How to Load Hay on a Wagon

Hay bales weigh typically between 50 and 140 pounds and are mainly used to feed horses and other livestock. The process of loading these bales onto a wagon, truck or trailer can be challenging. If you don't do it right the first time, the bales can tip over. People often buy as many bales of hay as they can possibly fit on a vehicle in one trip. However, overloading can cause the hay pile to tip, causing significant damage to the hay and possibly injuring unwary by-standers.

Things You'll Need

  • Proper attire (work gloves, boots, socks)
  • 25-foot-long bungee cord or sturdy rope
  • Mask (optional)
  • Pallets (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure you are dressed appropriately. Wear heavy socks and work boots to protect your feet. Hay can be sharp and itchy when it gets into your shoes. Work gloves guard your hands against the rough stalks and sharp wire and also prevent hay from becoming lodged underneath your fingernails.

    • 2

      Examine the bottom of the wagon to be sure it is level. If it has dents or holes or is noticeably unsteady, line it with wooden pallets to maintain a level base and prevent hay stacks from falling over.

    • 3

      Put a bale of hay directly in the middle between the sides of the truck bed or trailer, pushed up to the end closest to the tractor. Attach one end of a 25-foot-long bungee cord or tie one end of equally long sturdy rope around it. This bale will be your anchor. Leave the rest of the cord or rope free and hanging off the side of the wagon.

    • 4

      Decide which way your first layer of bales will face and arrange them accordingly. Keep them all facing the same direction and push them as closely together as possible. If you notice any broken twine on a bale, swap it out for a new one. Your base layer must be sturdy because it will carry most of the weight.

    • 5

      Arrange a second layer facing the opposite direction. If the first layer was horizontal, the second should be vertical. The third layer should be arranged in the same direction that you placed the first. The fourth should be facing the same way as the second. Continue this pattern of crisscrossing the layers to help stabilize the pile.

    • 6

      Wedge any broken bales into the sides of the wagon if possible. If you place them on top of the wagon, you risk them falling off. Leave broken bales that can't be secured behind.

    • 7

      Take the other end of the cord or rope you used on your anchor and stretch it across the top of your hay pile. Tie securely to the end of the truck bed or trailer and give it a tug to make sure it's snug. You might want to drive a short distance and then check to make sure the rope is still tight. The load could shift with movement, loosening it. If necessary, re-tighten the cord or rope.