Transporting a Round Baler

[RD Tx]

I need to transport a round baler to my land that is 100 miles from my home. I have talked to several who say they pull them behind their pickups at 45-50 miles an hour for 50 miles or more. The tires say max speed is 25 mph. Are they just being careful or do I not have the right tires. They do say implement tires.

Any help is appreciated.

RD

 

[Gary from Va]

The tires aren't your only problem. The wheel bearings probably aren't rated for high-speeds either. I worked for a MF dealer for a couple years as the road service mechanic. Whenever I pulled one, I never went over 35 mph. Better to take the extra time than to see a tire and wheel pass you on the interstate and realize it's yours.

 

[thurlow]

Many years ago, when 'they' were practically new, I pulled a 605C Vermeer about 600 miles with no problems.....at highway speeds. Was helping a neighbor move and he had removed the implement tires and put (pick-up) truck tires on it. Common sense applies.......wheel bearings, hitch pin, safety chains, pto shaft, etc.

 

[RacerX]

The road better be smooth, too! I pulled my square baler home about 100 miles when I bought it, I put new implement tires on it for the move so I wouldn't have any tire troubles. The wheel bearings on my baler are tapered roller bearings like a boat trailer, and I checked the grease before leaving, I'm sure the wheel bearings could have stood 50 mph. But the baler has no suspension and would bounce off the ground after hitting fairly small bumps in the road! We drove 15 - 25 mph the whole way home, just to keep from shaking the thing to pieces!
But even taking 4 hours to tow the baler 100 miles beat paying someone to trailer it, as I don't have a trailer big enough to haul it.

 

[kyhayman]

Impliment tires havent gone through high speed safety testing and are taxed differently (FET) than high speed highway tires. I rarely go over 45 with them and have never had a failure, but it could happen at any time. We put a lot of road time on most of our equipment with farms in 4 counties and custom work in 2 more. Roughest ride I ever had was a round baler on a flatbed trailer. After that, I tow it with the truck. Had to haul it on that run as it was a couple of hundred miles of interstate.

 

[Blue guy]

When I bought mine I pulled it about 50 miles to its new home. I probably pulled it 50mph or faster also. Just make sure the tires are good and the bearings are greased and pull it. I"d say the road condition affects your speed you should be running more than anything. If you have any doubt about the bearings, check the temps after a few miles.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I've hauled numerous balers, rakes, tedders, you name it behind a pickup, sometimes for a hundred miles of back roads, to go around 75 miles of highway, if you know what I'm saying. Main thing is to make sure the bearings are greased, and the nut is tightened right snug, then back off one notch on the castle nut and put the cotter key in. Nowadays, if its newer equipment, I don't check right away, I use an infra red handheld thermometer, after a couple of miles, as long as you keep the temp under 200 degrees or so, you have the bearings set right.

 

[johns48jdb]

see what a roll back wrecker would charge to go get it for you. if i were hauling it that far i'd put it on a trailer. if you pull it you can make up some lights to put on it like you see some wreckers use. they are just some clamp on lights and a cord run up to the truck wiring harness plug in. lowering the air pressure might keep it from bouncing but will generate more heat and a possible blow out. i like the idea of truck tires. maybe you could get the owner to have that done for you. just some good used tires would be ok. if you know somebody who has that type bailer see if they will loan you a tire off their rig for a spare or get one made up in some way to carry with you. don't forget the jack. a slow moving emblem on the back might get yhou out of a ticket. also bring it home on a sunday morning. much less traffic then.

 

[John e.c.MI]

I pulled mine 200 miles home when I bought it. Stop after the first ten miles, then periodically to check the hubs. 45-50mph should be doable.

 

[TimChandler / S-OK]

We pulled a 605C vermeer 525 miles from Neb to S Ok. Bearings/ grease were checked. It had very good 11 x 16.5 pickup tires on it. And we put those magnetic trailer lights on it and safety chains. No problems. Slow down for bridges,rr tracks and concrete roadways. Also passed and were passed by several law enforcement. Hope this helps TimOk1

 

[paul]

Round baler pulls better than a small square - will trail much better.

I pulled mine home 90 miles, tar county & staqte roads, kept up with traffic.

Worked great.

--->Paul

 

[TX656]

When I bought a 605F I planned on taking it home on the 2 lane black top roads. I had about 60 miles to go as the crow flies, maybe 85 taking back roads. I bought a good looking spare for $50 from they guy I bought the baler from. Checked the bearings after about 15 miles at around 40 mph. Very cool to the touch. Said the heck with the backroads and pulled it up I-35 right thru Ft Worth at 50+MPH. Had magnetic lights and 4 heavy safety chains on it. No troubles, would do it same way again. Pulled a 14T baler home on the back roads the year before. That was about a 90 mile trip and took 6 hours. I had gone down the week before and pulled both axles off of the 14T and repacked the bearings and put in new seals. Old bearings were in bad shape from water but new ones were $80+. One shredded tire but a fun day for my son and I. No problem with the poor bearings but I kept checking.