When you are working on the farm it is important that you have the equipment you need when you need it. Trying to make do with things that aren’t right for the job will only slow you down and lead to frustration. If you feed hay, you may have looked at a bale spear Tractor Supply.
For anyone considering a bale spear, it makes sense to know what you should look for. This type of equipment gets a lot of use and you don’t want it failing on you when your stock is expecting to eat. A bale spear made to work on a pickup truck has the advantage of not requiring a tractor to get the feeding done. These spears typically work by use of a hydraulic pump. You want to ensure that the pump is big enough to do the work required so that it doesn’t burn out. Look for a 12-volt pump when shopping.
The hay spears should be removable and tested to high weight. This ensures they maintain their integrity under heavy loads. A round bale of hay can weigh in excess of 2500 pounds, so look for heat-treated metal to withstand the load.
Most hay spears will come with a standard length spear, such as 48 inches. If this isn’t what you want, contact the manufacturer, as they often have other lengths they can provide. The best length depends on the size of your bales, whether they are round or square, and the density of the hay. Selecting the right size hay spear not only increases the life of your equipment but also ease the day to day frustration of trying to use undersized equipment.
Hay spears are made to attach easily over the ball telescope on your truck. It is quick and easy to attach and remove. Look for a low-profile design if you regularly attach a gooseneck trailer to your truck. These setups allow both the hay attachment and gooseneck attachment at the same time.
A hay spear saves a great deal of time and effort when feeding large bales of hay. They make it possible to move and feed in a fraction of the time that would be needed if you were feeding by hand. Using your truck to feed also frees up your tractor for other duties, as well as allowing you to have access to your cab for storage, warmth, and transportation.