Claas Rollant 540.

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

We are thinking about getting a new baler. This Claas fixed chamber model comes with or without a chopper. We bale modest amounts of hay, haylage and straw, but we don’t have a lot of labour and need to cover the ground quickly. Seeing one in action might be difficult so we wondered if anyone has practical experience of operating one, day in, day out? Thanks.

 

[balerman]

Personally I wouldn’t even look at a Claas. McHale,Kuhn or Welger/MF/Fendt whatever they call it now,are all much better balers.Depending on dealers being local obviously…

 

[hally]

McHale very bad to beat in my opinion

 

[Agri Spec Solicitor]

Thanks for the comments above. We don’t have much mechanical skill and the 2 balers we are looking at are maybe not the last word in balers but they are the ones where I have a high level of confidence the inevitable breakdowns will be fixed with parts off a local shelf, or somehow we will be kept working. They all break and when your whole crop is going to be ruined, it does concentrate the mind to what really matters. I know it would be different if we could fix it ourselves.

 

[Chips]

Personally I wouldn’t even look at a Claas. McHale,Kuhn or Welger/MF/Fendt whatever they call it now,are all much better balers.Depending on dealers being local obviously…

I have a 540 I don't see why any of the others are better.
Serious amount of metal in them now and was putting as much in a bale as a JD960 in rape straw and going as fast.

 

[Rufey]

I bought a well used 255 which I think evolved into a 540 and everyone told me it was a bad move and they were terrible but I haven’t regretted it at all! Especially this year when weather is so dodgy, she flew through our harvest….. even baled in a field with a mchale 5500, I baled 70 odd bales and he baled 30 because he was broken down half the time there was no difference in bales either, some told me McHale make better, tighter bales but apart from I used different coloured net, you wouldn't tell who's bale was who's!

 

[Wellytrack]

For the workload you are describing and for the feeling of confidence you will get having local support of dealer mechanics or parts imo you should buy whatever that is.