5 Best Vermeer Wheel Rakes For 5 Acres That Old Farmers Swear By

There’s a narrow window between when your hay is perfectly cured by the sun and when the afternoon storm rolls in. In that moment, a reliable wheel rake isn’t a luxury; it’s the tool that saves your entire crop. For small-acreage farmers, especially those of us working with older, simpler equipment, choosing the right rake is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your haying season. This is why you see so many old-timers running Vermeer—they build machines that understand the value of your time.

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Why Old-Timers Trust Vermeer for Raking Hay

When you’ve been farming for 50 years, you develop a deep appreciation for things that just work. Old-timers trust Vermeer because their rakes are built on a foundation of simplicity and durability. There are no complicated electronics or finicky sensors to fail in the middle of a field. The designs are straightforward, relying on heavy steel and sound engineering.

This philosophy means that when something does go wrong, you can usually fix it yourself with a wrench and a bit of common sense. Parts are widely available, and the mechanical principles are easy to understand. For a hobby farmer with five acres, this is critical. You don’t have a dedicated mechanic or a fleet of backup machines.

The trust comes from a shared understanding of what matters: getting the hay raked cleanly and efficiently without breakdowns. A Vermeer rake is an investment in predictability. You know that when you hook it up, it’s going to do its job, letting you focus on the weather, the baler, and everything else that demands your attention.

Vermeer WR20: The Simple, Tough-as-Nails Classic

If you could distill the essence of a reliable farm tool into one machine, it would be the Vermeer WR20. This 8-wheel rake is the definition of a workhorse. It’s a ground-driven, pull-type rake, which means there are no hydraulics to worry about. The forward motion of your tractor spins the wheels, and that’s it.

For a 5-acre plot, the 8-wheel configuration is perfect. It gives you a wide enough pass to be efficient without being too cumbersome for tight corners or navigating around trees. You raise and lower the rake with a simple hand-crank jack, a design that is virtually foolproof. It’s a testament to the idea that the simplest solution is often the best one.

The real beauty of the WR20 is its sheer toughness. The frame is overbuilt, the wheel arms are stout, and there are very few moving parts to wear out. This is the rake you buy if your top priority is rock-solid reliability and you don’t mind hopping off the tractor to make adjustments. It’s a machine built to be used, fixed, and passed down.

Vermeer VR820: Modern Features for Small Acreage

The VR820 takes the classic 8-wheel design and adds a crucial modern convenience: hydraulic lift. This might not sound like a big deal, but after a few hours of making tight turns at the end of rows, you’ll understand. Instead of stopping and cranking a jack, you just pull a lever on your tractor to lift the rake wheels for a clean turn.

This single feature transforms the raking experience. It speeds up your workflow and reduces operator fatigue significantly. For a hobby farmer squeezing haying into a weekend, saving that time and energy is invaluable. The VR820 still maintains the core simplicity of a ground-driven rake, but the hydraulic lift makes it a much more user-friendly machine.

Of course, this convenience comes with a tradeoff. You’re adding a hydraulic cylinder and hoses, which are potential points of failure. However, these components are standard and easy to replace. For most small-scale operators, the massive improvement in efficiency is well worth the slight increase in mechanical complexity.

Vermeer WR22: Extra Width for Faster Field Clearing

At first glance, a 10-wheel rake like the WR22 might seem like overkill for just five acres. But experienced farmers know that haying is always a race against the clock. Those two extra wheels make a significant difference in how quickly you can get your field raked and ready for the baler.

The wider pass means fewer trips across the field. This saves fuel, reduces soil compaction, and, most importantly, cuts down on your seat time. If you have a square, open field, the WR22 can easily shave 20-30% off your raking time compared to an 8-wheel model. When you see storm clouds building on the horizon, that time is priceless.

The consideration here is your tractor and your field layout. The WR22 is heavier and requires a bit more horsepower to pull comfortably. It’s also less nimble in small, irregularly shaped paddocks. If your fields are tight, stick with an 8-wheel rake. But if you have the room, the WR22 is a fantastic way to boost your efficiency.

