Hay Elevator Suggestions

[mopac01]

This is the horse barn we had built by an Amish crew last year when I had to move the 3 horses my FIL bought my kids from his 5 acres to my 5 acres. (I added electric lights after the Amish left. ) The hayloft is 12' wide by 36' deep. Last year we stocked it with square bales for the winter by throwing the bales one at a time to someone standing in the bed of my F150 in the doorway to the barn who then threw them one at a time to someone standing in the door of the hayloft. That got old fast. I'd like to get a hay elevator this year to ease the process. I'm buying a new L3200 Kubota with FEL, but I don't think the bucket will be able to get high enough to really function as a way to lift the hay to the loft. (Although it will have plenty of other uses that my 70 year old 2N just isn't up for. I won't EVER miss my 2N. Goodbye and good riddance.)

I've found these http://www.levelbestranch.com/anderson-hay-elevators.html on the net but they appear to be the Cadillac of hay elevators. Does anybody have any suggestions? I do NOT want to refurbish something or mess with a second hand item. I want a new, reliable unit that I can depend on. (Which is another HUGE reason the Kubota is kicking the 2N to the curb. Heck, I'd put the 2N in neutral and point it toward my pond if not for the environmental damage that would do to the pond.)

 

[skeets]

http://newhollandelevator.com/

http://www.agequipmentusa.com/productCatalog/Main/Item.aspx?fl=371&ii=302130&mod=I

http://www.whitesinc.com/snowco.html

http://www.everythingattachments.com/Snowco-Hay-Elevator-p/snco-16-he.htm

http://www.newhouse-mfg.com/html/elevator.html

There ya go 5 places to start with all good machines for what you jave in mind

 

[RCW]

Great barn! I'm jealous! Not for horses, but I've got a lot of other treasures that could fill that up!

Skeets offers all good choices, but remember you may want a carrier/wheel assembly to go with it, so I it will be easily moveable away from the barn.

While I completely understand your thought about new and reliable, an elevator is a pretty simple piece of equipment. Sometimes can be found used for a fraction of new, especially as many dairy farmers (around here, anyway) go to round bales, and may no longer put square bales in the mow.

I've seen older elevators in decent shape, with wheels, sell at auction for under $200. Since I'm not in the market for one, I honestly didn't pay much attention to them, but I always try to predict final sale prices at auctions.

Just my $0.02.

 

[BAP]

The ones you found seem quite pricey. I am sure if you were handling 20,000 bales of hay a year they would be worth it. However if you only need to move enough for three animals, a lower quality one should work just fine. One thing you need to figure out is how long you need it to be. It should stick up above the floor in the barn about three feet. Remember it is running up at an angle when you measure and it shouldn't be too steep. They aren't too hard to move around with 3-4 people, so the cost of a wheeled one probably can't be justified. Once you use one, you will like it by not having to heave the bales up threw the door.