Is a B2401 or L2501 too small...

[Shawn T. W]

It's a bit more complicated than that.

Yeah, I know ... But my point is that you can't just use the "1000 Lb" number to figure out if it can be lifted ... A 4X5 bale is usually 4' thick, so even if the spear was at the pins, which it isn't ... The hay 4' away will have a much greater effect on the lift capabilities than the hay nearest the spear.

If it was a tall thin vertical slab of lead, yeah it should lift it a ways ...

On my Little Baby Fergie, when I was using that for water duty, I'd put a block under the front of the tote, so more water would be closer to the forks, once lifted a tad, I quick hard push on the forward pedal, while holding the lift lever back, it would slosh a bit, and I could get it raised a few feet, like you said, once it gets up high enough so it's coming back it gets easier, plus ... With water it tends to go to the low point.

I still think a MX is more what the OP should be looking for.

 

[PoTreeBoy]

In post 1, @tacotime mentions a 65hp tractor being available. Does it have a loader? Alternatively, could the 3ph be used for moving large bales?

 

[Grandad4]

Looking at a smaller open station unit to mow tighter places and under trees that an available larger 63 horse cab tractor can't get through easily. No more than a 5 ft. shredder to be used, in some thick tall grass at times but no real brush shredding. But the tractor needs to be able to pull some stacked piles of cedar (not tiny piles) maybe 1/4 mile, and move a large round bale of coastal (4x5, I assume about 1,000 lbs.). Is a 24 horse tractor adequate for this? Too lightweight if pulling piles? Will I very quickly wish I had a L3301 or L3901?

A bit confused here. Is that 63 horse cab tractor doing the bale handling now and this new open station tractor is just a backup or will bale moving be a regular chore for the new one?

Just my opinion here, but if bale handling is a significant requirement for your new tractor, you need to buy enough tractor and loader, and then configure it the right way, to do the job safely and well. That means something like the M60/70, MX or larger Grand L models, each of which should have the size, weight and lift capacity to carry around 1,000 lb bales safely.

This advice about large bales seems at odds with your other need for something small so you can mow in places you can't reach with the cab tractor. Maybe someone can recommend something that does both things well, but I'm thinking these may be two different pieces of equipment.