Are your bales good and tight from a newer baler or loose? We have used our big bale spears that are 36 inches long and 3 straight across. This is on good tight bales. Are you putting this on a 3 point, front end loader or skid steer. Was at a friend's this weekend and the have 4 spears they use to pick 2 bales at a time on a large skid steer.

 

2 long spears lower down would give you the option to handle big squares if you ever need to.

 

It's going on a skid steer. Operating in a tight space in the barn, so only one bale at a time. I'm currently buying in my hay and haven't found a solid supplier after only been through one winter here, so that may play into the decision.

Are there downsides to the two lower spears?

 

Two long spears work better if you have to pick up a bale sideways or diagonally. They also have better reach to the other side of a load (if your skid steer will reach that far). And when you are unloading a truck or trailer someone else has loaded, you never know how the bales will be presented to you.

Roger

 

Forget the stubby spears. Two longer spears per bale is more effective than one longer spear with the stub spears. I prefer the 39 inch over all length spears for all and any round and large square bales, no exception. I’ve used the 49” OAL spears and don’t see the need. They also break easier than the 39”.

Whether you want the two spears per bale arranged horizontally or vertically is up to you. There are benefits either way.

Ideal design for handling round bales is 3 spears in an equilateral triangle, one on top, two below.

Regardless of spear number and arrangement, the spears need to be centered geometrically on the width of the bale. If they are not, the bales will tend to twist when speared.

 

I can't find a photo but I built mine with 2 horizontal 49in spears about 2 in off the ground and spaced so they double as pallet forks. Never have had an issue with them.

 

a single 39" spear (remove the little bottom stabilizers) gives you the capability of spearing a bale slightly off center so that it rolls slightly to lean snug against the bale beside it. Dual spears allow you to grab two round bales or maybe a large square or double as forks in a pinch.

 

If you are handling mostly 48" bales then I would not use 49" spear.