1500 lb bales to full height with ballast on the 3pt provided I were on level ground. I don't expect to do that since my MF-124 baler produces small square bales 50-60 lb each (I have 10 acres with 7 acres available for haying). I'll used a bale accumulator and grapple that attaches to the FEL skid steer adapter to handle 8-10 bales at a time. I bought the 5525 mainly to handle the plowing and discing chores, but the FEL makes it a handy way to round up and stack bales.
We really need to know the size of the bales. I have a 5005 w/ a BushHog loader on it and it strains around w/ 5x6 (~1600lbs) rolls. Also putting the top layer on the goosneck requires some finesse.
Personally, if I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't get anything less than ~65hp for this chore. Weight is an issue, but reach height is also a factor. When I put the top layer on my gooseneck trailer, if I am not on super level ground I end up w/ the loader at maximum height. I like a little wiggle room on stuff like that. ALso, I HAVE to have a bale on back for ballast. And this is with the rear tires loaded.
So, you will need a large enough tractor depending on the weight of the bales and the heights to which you need to lift them. A 3pt spear for the back of the tractor and a spear attachment for the loader.
Personally, if I had it to do all over again, I wouldn't get anything less than ~65hp for this chore. Weight is an issue, but reach height is also a factor. When I put the top layer on my gooseneck trailer, if I am not on super level ground I end up w/ the loader at maximum height. I like a little wiggle room on stuff like that. ALso, I HAVE to have a bale on back for ballast. And this is with the rear tires loaded.
So, you will need a large enough tractor depending on the weight of the bales and the heights to which you need to lift them. A 3pt spear for the back of the tractor and a spear attachment for the loader.