Which baler to buy??

Lawnman TX · May 6, 2015

Run hay on about 200 acres and get asked to do more all the time. I am looking at making about 1000 rolls a year

I am running a Vermeer 605k and it makes one **** of a tight heavy bale, but most of the people I sell to don't get why the big bales cost more! Sooooo I'm looking for a 4' baler. A Vermeer dealer near me has a used 604 m that has updates for $14k. He is going to be getting back to me on bale count and details. He has always done me right and bends over backwards to accommodate his customers.

Next I'm looking at a basic 5420 rebel twine only. For about $20k or a case/nh 450 utility at about $18k.

I have always heard good things about the 5410/20 rebel balers? How many bales are you running through before you are wearing them out/ or pushing them too hard.

Anyone have the case/nh 450 / 455 utility baler, have you been happy with them? How many bales are you running.

Thanks
I h

foreman Etexas · May 7, 2015

I have the 5410 and now after 3yrs close to 1,000 bales,so I cant say much. I have had problems one time getting the net adjusted but that's worked out now. I busted several belts but it all started when was trying get hay that had been rained on several days up,balled some net tangled in grass up in one place causing the belts to break.Ever since they updated my monitor when the net issues started and I could have been oversizing the bales to cause the belts to break also(settings in monitor were all different). I am just saying it could have been more operator error than the equipment,trying to get use to everything.I got the 5410 cause I know some guys that have been running the 5400 for years without issues. I don't know what has changed on the 5420 from the 5410 but overall I have a been pleased with mine...Hope this helps

Skyfish25 · May 7, 2015

I would take the M over a rebel any day. As long as mechanically sound and belts run true. I feel your pain, make 25% more bales, charge less but get more. People just don't understand volume, unless they're smart cattle producers. Less spoilage on the bigger bales, in percent of each bale.

Tx Jim · May 8, 2015

Having baled well over 150,000 bales with a JD rd baler my vote is for a JD baler. I traded a 467 with 30,000 bales on monitor for the one I have now that has 19,000 bales on it.

foreman Etexas · May 8, 2015

2013 JOHN DEERE 459

Lawnman TX · May 9, 2015

Well The m fell through, the guy decided not to trade it in this year on a super m my dealer has for $25, with only 4k bales on it. I might go for it, but have to talk to the bank, Vermeer will only go 3 years on used equipment finance.

Foreman, how many bales per hour can you make running coastal in descent windrows?

I'm just not a Deere guy, I'll kick those around though.

Thanks for the input.

Anyone have the 450 utility or 455 a ???

foreman Etexas · May 9, 2015

Never thought about timing,on a thick windrow and no problems with the net,it's a pretty good bit. The net takes two full revolutions and is done,say 5/6 seconds. Depends if pasture is rough,what mph I can drive. Fastest I ever baled was 6mph and I was out running a rain but I just rather stay around 4/4.5mph comfortable for me.The Rebel has never had any trouble starting a bale or you don't have to start off slow,it's going to suck it up and being a 5x4 if you have a dang good windrow it doesn't take much time and your kicking one out.

I made a couple YouTube videos but grass was horrible that year.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DMe5x1Y1fH0

Tx Jim · May 9, 2015

Lawnman TX said:
I'm just not a Deere guy, I'll kick those around though.

Around where I live a person would wear out a pickup driving around looking for many rd balers in the field baling other than JD. I can bale around 30 bales per hour that measure 4X5.5 in 2 bale to the acre Coastal. Drought in last few years has limited the production per acre.

Skyfish25 · May 9, 2015

I keep forgetting your going to 4x5(4' wide 5' tall). If you have a hesston/ Massey Dealer look at the 1745. Very good value and makes good hay. It will make a bale just over 5', I think it list 5'2" or 5'4" in the manual. Then you can get a true 5' bale. JD stuff has come a long way since the 500(run from those). But I feel there is better value out there. It also depends on the dealer(s) close by.

I have Vermeer, Massey Ferguson, Deere, New Holland all fairly close. For 4x5 it would be the Massey 1745 all the way. A 5x6, 50/50 Massey or Vermeer. May have to demo, but no plans on that. I hire someone to do my 5x6 at present time. He uses a 605L Vermeer, very tight bale(1600-1800 lbs ideal conditions). Only trouble he ever has is the net wrap system.

I square most hay except first cut, back is still strong. Or I'm a sucker for punishment. But I'm a STO and still rent a square baler from neighbor. Very old New Holland. Keep telling wife I'm buying a 1839 or 1840 MF. She laughs at me.