Round Baler?

[scorpian5]

We currently have a small round baler it is a GEHL 1400 and it is a 1978 model and needs thebelts replaced my question is should i sell it or trade it in for somthing bigger/better? WE have aroung 50 acres of hay that we bale and we have had some custom baling done the last 4 0r 5 years and it costs aroung $2000 to have about 100 big round bales made and is getting more expensive every year. A friend told us we should lease a new baler and it would cost less money. i have been looking on the net at vermeer round balers are they any good? Also what are your thoughts of leasing?

I am not a 'lease' type of person, so I would say no no no no, but that's how _I_ am, doesn't mean much to you.

Vermeer has a real good product. They have less dealers. That would be about the only negative. They invented round balers, and have to make their living on them. A pretty good machine. Good company.

I got a rather old 605F Vermeer 2 years ago. For $1600. Good machine. Their Rebel series if you are looking for new is pretty good, good price for small acreage like you have. You could probably come up with a good used machine for $6000 for your few bales.

--->Paul

[Tractorman]

I bought my neighbors Gehl 1786? I think but any way he bought a brand new big vermeer and it stayed messed up all the time actually he came back and had to borrow my gehl back to get his hay up before it rained one time another he had to hire it done. He may have just got a lemon I am not sure but he got tired of working on a $22,000 baler and traded it in on a John Deere. I had a NH chain baler was a good old baler but the bales was ugly. For 100 bales would work great very cheap. Ihave seen a lot of the old vermeers bale forever but so far the Gehl I had was my favorite.

[uncle Will in In.]

I bought a new Vermeer and used it 3 years and sold the cows so I sold the baler. I gave $13000 new and the dealer resold it for me for $10500. He charged me $500 to sell it. Mine made a 5x5 bale that weighed around 900 lbs. I only charged $6 per bale to do custom baling. My best day of baling I made 212 bales between 12:00 and 7:00. The baler never needed the first repair. You may not find it cost effective to buy a new baler for yourself, but if you can do some custom baling it could turn into a money maker. Round balers are simpler to keep working than the old square balers. Good belts is important when looking at used ones.

[Ross]

Leasing often helps your taxes if you claim farm expenses. If you don't then i wouldn't. Ends up the same as borrowing really if you buy it out at the end. (depends on the lease) Your baler likely needs most new bearings and the sweep rebuilt. You could and I imagine it will go for another 10-15 years. I'd buy or lease a Vermeer, or I'd like a decent NH 848 chain baler if I could find one priced right. I have to admit I am put off by the new electronics in them all, Vermeer at least makes a stripped down version.