Flat 10 for conventional bales

[Two Tone]

The reason you don't use it is the same reason that makes it not really an option for my system and probably many others. I can see how it would work well in other cases though as it obviously does fro @Flat 10
I am interested to find out more about the 8 and 2 system, if it can get loaded straight on a lorry

I now see the advantage of a 8+2 system in allowing shorter bales and still being able to load a lorry without some poor bar-steward having to stack them by hand.

However you would need to have access to both sides of the lorry to load it or have stacked them in the barn in an alternating way so as to load them from the one side.
But to do so, you would have loaded the trailer in the field from both sides, which would be relatively easy compared to loading a lorry from both sides in the farm yard.

One thing I have always noticed is that loading a trailer with Flat 8’s (or even Flat 5+5 10’s) from only one side of the trailer, due to the grab’s side bar being used to squash the packs tighter together, is that the loaded side can be absolutely vertically flat compared to the other side of the trailer, due to the variation in bale length.

Once those packs are stacked tight in the barn, the side bar can be removed to load a lorry from just the one side.
However, due to the slight variation in bale lengths, that poor bar-steward would still be needed to be on the lorry to direct the loader operator exactly where to drop each pack, inch perfectly.

 

[bobk]

I now see the advantage of a 8+2 system in allowing shorter bales and still being able to load a lorry without some poor bar-steward having to stack them by hand.

However you would need to have access to both sides of the lorry to load it or have stacked them in the barn in an alternating way so as to load them from the one side.
But to do so, you would have loaded the trailer in the field from both sides, which would be relatively easy compared to loading a lorry from both sides in the farm yard.

One thing I have always noticed is that loading a trailer with Flat 8’s (or even Flat 5+5 10’s) from only one side of the trailer, due to the grab’s side bar being used to squash the packs tighter together, is that the loaded side can be absolutely vertically flat compared to the other side of the trailer, due to the variation in bale length.

Once those packs are stacked tight in the barn, the side bar can be removed to load a lorry from just the one side.
However, due to the slight variation in bale lengths, that poor bar-steward would still be needed to be on the lorry to direct the loader operator exactly where to drop each pack, inch perfectly.

That's why I took the side bar off my grab , to load from both sides

 

[Flat 10]

………Unless you live in the Cotswolds, where they are regarded as a fashion icon.
Without which “You are not fit to look after horses!”
And the more it costs, the more they want it
…………except for the horse hay!

Been there, got the T-shirt.

 

[Flat 10]

I now see the advantage of a 8+2 system in allowing shorter bales and still being able to load a lorry without some poor bar-steward having to stack them by hand.

However you would need to have access to both sides of the lorry to load it or have stacked them in the barn in an alternating way so as to load them from the one side.
But to do so, you would have loaded the trailer in the field from both sides, which would be relatively easy compared to loading a lorry from both sides in the farm yard.

One thing I have always noticed is that loading a trailer with Flat 8’s (or even Flat 5+5 10’s) from only one side of the trailer, due to the grab’s side bar being used to squash the packs tighter together, is that the loaded side can be absolutely vertically flat compared to the other side of the trailer, due to the variation in bale length.

Once those packs are stacked tight in the barn, the side bar can be removed to load a lorry from just the one side.
However, due to the slight variation in bale lengths, that poor bar-steward would still be needed to be on the lorry to direct the loader operator exactly where to drop each pack, inch perfectly.

You don't need to load the trailer from alternating sides, just pick up the 8+2 from the opposite direction.

 

[Two Tone]

You don't need to load the trailer from alternating sides, just pick up the 8+2 from the opposite direction.

I don’t know about you, but I often find that picking up the bales sideways risks them dropping off the grab. So, best to pick up an 8+2 pack with the 2 at the rear of the grab, rather than the front.
Mind you, some grabs are much better than others and my Browns version certainly isn’t the best.
I’d much prefer a Farmhand.

My trailers only have a front rave that is angled forward by about 10 degrees.
I always cross-cross the rear of the trailer, but wound never pick up a pack in a potentially bumpy field with the bales sideways. Therefore will load every other pack onto the trailer from the rear of it.
This has the added advantage the each layer of bales slightly overlaps the layer below it, but the biggest advantage is that only the rest of the trailer needs roping on. Usually in an ‘X’ pattern.
I find ropes so much faster to fix and wind up than straps and perfectly adequate from fields to farmyard.

 

[Two Tone]

That's why I took the side bar off my grab , to load from both sides

That’s ok if the accumulator leaves them packed tight enough. Some don’t and if not, you waste a hell of a lot of time bunching them up without a bar.
If you are careful you can load from the wrong side even with the bar. But you have to be very accurate in placing the pack.
I find that a load is much more stable if one side of it is vertically flat and the other rough. Trying to get a stable load when loading from both sides is not as easy, especially if going over 6 bales high.
The side of the front rave acts as a good guide to get the one side vertical.
Criss-crossing the rear packs also helps check that that one side of the load remains relatively vertical.

