What brand of Hay Rake do you use?

[downtownjr]

What brand of hay rake do you use? Only allowed 10 choices, so I am sure there will be a few others.

[greenacres]

H & S 16 wheel with vermeer dura bull teeth, looking to get a rotary, looking at a KUHN tandem rotary GA7822

[Lazy J]

We are currently using an International Harvester 35 parallel bar rake. We used a Vermerr WRV-10 High Capacity (Tomutti made) rake on our Iowa Farm. We sold it before we moved to Indiana last year though.

Right now we are shopping for a new rake. I am not a fan of wheel rakes due to the amount of dirt that can be incorporated into the hay, but you can't beat them for speed, size vs cost, and ease of operation. I am looking at rotary rakes and like the fluffy windrows they produce, but the cost for a rake of any size is quite high.

I will be looking at several dealers in the next month and preparing for an end-of-season purchase. We mow with a 12' 499 haybine so we would need a rake that covers about 22' if we want to combine two wide swaths in the field. This can be accomplished with a 10 or 12 wheel rake or two passes with a larger rotary rake.

Jim

[downtownjr]

but a few guys have some nice wheel rakes...especially the Darf setup one of the guys on the forum uses. But, I do think the Indiana humidity and mositure point toward the rotary. I have a New Holland 256 bar rake right now, but will probably sell it and invest in a rotary...proably a Kuhn, wish I could afford a Claas or Krone.

[Lazy J]

I kicked the tires on a Krone tedder at the Hay Expo in Iowa a couple of years ago, man was it a nice machine. I will keep looking this summer and hope to find a deal or two after haying season is over.

Jim

[OhioHay]

We use a Miller Pro 2250 double rotary. It is a nice rake. Heavy built and gives you the option of raking two single windrows or 1 double. Rakes around 22 feet of hay( Two 11 ft. individual rakes ). I agree that in the high humidity, the rotary shines. They are pricey verses a wheel rake, but I believe it has paid for itself in hay quality. If I was out west, I probably would lean more towards the wheel rake.

[Hayboy1]

We use two NH 256 rakes with the hydraulic hitch. I love the hitch but hate the rakes, but upgrading to a tandem rotary "GULP" pretty expensive. Anybody ever seen the double baler hitch? Pretty cool system actually. Mike

[4020man]

We pull a Vicon 8 wheel but we are looking to upgrade to an H&S as parts are easier to get in this area. We used to pull a New Idea side delivery until it flew apart one day.

[forager]

Vermeer 2800.Excellent machine!

[downtownjr]

Other than parts availability in the area...how well did you like the Vicon? Ever use or know anyone to use their balers...round or square? Thanks.

Jim