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Round Bale Hauler Fits On Front Of Pickups
Larry Herin of Hesperia, Mich., wanted to haul round bales between farms without the hassle of using a tractor. He solved the problem by building a bale fork that mounts on any pickup with a hydraulic-operated snow-plow lift bracket.
"It lets you use your snowplow lift frame all year long," says Herin.
His 2-pronged bale fork mounts on a rectangular steel frame that attaches to the snow-plow frame with two pins and a lift chain. To load a bale you slide the forks under and lift. To unload, you just lower the prongs to the ground and back up.
The patented unit can also be used to handle pallets. To adjust the distance between forks you just pull two pins and slide the forks back and forth on a rail.
When not in use the forks can be flipped up out of the way against the snowplow frame.
"I got the idea while using a tractor to haul bales between farms during the winter. I about froze to death. Now I can haul bales on Sunday after church without even having to change clothes. I've used it to haul hundreds of 4 by 4-ft. bales that weigh about 500 lbs. apiece. It's much handier than bale haulers that mount on back of the pickup because it leaves the bed free for hauling other things.
"The bale fork itself weighs 265 lbs. so with a 500-lb. bale the total weight is 765 lbs. on front of the pickup. I didn't add heavier springs to the pickup. The hydraulic cylinders on most snowplow frames are only de-signed to lift about 700 lbs. so the bale fork can't be used to haul bigger bales.
"As an auctioneer I've also used my bale forks to haul pallets loaded with furniture, stoves, firewood, etc.
"I plan to soon offer a 7-ft. wide snow blade that will pin onto the bale fork frame, with the forks raised in the transport position so you'll never have to take the forks off."
Sells for $985. Snowplow frames are also available. Dealer inquiries welcome.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Lazy Lift, Inc., 178 S. Division, Hesperia, Mich. 49421 (ph 616 854-8151).


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1998 - Volume #22, Issue #1