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Everything David says is correct on the bale wagons, I use a 1034 (105 bales). I normally stack a load of 100 with no tie tier. My dump height is 12.5' clear optimal (13.5' nominal). Width of stack is just under 10' (I need 12' to back in). I dump in old tobacco barns. The accumulaor/ wagon vs. bale wagon manuvering is really apples and oranges. I was going to have to modify my barns a lot to accept loaded flat wagons, just as easy to go a few more feet for a bale wagon. I dump in the driveways of the barns and then hand stack the sheds off the bale wagon stacks at night. With an elevator I can go up to 26'. Realistically you arent going to get much more than 10 runs with an accumulator and grapple, any more and you need an extension on your loader. I do use a grapple for handling some of my hay off the bale wagon stacks. For me the real trade off between the two systems was: I would need at least 4 more 20' flat wagons with an accumulator ($4000), 16 more tires to maintain. Would need at least $8000 sunk into the system and would still have to unload the wagons. PLus I would need a place to park 7 20' flat wagons in the dry and do it quickly. Bale wagon cost me $5500, got $2000 in the grapple. When I first got it I was putting up 8000 bales a year and needed a crew of 8 plus me to keep things going. When I dumped in the barn I was done. Now, I've doubled production yet only use 2 other (and me). I do have to hand load the sheds b/c of increased production. No regrets, I made the right choice for me.
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