Loader Bale Handling

You might as well look at the bale slices for feeding out. You can get 60% under TAMS but the reference cost is relatively low. Some of the lighter looking ones are around the reference cost though.

IFJ has a list of makes and prices

If you are looking to handle wrapped bales during the summer, JM Agri's TR3 is very good. Will be a good bit more expensive than the soft hands though

The main advantage of the old roller types is that you can take the pipes off for handling straw or hay. The price difference between them wouldn't be enough on it's own to convince me to get one over the likes of the TR3. Have no experience of the soft hands types.

I have one of the pipe type and don't really like it for spiking bales, I find the tines too long, probably because my canopy's over the feed barriers are a bit low. I use a simple home made spike for feeding it's lighter and can usually just be left on the tractor doing most other jobs without being in the way.

I find the pipe type OK for handling bales during the summer but would prefer either of the soft hands or elephant trunk as I could fit a few more bales on the trailer.

I use a soft hands too, belonging to the in-laws, no issue packing trailer tight with it but I don't have a high back or front rack an the trailer so end bales can be grabbed at a slight angle (not perpendicular to the trailer) and work back to front or vice versa when loading / unloading. I've never used the trunk type but believe its the business.

Wasn't really advising on making one, but that's what it is and has handles 10's of thousands of bales without issue and made of stronger stuff than the one's pictured above. I'd never walk under a raised bale of silage full stop regardless of who made the implement!

Snap on that, it's super. Loaded bales for a chap that was buying a few wraps and he was delighted with no spike holes. Handy to work with odd shaped bales. Anyone who has a trunk handler I know would not go back to anything else

You won’t be stacking wrapped bales in the shed. Use the bale spike for the hay and straw.

Have a soft hands here and its handy for putting bales in a round feeder, take net and plastic off in yard and then no getting out at feeder.

Some Farmer Phil guy using one here.

New Hustler Softhands - 5 Year Warranty for sale in Co. Longford for €1,250 on DoneDeal

Some say you can damage the soft drives on the loaders by having it turned on when carrying a heavy load.

But who are some to say?

I leave it on all the time, probably more likely to break something the more you use it alright, but what's the worst that could happen? Burst accumulator? I'd take the chances with that if it's saving some wear and tear on me the operator.

Either way it would take a lot to kill one and cost about €60 - €150 euro for the replacement part. So I'd just leave it on.

If it has just lost pressure then re-pressurize it.

You can in theory, you'd need the pre-charge kit and a bottle of nitrogen and know the right pre -charge for the vessels and the risks involved in working with pressurized gas.

But for one it's probably safer and more cost effective to get someone who services hydraulic systems to do it.

Here's a new one for €124 from an Irish supplier, cheaper ones could be got if you are willing to wait but there's always the quality concerns with them. I'm sure genuine from the loader manufacturers will be more.

No idea if that would suit your machine, typically they have a volume and pressure rating. Bigger machines may have larger vessels which could cost more but are probably also less likely to fail from carrying a bale or 2.

Was thinking of getting soft hands myself this year to stack and to load bales at it farm to bring home without piercing the plastic.

Keep us informed of your progress. Let me know how you find the Hustler as after watching @farmerphil135 using it, it went high on my list. Nugent dealer is close by me, but hustler is a bit of a distance.