Low-Cost Walking Beam Tandem Axle Bale Trailer

Low-Cost Walking Beam Tandem Axle Bale Trailer HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling (5) 21-1-9 "It's built strong and I spent less than $500 to put it together," says custom hay grower Robert Rufi of Monroe, Wis., about the low-cost "walking beam" bale trailer he built from the wheels and axles off an old tandem axle fertilizer spreader and steel beams salvaged from an old building. The 20-ft. long, 8-ft. wide trailer holds 12 bales placed vertically (four on each side and four on top) or 11 bales placed on their sides (four on each side and three on top). Rufi used 4 by 8-in. steel beams that he al-ready had to build the rack. He welded a series of 8-ft. long beams 42 in. apart across the top of two lengthwise beams. The length-wise beams are spaced 32 in. apart and pivot up or down on a 4-in. dia. thick-wall steel pipe that was already on the spreader axle. He welded a 2-ft. length of 4-in. sq. angle iron on each side between the lengthwise beams and axle in order to support the bale rack. He welded a hitch off an old New Idea manure spreader on front of the rack and used a length of steel plate to make his own hitch on back. "It's probably built stronger than necessary, but I don't have to worry about it falling apart if I ever hit it with my loader," says Rufi. "I use a 3/4-ton pickup to pull it. By pulling a second wagon behind it I can haul 24 bales at a time from the field to my yard." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Robert Rufi, W4819 Greenbush Road, Monroe, Wis. 53566 (ph 608 325-6365).

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