Hay Hauling Time

mljenkins · January 21, 2008

Well, we got short on hay so we had to make a run. Thankfully the drought and weather have made it near impossible to find it locally. This trip was the longest to date, about 250 mi round trip. A friend of my wife's family gave us a good price which made up for the gas involved. Besides, I needed a long trip with a good load under the belt before the spring when we start pulling the horses around again.

Found a better way to secure the hay on the truck this time. I took a 100' piece of rope and made a circle in the bed through all the tie downs in the bottom of the bed. I took the excess and draped it over the front, tailgate, and sides of the truck. When it was loaded I just had to pull the four sides together and use two rachets to hold them down. I went ahead over the front and back from side to side with a rachet as well since I had two extra rachets. Worked like a charm. Came back about 125 mi doing 60 the whole way on the interstate and didn't have any problems.

My only complaint with my bed is I wish it had tie downs in the middle of the bed. I need to get some of those pocket tie downs soon. I got a couple once but they were too small for the Chevy pockets.

Total bales on the truck was about 30, with 50 in the trailer. We usually get 40 and 60, but this guy's bales were loose so they were longer. Total weight was about 1,200 in the bed and 2,000 in the trailer (dang trailer weighs almost 4,000 by itself, as it is all steel). Probably put my GCW at around 13,000. Pulled nice all the way back. I wish the cruise would allow for more of a speed drop when in tow mode because with the 5.3L w/ 4.10 it shifts into 2nd a lot to make the hills when cruise is enabled. I finally gave up on cruise driving back. Next truck is going to have at least a 6.0L so I can tow north without dropping into 2nd! I towed to west to Ohio last year with our gooseneck and had no issues. I think I just need to move somewhere flat!

Anyway here is a picture I got in the farmer's field. The poor truck and trailer is covered with road grime. It wasn't supposed to snow and as soon as I opened the door to leave in the morning it started snowing. Luckily it was so cold and the wind was blowing so good it blew it all off the road by the time we came back. Oh yeah, that's a spare on the front. You can thank my dealer for that. I went to get the oil changed Saturday and when they pulled it up on the ramp they caught the front tire. They handled it well (supposed to have a new tire Tuesday and free oil change). The manager wasn't too happy with his guys. I just figured sleet happens.

Draenor · January 21, 2008

Looks like your pretty much loaded down. You could of put another 4 bails in the ex-cab.

......Thats why I like where I'm at. I slip the farmer next door a 20 and he drops off a round bail right up to the barn.

asilverblazer · January 21, 2008

We got 4 of these still.

mljenkins · January 21, 2008

Naah, I had too much junk in the cab, plus my wife and daughter came along to see their friends. I bet I could get 6 in there though! Once hauling hay with my dad he got the bright idea of rolling down the passenger window while we were in tow. I think there was a bale of loose hay in the cab by the time we got home. Leather interior would have been nice then.

Our neighbors had their fields cut and gave the hay to who cut it. We just moved here this year so we are hoping to make more contacts. The neighbors down the road that do have round bales don't want to give them up yet because everyone is scared what the weather will bring.