School Bus Converted To Haul Big Bales

School Bus Converted to Haul Big Bales HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling (5) 11-1-3 "My son Joel and I built the machine for a neighbor 2 years ago," says Donald TenHulzen, Firth, Neb., about a "bale bus" built from an old school bus to pick up and haul 8 bales at once. The men first stripped the bus down to the frame and build the bale-holding platform, which is 41 ft. long. The motor and transmission ù a 350 cu. in. engine and 540 Allison transmission ù mount at the rear of the bale platform. A hydraulic pump is driven off the front of the motor to drive orbit motors that control roller chain on the bale bed and pickup ramp. The roller chain was left smooth to avoid chewing up bales while moving them. The front pickup ramp is raised and lowered by a 5-in. hydraulic cylinder. The narrow cab, which mounts to the side, was salvaged from an old Case 600 combine. "One of the nice features of the balebus is that with the ramp raised up you can load bales directly onto trucks for transport," notes TenHulzen. Total conversion cost was about $3,000. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Donald TenHulzen, Firth, Neb. 68358 (ph 402 791-5533).

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