Retrieving big bales with a pickup is a great way to go because of the higher road speeds. But most big bale trailers require a lot of hydraulics to operate.

Not the new Hay Hawg. It's fitted with its own power unit which provides hydraulics and electronic controls. In fact, you don't even have to hook up electric controls because everything on the rig is controlled by a hand held remote control.

Developed by William Cheatham, the Hay Hawg will pick up and transport 10 big round bales behind a 3/4-ton pickup. Radio signals from the hand held remote control every aspect of the machine.

Scott Manufacturing, Inc., Lubbock, Texas, has been issued an exclusive license to build and market the hay trailer which is covered by several new patents. The trailer hauls bales on their flat ends, which means there's less chance of bales rolling off during transport.

It operates on a combination of electronics and hydraulics. A gas engine powers the hydraulic system, all components of which mount on the gooseneck.

"It doesn't take much time to get used to operating it," Cheatham says, noting that push buttons on the remote control raise and lower the lift arms and move the bales back on the deck of the trailer.

To unload, drop the bales two at a time off the back of the trailer.

"With a little practice, you can actually drop the bales into two tight rows, so you don't need a tractor and bale fork to restack them," he says.

Cheatham decided to use a remote control because he didn't like the thought of running wires and hydraulic controls to the pickup. "It's efficient and convenient. You don't need to disconnect wiring or hydraulics to change from truck to tractor or one truck to another," he says.

Use of the trailer with a tractor requires a 3 pt. hitch gooseneck adapter. A 5-bale trailer that's one bale wide is also available.