3 Wheel hay rakes?

JRSutton

Well-known Member
Anybody use one?

meaning 2 tires in the back - one up front that you hitch to.

I'm looking around at rakes, and there's a gehl 412 with this setup.

I'm not getting what the advantage is other than not having to jack it up to attach/detach... which is something.

But would seem to make it pretty hard to go in reverse (to put it away or whatever).

Wondering if I'm missing any other purpose for it, or advantages/disadvantages. (besides having one more tire that'll go flat)
 
I personally don't like the idea of another rue to run over the hay, but the idea is that it follows the ground more closely than a rake without the dolly wheel. If your ground is flat like ours, there really isn't much advantage. If you'vegot rolling hills, it may be advantageous for you.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
Exactly. If you have rough ground with terraces, small dips and ditches the dolly wheel keeps the wheelbase short so it follows the ground more evenly. You can also rake with about anything - I've pulled a dolly wheel rake with a cub cadet in a pinch.....
 
I run two JD 660 rakes with the dolly wheel. It allows you to turn much tighter without catching the rake with the back tire and ending up with it around your neck. Especially nice for a tractor with high rubber, like an H or an M.
 
That's an interesting point. I'm always worried I'll do that in a tight turn. I always watch it, but fear one day I'll be stupid and forget.
 
I don't like the extra tire running over hay....

For turning, I have a tube hitch on the three point, it gets the hitch out a lot farther so I can turn on a dime without hitting the rake frame; and it allows me to raise the rake up or down some instead of stopping to crank it for adjustments.

Some folks like the dolly wheel, I really don't see the attraction for my uses. To each their own tho.

Paul
 
I've seen two rakes tweaked w/o the dolly wheel because what is the first job you give a newbie? Raking. Just my opinion but I've had a lot of newbies and I'm still using the rake my dad bought used in 86.
 
imho gehl and Vermeer is poorly engineered equipment ,,, conditions must be perfect for them to do a halfaztjob... dolly wheel rakes are nice
 
Me either I put a longer drawbar on my DB 770 and I can turn as sharp as I want,a dolly wheel will make the tractor run into the next windrow when turning lots of times.A lot quicker control over the rake when its hooked up with no dolly wheel.
 
I've had both in green. My first was a 2 wheel. All the rest were/are 3. Just more convenient for me and I park them where I don't have to attempt to back up..................like backing up a cotton trailer!
 
Why do you turn that sharp with the rake knowing the tractor pulling the baler can't make the same turn - especially with the PTO turning at 540?
 
Several reasons. And just because you turn sharp with the rake, doesn't mean it makes a sharp 90 in the window. Turn hard to the right, it still makes a fairly sweeping corner that you can easily get when driving on the other side of the window and making the same right turn with the baler. Left turn, inside the headlands and turning around to either double up or just had the other way.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 

I have a JD with dolly wheel. I have no concern about the extra wheel running over hay when the hay is dry. It is insignificant compared to the tractor tires. As others have said it turns sharper than a two wheel, which is really nice in my odd shaped fields with multiple centers. I never need to back it up. When I pull it up to the shop door for maintenance I just unhook it and when done roll it backwards down the slope with one hand.
 
We have a JD four bar rake with a dolly wheel and it is NICE when doing a double or 1.5 windrow. I can spin right around at the end of the field with no issues on my Farmall H or 460. I haven't ever noticed a down side to a dolly wheel rake.
 

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