New-Style Big Square Bale "Stacker"

New-Style Big Square Bale "Stacker" BALE HANDLING Bale Handling (31B) 25-6-8 Kevin Martin, a welder and repair shop operator from Lititz, Penn., recently called FARM SHOW to tell us about the big square bale stacker and transporter that he built for one of his customers. "This customer is in the custom hay hauling business. The stacker lets him load, haul, and unload bales quickly and without a lot of effort," he says. The pull-type unit is powered by tractor hydraulics and is designed to haul fifteen 3 by 4 by 8-ft. bales or eight 4 by 4 by 8-ft. bales. It's equipped with an offset hitch and has a hydraulic-operated loading arm on front that's attached to a pair of lift forks. The loading arm extends out the side beyond the tractor wheel. The operator drives parallel to the path of the baler with the forks lowered to the ground. The arm rotates the bale 90 degrees onto the forks. The forks are then raised enough so the bale slides back. The forks are then lowered again, ready to receive the next bale. The forks attach to a carriage on front of the trailer that moves forward or backward on a track. The carriage is operated by a hydraulic cylinder. Once the forks are full of bales, they are tipped straight up and at the same time the carriage automatically moves them back onto the bed. The carriage is then moved forward again and the forks are lowered to the ground. The loading operation is repeated until the bed is full. Both side racks on the trailer slide in or out using a pair of cylinders mounted on each side. Sliding the sides in puts tension on the bales to keep them from falling over. At the unloading site, a pair of cylinders are used to tip the trailer so the entire load stands on end. Both sides of the wagon are then moved outward, releasing the bales as the trailer is pulled forward. Martin is looking for a manufacturer. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, K.W. Martin Welding & Repair, 160 Woodcorner Rd., Lititz, Pa. 17543 (ph 717 738-2584).

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