5 Best Hydraulic Rakes For Efficient Hay Making for Small Acreage
Choosing the right hydraulic rake is key for small farms. Explore our top 5 picks for efficient hay making, designed for maneuverability and clean windrows.
You’ve cut the hay, the tedder has done its job, and now a sea of drying grass lies across your field. The next step—raking it into neat windrows for the baler—is where speed and quality collide. For a small farm, a hydraulic V-rake isn’t just an implement; it’s the key to beating the rain and making high-quality hay efficiently.
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Why a Hydraulic Rake is a Small Farm Game-Changer
The biggest leap from an old ground-drive bar rake to a hydraulic V-rake is one word: control. With hydraulics, you can lift the entire rake over obstacles, navigate tight corners without tearing up your field, and precisely drop it where you need to start raking again. This simple function eliminates the frustrating back-and-forth of older, less maneuverable rakes.
This control directly translates into better hay. Because you can lift the rake, you avoid dragging it through dirt and mud when turning, resulting in cleaner windrows and less ash content in your final product. Cleaner hay is more palatable for livestock and less abrasive on your baler’s internal components.
Ultimately, it’s about efficiency. A hydraulic V-rake allows you to combine two swaths into one perfect windrow in a single pass, effectively halving your baling time. When you’re racing a storm cloud or trying to get haying done after your day job, that time savings is invaluable.
Key Features for Your Small Acreage Hay Rake
Choosing the right rake means matching the machine to your specific land and tractor. Don’t just look at the price tag; focus on the features that will actually make your life easier. These are the non-negotiables to consider.
First, think about raking width and transport width. A wider rake covers ground faster, but a rake that’s too wide for your gates or narrow laneways is a constant headache. Measure your tightest spots before you shop. An 8-wheel rake is often the sweet spot for small acreages, offering good coverage without being excessively cumbersome.
Next, look closely at the mechanics.
- Independent Rake Wheel Arms: Each rake wheel should be able to move up and down on its own. This allows the rake to follow the contours of uneven ground, gathering hay from low spots without scalping the high spots.
- Hydraulic Requirements: Does the rake need one or two sets of hydraulic remotes on your tractor? Mismatching your rake’s needs to your tractor’s capabilities is a frustrating and sometimes costly mistake.
- Tine Adjustment: The ability to change the angle of the tines lets you adapt to different conditions. A gentler angle is better for fragile alfalfa, while a more aggressive angle helps fluff up heavy, wet grass.
The H&S V-8 Rake: Simple and Reliable Raking
If you want a straightforward, no-frills machine that just plain works, the H&S V-8 is a strong contender. It’s built on a simple, robust frame that’s easy to understand and even easier to maintain. There are no complex systems here, just proven design principles that get hay into a windrow.
This rake excels in relatively flat, clean fields where its primary job is to quickly and cleanly gather hay. The operation is intuitive—one hydraulic lever lifts and lowers the wings, and another can adjust the windrow width. For the farmer who values reliability over bells and whistles, this is often the most practical choice.
The tradeoff for this simplicity is performance on challenging terrain. Without the advanced suspension of more expensive models, it can struggle to follow dramatic ground contours. However, for many small farms with well-maintained hay fields, the H&S offers an unbeatable combination of value and dependability.
Sitrex QR-10: Quality Build for Fluffy Windrows
Sitrex rakes are known for their build quality and thoughtful design, and the QR-10 is a perfect example. This 10-wheel rake is a step up, designed not just to move hay, but to form the ideal windrow for drying and baling. It’s for the operator who is serious about hay quality.
The key feature is the independent articulation of each rake wheel arm, which allows it to hug the ground exceptionally well. This results in a cleaner pickup with less dirt contamination. The rake tines are designed to gently lift and turn the crop, creating a light, fluffy windrow that allows for excellent air circulation—a critical factor for faster, more even drying.
While it carries a higher price tag than more basic models, the investment can pay for itself in better hay quality and fewer breakdowns. The Sitrex is for the small farmer who sees haying as a craft and wants a tool that reflects that commitment. It’s a durable machine built for years of consistent performance.
Enorossi Batrake 8: Top Choice for Uneven Ground
Not all hay fields are created equal. If your property includes rolling hills, terraces, or bumpy sections, the Enorossi Batrake is designed specifically for you. Its standout feature is the "walking tandem" axle system on the main frame, which allows the rake to glide over rough terrain instead of bouncing and jarring.
This superior ground-following capability means the tines stay at the right height, picking up hay in the dips and floating over the crowns. The result is a consistent, clean windrow, even when the ground beneath it is anything but. This prevents both scalping the soil and, just as importantly, leaving valuable hay behind.
The Batrake is a specialized tool. If your fields are as flat as a tabletop, its advanced suspension might be overkill. But for anyone who has fought to rake a hilly field without gouging the earth, its ability to adapt to topography is a game-changer.
Pequea HR1140: Versatility and Hydraulic Drive
The Pequea HR1140 introduces a different level of control by using hydraulic motors to spin the rake baskets, rather than relying on ground contact. This is a significant upgrade. With a ground-drive rake, your tine speed is directly tied to your tractor speed. With a hydraulic drive, they are independent.
This separation allows you to tailor your approach to the crop. In light, thin hay, you can maintain a good ground speed while keeping the tine speed lower to handle the crop gently. In heavy, wet hay, you can slow the tractor to a crawl while keeping the tine speed high to power through the thick crop and build a well-formed windrow.
This level of precision comes at a cost, both in upfront price and in hydraulic demand from your tractor. However, for the small-acreage farmer managing a variety of crops like delicate alfalfa and heavy grass hay, the versatility of a hydraulic drive rake offers unparalleled control over windrow formation and hay quality.
Vermeer VR820: Durability for the Long Haul
Vermeer has a well-earned reputation for building tough, long-lasting hay equipment, and the VR820 is no exception. This rake is engineered for durability, from its heavy-gauge steel frame to its rubber-mounted tines that flex to absorb shock and reduce breakage. This is an investment in minimizing downtime.
Every component feels overbuilt in the best way possible. The pivot points are robust, the wheel hubs are heavy-duty, and the overall construction is designed to withstand the rigors of season after season of use. This isn’t the lightest or cheapest rake on the market, but it’s built for those who are tired of welding and fixing lesser machines.
Choosing the Vermeer is a long-term decision. It’s for the farmer who plans to be making hay for the next decade or more and wants a machine that will be right there with them. It provides peace of mind that when the hay is down and ready, your rake will be too.
Maintaining Your Rake for Years of Hay Making
A hay rake is a simple machine, but neglect will shorten its life faster than anything. A few key habits will keep it running smoothly when you need it most. Your grease gun is your most important maintenance tool. Before each use, hit every zerk fitting on the pivot points, wheel arms, and hubs.
Keep a close eye on your tines. Walk around the rake before you head to the field and look for any that are bent, broken, or missing. A single broken tine can get picked up by the baler, causing significant and expensive damage. Replacing a $5 tine is much better than repairing a knotter.
Don’t forget the hydraulics. At the start of the season, inspect every hydraulic hose for cracks, abrasions, or leaks. A blown hose in the middle of a field is a mess and a major delay. Finally, when the season is over, store your rake under cover. Protecting it from sun, rain, and snow will prevent rust and dramatically extend its working life.
Ultimately, the best hydraulic rake is the one that fits your tractor, your terrain, and your operational pace. By investing in the right machine and committing to its basic upkeep, you’re not just buying a piece of steel; you’re buying smoother, faster, and more successful hay days for years to come.
