New Bale Hauler Gets The Job Done Fast

New Bale Hauler Gets The Job Done Fast HAY & FORAGE HARVESTING Bale Handling (5) 20-1-18 "There's nothing else on the market I know of that makes handling big round bales as quick and easy as this," says Bud Nitzsche about NIBCO Industries' new pull-type, hydraulically-operated offset bale hauler that scoops up bales in the field and stacks them on end. "We tested it on over 2,000 5 by 6-ft. big round bales last summer and found we could load three in as little as 15 seconds depending on type of hay," Nitzsche says. "It's simply a breeze to load bales, haul them to the stack, then stack them vertically one, two, or three high." The machine has no chains, sprockets or other moving parts. All functions are hydraulically controlled with one tractor re-mote. Instead of having a separate loading arm to pick up bales, the front end of the new bale hauler simply lowers to the ground to scoop up bales. Each new bale pushes the previous bale or bales backward. Once three bales are loaded you drive to the stack, raise the bale hauler up to a vertical position, and drive away. A pair of forks on back can be used to retrieve stacked bales. The machine rides 2 1/2 ft. above the ground on two 12.5 by 16-in. implement tires that mount on stub shaft axles in the 1 1/2-in thick steel subframe. Its two 15-ft. long loading rails, constructed of 3/8 by 6-in. angle iron, are set 60 in. apart. The inner side of each rail is covered with a 16-in. wide piece of UHMW 1/2-in. thick "slippery" plastic to help bales slide into place. The front 5-ft. section of each rail spreads out 1 1/2-ft. hydraulically to guide bales in as they are being loaded. The arms close once bales are on board. Each of these arms is fitted on the bottom with a circular skid pad that glides on the ground when rails are lowered to slide underneath bales. The rear-mounted 48-in. long forks sup-port bales during stacking and retrieving and swing open to unload bales individually. Like loading rails, arms, and forks, the machine's 11-ft. long tongue is also fitted with a hydraulic cylinder which folds it into and out of transport position. "It swings into transport position like a windrower - its loading arms resting on an upright saddle on the tongue - to follow directly behind the tractor," says Nitzsche. "It swings out to the side of the tractor for bale handling." Weight of the machine is 5,300 lbs. At least a 65 hp tractor is needed to pull the hauler, which can be used at speeds of up to 6 mph depending on type of bales being moved, Nitzsche says. An electric solenoid control valve mounts on the side of the bale hauler. Only one hydraulic hookup is needed on the tractor. Sells for approximately $9,000. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, NIBCO Industries, 1059 Hwy. 51, Wisner, Neb. 68791-3506 (ph 402 529-6169).

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