Vermeer WR-V8: Top Value in a Used Machine

You don’t always need the latest and greatest machine, especially on a small farm. The Vermeer WR-V8 is an older V-rake model that represents one of the best values on the used market. These rakes were built incredibly well, and you can often find them in excellent working condition for a fraction of the cost of a new one.

A V-rake gathers hay from two swaths into a single windrow in the center. This design is inherently more efficient than a side-delivery rake, effectively cutting your raking time in half. The WR-V8 is a simple, ground-driven V-rake that offers this high-efficiency design without the complexity of newer hydraulic models.

When looking at a used WR-V8, the key things to check are the frame for any cracks, the wheel bearings for excessive play, and the condition of the tines. Most wear parts are still readily available. For the budget-conscious hobby farmer, a well-maintained WR-V8 is arguably the smartest way to get maximum raking performance without breaking the bank.

Vermeer VR1022: Maximum Efficiency on a Small Scale

For the hobby farmer who wants the best tool for the job and has the tractor to support it, the Vermeer VR1022 is the top of the line for small-acreage haying. This is a modern, 10-wheel V-rake with full hydraulic controls. It combines the speed of a V-rake with the convenience of hydraulic lift and width adjustment.

The VR1022 allows you to rake a massive amount of hay quickly and form perfect, fluffy windrows that are ideal for baling. The ability to adjust the raking width from the tractor seat lets you tailor the windrow size to match your hay’s moisture content and your baler’s capacity. This level of control can lead to better quality hay and a smoother baling process.

Let’s be clear: this is a premium machine for a 5-acre operation. It’s the most expensive option and requires a tractor with at least two sets of hydraulic remotes. But if your time is your most limited resource and you want to optimize every step of your haying process, the VR1022 delivers unmatched performance and efficiency.

Key Features: Ground Pressure and Windrow Adjustment

Two simple adjustments separate a great raking job from a terrible one: ground pressure and windrow width. Getting these right is crucial for making clean, high-quality hay, and Vermeer makes it easy. Ground pressure determines how much weight the rake wheels put on the ground. Too much pressure, and you’ll be scraping dirt and ash into your hay, which is terrible for your animals. Too little, and you’ll leave valuable hay behind in the field.

Vermeer rakes typically use a simple adjustable spring system on each rake arm. You can quickly add or release tension to get the wheels floating just right over the surface. The goal is to have the tines gently sweep the hay without aggressively digging into the soil. Taking five minutes to set this correctly before you start pays huge dividends.

Windrow adjustment is just as important. This is usually done by changing the angle of the main rake beam. A wider angle creates a wide, airy windrow that’s perfect for letting damp hay dry a little more. A narrower angle builds a tighter, taller windrow that’s easier for your baler to pick up cleanly. Matching your windrow to the conditions and your baler is a fundamental skill of good haymaking.

Simple Maintenance to Keep Your Vermeer Running

The longevity of a Vermeer rake comes down to a few basic maintenance tasks. The single most important thing you can do is grease the wheel bearings. These bearings are constantly spinning under load, and a few pumps from a grease gun before each use will keep them running smoothly for decades. It’s the cheapest insurance you can buy.

Rake tines are designed to be a weak point—they break so that more expensive parts don’t. Always keep a box of spare tines and the necessary clips or bolts on hand. Replacing a tine in the field takes less than five minutes with a couple of wrenches and saves you from raking with a gap in your wheel.

Before heading out, do a quick walk-around inspection. Check the air pressure in the transport tires, look for any loose nuts or bolts on the frame, and make sure the safety chains and lighting (if equipped) are in good shape. This simple pre-flight check can catch a small problem before it becomes a day-ending breakdown in the middle of the field.

Ultimately, the best Vermeer rake for your five acres depends on your budget, your tractor, and how you value your time. Whether you choose a simple, bulletproof classic like the WR20 or a highly efficient V-rake, you’re investing in a piece of equipment built with the realities of farming in mind. A good rake won’t make the sun shine, but it will ensure you’re ready when it does.