Hay-Hauling Flatbed Schoolbus
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Around Morristown, Tenn., people like having their picture taken with the schoolbus turned hay hauler, says John Rouse, forage producer and third-generation owner of Bailey Branch Stables. Besides custom haying and baling round bales, he and his crew put up 30,000 square bales of orchard/timothy mix hay every year.
Rouse owns a variety of trailers that haul 200 to 600 bales at a time. Though the 250 bales the 1984 International bus can haul is on the low end, it's ideal for some situations.
“We like the bus because it has an automatic transmission, and it’s nimble to get in and out of places. It works well in tight quarters and the mountains of North Carolina with steep terrain and narrow switchbacks,” Rouse explains.
The bus can be loaded right in the field with two workers on the ground throwing bales on and two workers stacking ricks of 35 bales and strapping them down to eye bolts welded on the frame.
The bus was modified for hay hauling by Steve Sublett, Rouse’s neighbor and mentor, who used the hay-hauling bus for many years before selling it to Rouse in 2015. Sublett removed the bus seats and most of the bus shell before welding a back on the cab and adding channel iron on the outside to create a smooth stacking edge.
Rouse, who says he will ship anywhere in the U.S., likes to use the bus for deliveries of 250 bales or less to livestock owners that have narrow gates or live in remote areas.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, John Rouse, Bailey Branch Stables (ph 423-231-9374; whitney.rouse@yahoo.com).
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Hay-Hauling Flatbed Schoolbus BALE HANDLING Around Morristown Tenn people like having their picture taken with the schoolbus turned hay hauler says John Rouse forage producer and third generation owner of Bailey Branch Stables Besides custom haying and baling round bales he and his crew put up 30 000 square bales of orchard/timothy mix hay every year Rouse owns a variety of trailers that haul 200 to 600 bales at a time Though the 250 bales the 1984 International bus can haul is on the low end it is ideal for some situations “We like the bus because it has an automatic transmission and it’s nimble to get in and out of places It works well in tight quarters and in the mountains of North Carolina with steep terrain and narrow switchbacks ” Rouse explains The bus can be loaded right in the field with two workers on the ground throwing bales on and two workers stacking ricks of 35 bales and strapping them down to eye bolts welded on the frame The bus was modified for hay hauling by Steve Sublett Rouse’s neighbor and mentor who used the hay-hauling bus for many years before selling it to Rouse in 2015 Sublett removed the bus seats and most of the bus shell before welding a back on the cab and adding channel iron on the outside to create a smooth stacking edge Rouse who says he will ship anywhere in the U S likes to use the bus for deliveries of 250 bales or less to livestock owners that have narrow gates or live in remote areas Contact: FARM SHOW Followup John Rouse Bailey Branch Stables ph 423 231-9374; whitney rouse@yahoo com
