Pickup Bale Carrier Built For $100
It’s common around West Point, Texas, to see Bob Leer traveling down the road at 50 mph with a big round bale of hay hanging off the back of his pickup. Though he moves them one at a time, Leer says his 2004 shortbed Ford pickup is the fastest, most efficient way to move hay because of the bale carrier he built and mounted to the back bumper.
“It’s a lot faster than a tractor and more maneuverable,” he says, compared to when he used a tractor that hauled two bales at a time.
And, with only about $100 invested in a 3,000-lb. winch, the price was right.
Leer drilled holes in the back bumper and mounted brackets to hold the carrier made of scrap angle iron and steel tubing he had around the farm.
Big bolts on each side secure the carrier to the brackets and, for extra safety, Leer drilled holes in the top of the bolts to slip in cotter keys. He made the spear from an old Deere cultivator and added two shorter rods on each side to stabilize the bale. He covers the rods with plastic pipes when not in use to prevent injury.
Leer took bolts out of the pickup bed near the cab. He mounted the winch on flat steel and used longer, bigger bolts to secure it to the pickup bed. The winch cable goes through a pulley, and it easily handles 5 by 5 round bales that he typically hauls.
“It’s very stable, especially with the pickup’s short base,” Leer says. He operates the winch from inside the cab.
The bale carrier gets plenty of use, moving a couple hundred bales off the field into his barn and then up to 7 miles to his 30-cow herd through dry summer months and winter until about March 1 when winter grass is available for pasture.
“It’s a lot handier than hooking up a trailer,” Leer says. “And it’s more comfortable.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bob Leer, 185 Reiss Rd., West Point, Texas 78963 (ph 979 242-3902; patricia.leer2@gmail.com).
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Pickup Bale Carrier Built For $100 BALE HANDLING It’s common around West Point Texas to see Bob Leer traveling down the road at 50 mph with a big round bale of hay hanging off the back of his pickup Though he moves them one at a time Leer says his 2004 shortbed Ford pickup is the fastest most efficient way to move hay because of the bale carrier he built and mounted to the back bumper “It’s a lot faster than a tractor and more maneuverable ” he says compared to when he used a tractor that hauled two bales at a time And with only about $100 invested in a 3 000-lb winch the price was right Leer drilled holes in the back bumper and mounted brackets to hold the carrier made of scrap angle iron and steel tubing he had around the farm Big bolts on each side secure the carrier to the brackets and for extra safety Leer drilled holes in the top of the bolts to slip in cotter keys He made the spear from an old Deere cultivator and added two shorter rods on each side to stabilize the bale He covers the rods with plastic pipes when not in use to prevent injury Leer took bolts out of the pickup bed near the cab He mounted the winch on flat steel and used longer bigger bolts to secure it to the pickup bed The winch cable goes through a pulley and it easily handles 5 by 5 round bales that he typically hauls “It’s very stable especially with the pickup’s short base ” Leer says He operates the winch from inside the cab The bale carrier gets plenty of use moving a couple hundred bales off the field into his barn and then up to 7 miles to his 30-cow herd through dry summer months and winter until about March 1 when winter grass is available for pasture “It’s a lot handier than hooking up a trailer ” Leer says “And it’s more comfortable ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bob Leer 185 Reiss Rd West Point Texas 78963 ph 979 242-3902; patricia leer2@gmail com
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