I’m sure we have all had loads of experiences with this and have come up with very good way of doing it, that suits each of us and our trailers best.
Nothing pee’s us off more that a load of heavy hay bales that fell off on a hot day!
Especially if some of the strings break.

 

[scrubbuster]

I like the idea of a packer, Arcusin type, not the Baron/Bandit, but of course ties up a tractor/man, packs of 14 I think rather than 21.

I do think maybe we have really reached the limit for mechanising the handling of a bale, which soul purpose is to be handled by hand!

Unless you’ve got lovely flat fields, big open sheds, flat yards and plenty of space, little bales are work, pure and simple, which people just do not seem to want, regardless of what they’re paid and how much cider and chips you put in front of them!

A

I like the idea of a packer, Arcusin type, not the Baron/Bandit, but of course ties up a tractor/man, packs of 14 I think rather than 21.

I do think maybe we have really reached the limit for mechanising the handling of a bale, which soul purpose is to be handled by hand!

Unless you’ve got lovely flat fields, big open sheds, flat yards and plenty of space, little bales are work, pure and simple, which people just do not seem to want, regardless of what they’re paid and how much cider and chips you put in front of them!

I know of people who can flat 8, haul and stack without touching any, of which I am immensely jealous, would probably be more worth while in the long run investing in your infrastructure to do that rather than special kit.

Yes I do that at the moment. As I said in the original post my system works well for gathering and getting them in the shed, I don't touch a bale (obviously I get the occasional exception!)
I load my Ifor out of the shed with it, but I would like the option of loading lorries.
Putting them up to a willing driver with the flat 8 to be manually stacked is becoming a thing of the past.
I am not sure what infrastructure improvements would help with that
I would love a bigger more modern shed though

 

[scrubbuster]

 

[scrubbuster]

Cooks windrower leaves a tight pack so I work with no bar

 

[Flat 10]

I don’t know about you, but I often find that picking up the bales sideways risks them dropping off the grab. So, best to pick up an 8+2 pack with the 2 at the rear of the grab, rather than the front.
Mind you, some grabs are much better than others and my Browns version certainly isn’t the best.
I’d much prefer a Farmhand.

My trailers only have a front rave that is angled forward by about 10 degrees.
I always cross-cross the rear of the trailer, but wound never pick up a pack in a potentially bumpy field with the bales sideways. Therefore will load every other pack onto the trailer from the rear of it.
This has the added advantage the each layer of bales slightly overlaps the layer below it, but the biggest advantage is that only the rest of the trailer needs roping on. Usually in an ‘X’ pattern.
I find ropes so much faster to fix and wind up than straps and perfectly adequate from fields to farmyard.

Good bales, good grab (weld an extra few hooks on the front) and picking up cross wise should be no bother.

 

[scrubbuster]

Personally I wouldn't go flat 10 with 4' bales unless you are using the bales yourself or can find customers who will pay a premium for a larger bale.

I have gone from flat 8s to flat 10 (8+2) to a bale baron with my bales getting shorter at each step and I can't really think that any of my customers have commented negatively on receiving shorter bales, in fact I had on or 2 react positively as they like a lighter, easier to handle bale.

When I ran the flat 10 system we used to load trailers 8 layers high strapped for the road or 7 layers high unstrapped within the farm.

I used to use a Kuhns Mfg sledge which worked really well and is a much better concept than the tubeline sledge in my view as you aren't dragging the bales along the ground and it will continue to work well at a crawl.

I have seen those Kuhns briefly online but never gave them a lot of thought before. I thought they were more an American thing, I didn't realise they did an 8+2. I will have a closer look, thank you

 

[Flat 10]

Po up on Facebook

 

[bobk]

Po up on Facebook View attachment 1124366

JCB 525-58 isn't it . good old bus

 

[Flat 10]

JCB 525-58 isn't it . good old bus

Normally a 525-67 on straw but difficult to tell from that picture. Farm special plus was the kiddie

 

[Farmer_Joe]

Po up on Facebook View attachment 1124366

Ha ha that brilliant love the fact someone ran around in uk with one of them

 

[Lincsman]

I don’t know about you, but I often find that picking up the bales sideways risks them dropping off the grab. So, best to pick up an 8+2 pack with the 2 at the rear of the grab, rather than the front.
Mind you, some grabs are much better than others and my Browns version certainly isn’t the best.
I’d much prefer a Farmhand.

My trailers only have a front rave that is angled forward by about 10 degrees.
I always cross-cross the rear of the trailer, but wound never pick up a pack in a potentially bumpy field with the bales sideways. Therefore will load every other pack onto the trailer from the rear of it.
This has the added advantage the each layer of bales slightly overlaps the layer below it, but the biggest advantage is that only the rest of the trailer needs roping on. Usually in an ‘X’ pattern.
I find ropes so much faster to fix and wind up than straps and perfectly adequate from fields to farmyard.

My Maiger (spelling?) grab has its ram in the middle so it forces bale ends together rather than rear frame, but picks up ok across the bales, except very soft hay.
I only use side bar for initial collecting, then once in the 56 stack and subsequent restacking its not needed.
In straw its easy as they are like bricks.