Hay & Forage Forum banner

Skidsteer or Forklift for stacking in barn

2 reading
11K views 17 replies 11 participants last post by  OhioHay  
#1 ·
Evening everyone!

After struggling to find labor to efficiently get our hay (~60 acres of grass and alfalfa in small squares) in the barn, we're looking at moving to a grapple/accumulator system for the 2016 season. I've been digging around and looking at specs for various skidsteer models and was wondering if I'd have issues stacking 10 layers high (on the flat/strings) with a skidsteer? Seems like it would really be pushing the limits of the skidsteer to get that high. Would a forklift be a better option here? Our hay barn has an asphalt floor, so there wouldn't be any issues with running a forklift inside the barn, but the skidsteer has a lot more functionality outside the barn (including helping load wagons with the grapple etc.)

Thanks in advance!
 
#2 ·
You could always look at a telehandler. They are not as nimble as a skid steer, but have higher lift capacity (as well as being able to move objects farther from the machine) and are more versatile than a forklift. You can usually find them used for around the same price or a little more than a skid steer. Then you could load wagons, stack as high as you want, build a man lift platform and perform building repairs, along with many other things. I have a skid steer and it is very useful as I have tight spaces to get into, but I have wished for a telehandler many times for unloading, loading, and stacking hay.
 
#4 ·
Used forklift would probably be the cheapest route.But least versatile.And you can only go straight up,with a tell or skid you have some reach so you can set the bales farther in or stager them.Skid would have the least visibility.You can get other attachments for the skid and tele for other uses.

I'd go for a tele.more versatile.Will go over rougher or muddy ground better.More visibility.More reach.
 
#5 ·
Another thing to keep in mind about forklifts is that some masts extend above where the pallet forks (or in your case, grapple) is. This could be an issue if you are stacking close to the ceiling or if you try to load trailers with it. There are some masts that don't extend above and would be perfect for this type of thing.
 
#6 ·
Another thing to keep in mind about forklifts is that some masts extend above where the pallet forks (or in your case, grapple) is. This could be an issue if you are stacking close to the ceiling or if you try to load trailers with it. There are some masts that don't extend above and would be perfect for this type of thing.
Usually a two section mast the second stage will be higher than the forks for awhile until you reach full height, a three piece the forks raise all the way up then the masts start to extend.
 
#7 ·
Thanks for the replies! Yeah, I think a telehandler would be ideal, it's just coming up with the $$ for the additional cost (I'd hoped to be able to do the accumulator (kuhns most likely)/grapple/<machine> for less than 30) - looking around on machinery finder, it seems most teles start in that range.
 
#10 ·
My brother in law bought a JCB from Sunbelt rentals this past spring and loves it. They gave him a year warranty and I think he got it for around $10,000. He has used it all summer building houses and said he paid for it on the first job he used it on (which was also a 11,000 square foot lake house and a 10 car garage for the founder of one of the home security systems). You should be able to find a good telehandler for much less than $30,000. Now you have me thinking about looking again...
 
#11 ·
Those of you with teles, how does it go in cramped spaces? My hay barn is 12' high at the lowest (at the eaves) and 28' in the center - do you find that you've got enough room to get in and around? Does the crook at the end of the boom get in the way when working close to the roof?
 
#14 ·
We have been using an 8000lb (weighs 13200) Clarke forklift for the last 8 years to unload New Holland bale wagons, stack hay in the shed and load wagons for delivery. I find this machine to be well suited for the job. It is quick, and accurate at placing bales or retrieving. It has dual wheels and is quite stable when operating at the maximum height of 171/2 ft or 12 rows high. We recently had the floor of the shed paved and this is a big improvement in efficiency in the shed, faster, more accurate, fewer dropped bales probably half a dozen out of 22000 unloaded and loaded for shipment. Works well for us and is not expensive to buy or operate. There are some pictures in our profile. If you have any questions I would be glad to help.
 
#15 ·
I use a 5000lb forklift for stacking bale bandit bundles in the barn and wouldn't have anything else. I think I would also like it for using a grapple and considered that before I went the bale bandit route. Can't beat a forklift for maneuverability. My barn has an asphalt floor but my forlklift has air filled tires and works just fine on hard packed gravel or dirt as well. I tried a couple different skid steers out this past summer as well and was no where near as happy using them as I was the forklift. The forklift was so much handier to dive and maneuver when stacking. I have used a telehandler as well and I still prefer the forklift because maneuverability and visibility is better but the telehandler will go where a forklift won't if the ground is not hard packed.
 
#17 · (Edited by Moderator)
Forklifts are handy and have great monverability . only thing ive noticed is the one I saw run struggled pushing 53's full from the driveway. Thats how we load with grapple. But if ypur using bundles or not loading 53's i think theyd be great to use. Probably cheaper too
Yeah, a forklift wouldn't be good if you had to push the hay in from the back of a van trailer. Most of the hay I load out goes on flat beds or goosenecks so a forklift works great for that. I do have a loading dock so I can load a van trailer by driving in it which works well......the only bad thing is the loading dock isn't real close to the hay barn.....glad I don't have to load many van trailers.
 
#18 ·
I have a jcb 526S telehandler. Love it for most jobs. Have a John Deere 4440 with loader. Works well in the field. Alright in the bigger barns. I am looking at buying a skid steer for cleaning cattle barns and stacking hay in some of our tight barns. Would also like to have an 80hp with 4wd, cab, and loader for feeding cattle in the mud lot and other muddy, snowy chores. Each type of loader has its pluses and minuses. So I would like to have them all. Where is Santa when you need him?