Self-Propelled Bale Bus

Self-propelled bale bus 5-1-7 "One man can pick up and haul 100 big round bales in one day, even if the field is 10 miles away," says Scott Miles, of New Richmond, Ind., whose self-propelled bale "bus" can move six bales down the road at 50 mph. "I routinely pick bales up in the field traveling three to five miles per hour without stopping. This machine replaced three trucks that could haul three bales apiece, and tractors with loaders. Not to mention the men," says Miles. He built the bale mover around the frame of an old school bus. The motor, mounted at the rear, drives through a 6-speed automatic transmission. A hydraulic motor, belt-driven off the engine, powers the steering and bale-moving chain on the bed. A "control tower" built off to the side of the front left corner contains full controls. To load, Miles slips the fork under a bale, raises it to bed level and moves it back the width of one bale with the chain conveyor, leaving room for the next one up. The procedure is reversed to unload. Miles, who's used the bale mover for nearly two years, says it can easily handle six 1,600-lb. bales. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Scott Miles, Rt. 1, New Richmond, Ind. 47967.

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