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I think it would take about 11 minutes to engineer the brakes right out of one of those deals.
THe one you are building will basically be like a forklift, the forks or spears slide under the bale. Then you use winch to flip bale up for transport, lower winch and pull out from under bale? Am I on the right track here? I built one like this 10 or so years ago and can get you exact measurements along with pics this weekend if you wantj_20":3cyf6tw0 said:I think someone has touched on it before but cant find it. I'm building a single bale dolly with an old axle and a 3 point bale fork, I can pretty much come up with it as I go but just wondered if anyone had actual plans for one? I'm building the kind that you back fork under bale and winch up not the flipping over kind dont think those would work well where I need them. As of right now I'm thinking 3 inch square tube mounted on top of the axle with u bolts 6 to 8 inches of overhang of the back of the axle boxing the ends and drilling through the tube to just slide pins in for the fork would round pipe be better here? For the hitch I am thinking of just welding on a bulldog 2" ball hitch or a pin hitch from front of axle to hitch I'm thinking 6ft right now and a rest with a pin to hold bale in place once its winched up. I will be putting lights on and fenders since it will likely see highway time. Thanks in advance for any thoughts, opinions, or advice.
j_20":h000jcgo said:Saltbranch yes you are following me and yes I would like pics and measurements if not to much to ask. I have a pretty good idea of the direction I'm going but would like to see and hear all others input to make the best decisions on the build.
I used 2" square tube for my bale lift and I used weld on axle spring perch's to attach the square tube to the pipe. Gives a good welding surface for both sides. I also used a spring hanger that will capture the top post. The top post will lay into the spring hanger when the bale is broke over. I use a hitch pin to go through the spring hanger to capture the top post and I release the load off the winch when transporting on the road. Around the ranch, the winch holds fine with no problems. Mine is 10' from hitch to axle and I personally would not go any shorter just due to a short trailer being harder to back up. Another problem, a dually with truck bed, it can be hard to see in the mirrors. I used a piece of PVC strategically duct taped for easier viewing in the mirrors . Here is a link the spring perchs, would not be hard to fab but I have a trailer shop in town that's cheap on stuff.j_20":2iwebit9 said:Sounds stout and now that you and brute have both mentioned the round pipe over axle being your pivot point I'm thinking I may like that idea a little better than my original plan. Probably still use my 3 point bale fork but I may hinge it off the axle like you guys have mentioned.