6 Best Bale Spears For Compact Tractors For Small Acreage
Find the right bale spear for your compact tractor. Our guide reviews the 6 best options for small acreage, comparing capacity, durability, and value.
Moving a 900-pound round bale with a compact tractor is a game of leverage and stability. Without the right tool, it’s a frustrating, and potentially dangerous, chore. The right bale spear transforms this task from a major headache into a simple, five-minute job, freeing up your time for the hundred other things that need doing.
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Choosing the Right Spear for Your Small Farm
The first question isn’t which brand is best, but what type of spear your operation needs. The decision boils down to how you plan to use it. Are you just moving a few bales from the delivery spot to a pasture feeder, or are you trying to stack them two-high in a tight barn?
A rear-mounted, 3-point hitch spear is the simplest and most affordable option. It lifts the bale using the tractor’s rear hydraulics, effectively turning your tractor into a giant forklift that you drive backward. It’s perfect for straightforward transport. A front-end loader spear, typically using a skid steer quick-attach plate, offers far more versatility. You get better visibility and the ability to lift and stack bales precisely.
The tradeoff is stability and capacity. A heavy bale on the front-end loader can make a small tractor feel tippy, especially on uneven ground, and puts significant stress on the front axle. A 3-point spear, on the other hand, places the weight on the stronger rear axle, acting as a great counterweight if you’re doing other loader work.
Titan 3-Point Spear: A Versatile Workhorse
For many small farms, a 3-point spear is all you’ll ever need, and the Titan Attachments model is a popular starting point. It’s a no-frills design that simply works. The A-frame structure is robust, and the main spear is typically heat-treated for strength, which is crucial for preventing bending over time.
This spear shines in its simplicity. You back up to the bale, lift with the 3-point hitch, and drive away. It’s an ideal tool for moving bales from a storage line to a feeder ring. Because the weight is on the back, it leaves your loader free for other tasks, like scraping out the feeding area or carrying a bucket of tools.
The limitation, of course, is maneuverability. You’re always looking over your shoulder, and precisely placing a bale in a tight spot is a real challenge. Stacking is completely off the table. But for its intended purpose—simple, reliable transport—it’s one of the best values out there.
Worksaver SSBS-49S: For Skid Steer Mounts
If your compact tractor has a front-end loader with a universal skid steer quick-attach (SSQA) mount, a loader-mounted spear is a huge upgrade in functionality. Worksaver is a well-respected name in farm implements, and their SSBS-49S is a testament to their reputation for building tough, reliable gear. The frame is heavy-duty, and the spear is designed to handle the daily abuse of farm work.
The advantage here is precision. You can see exactly what you’re doing, making it easy to pick up bales cleanly and place them precisely in a feeder or stack them in a barn. This ability to stack bales vertically can be a massive space-saver in a small hay shed. It turns your tractor into a much more capable material handler.
Just be realistic about your tractor’s capabilities. Know your loader’s lift capacity and do not exceed it. A 1,000-pound bale hanging off the front of a 25-horsepower tractor demands slow, careful operation, especially on slopes. The Worksaver spear can handle it, but you need to make sure your tractor can, too.
CountyLine Single Spear: The Affordable Choice
Let’s be honest: sometimes "good enough" is the perfect solution for a small farm. The CountyLine spear, available at Tractor Supply, is the definition of a practical, budget-friendly tool. It does the one job it’s designed for—moving a single round bale—without the price tag of a premium brand.
For the hobby farmer who only needs to move a dozen bales a year, this is often the smartest choice. Why spend double the money on a heavier-duty spear that will see only a few hours of use each season? The CountyLine spear is more than capable of handling standard 4×4 or 4×5 round bales and will serve a small operation well for years.
The steel might not be as thick as an EA or Worksaver model, and the finish may not be as durable, but it functions perfectly. It’s a prime example of matching the tool to the task. Don’t let brand snobbery convince you that you need an overbuilt implement for occasional work.
EA Compact Bale Spear: Built for Durability
Everything Attachments (EA) has built a loyal following by engineering implements specifically for the compact tractor market. Their compact bale spear is a perfect example of their philosophy: overbuilt, well-designed, and made to last. They use high-quality American steel and focus on details like clean welds and a durable powder-coat finish.
This spear is for the farmer who values a "buy it once, cry it once" approach to tools. If you’re moving bales every week, handling wet, heavy "baleage," or just want the peace of mind that comes with exceptionally durable equipment, the EA spear is a fantastic investment. It’s designed to withstand the torque and stress that a powerful compact tractor can exert.
You’re paying a premium for this quality, but that cost translates into reliability. A bent spear or a cracked frame can shut down your feeding operation. Investing in a tool like the EA spear is an investment in avoiding downtime and frustration.
Land Pride BS10: A Simple, Reliable Option
Land Pride is a brand you’ll often find at tractor dealerships, and for good reason. They produce solid, dependable implements that are a step up from budget options. The BS10 is their basic 3-point single spear, and it embodies the Land Pride ethos: it’s not flashy, but it’s built to do its job reliably for a long, long time.
Think of the BS10 as a middle ground. It offers a noticeable increase in build quality over store brands, with stronger tubing and a more robust design, but without the premium price of a heavily overbuilt brand. It’s a great choice for someone who uses their spear regularly but doesn’t need the absolute heaviest-duty model available.
The biggest advantage is often dealer support. Buying from your local dealer means you have a resource for parts and service. For many, that convenience and peace of mind are well worth a small price difference compared to online-only retailers.
Titan Double Spear: For Enhanced Stability
While a single spear works for most situations, a double spear attachment offers one major advantage: bale stability. The Titan Double Spear, available for both 3-point and loader mounts, adds two smaller stabilizer spears below the main one. This simple addition prevents the round bale from spinning on the spear.
This feature is invaluable when you’re working on uneven ground or hillsides. A spinning bale can shift its center of gravity unexpectedly, making the tractor less stable. The stabilizer spears lock it in place. This also makes it much easier to push a bale snugly into a hay ring or stack it flush against another bale, as it won’t rotate as you apply pressure.
The only minor drawback is that it requires a bit more care to line up two or three spears with the center of the bale. However, after a few uses, it becomes second nature. For anyone concerned with safety on varied terrain, the enhanced stability is a significant and worthwhile upgrade.
Key Factors: Spear Length, Mount, and Capacity
When you finally make your choice, keep these three things at the forefront. They matter more than the color or brand name.
- Spear Length: The main spear should penetrate about two-thirds of the way through the bale. For typical 4-foot or 5-foot diameter bales, a spear between 43 and 49 inches is the standard. Too short, and the bale can fall off; too long, and it can poke out the other side, creating a hazard.
- Mount: This is the most critical decision. The 3-point hitch mount is simple, affordable, and great for basic transport. The front-end loader (SSQA) mount provides superior visibility, precision, and stacking ability but requires a tractor with adequate lift capacity.
- Capacity: Every spear has a weight rating, and so does your tractor’s lift system. Always know the weight of your bales and the lift capacity of your tractor. Overloading your loader is the fastest way to cause expensive damage or have a serious accident. Safety is always the top priority.
Ultimately, the best bale spear is the one that safely and efficiently fits your specific workflow. Whether it’s a simple 3-point model for moving a few bales a year or a heavy-duty loader mount for daily stacking, choosing the right tool makes a fundamental chore easier. It’s a small investment that pays you back every single time you start your tractor.
