Re: RC: hauling hay to rides

[Onefarmgirl@aol.com]

Sheesh, but you folks out there are a great resource!   It's such a wonder to 
be able to toss out a question, and in 48 hours get dozens of replies.   

The problem I brought up was obviously a common one so thought I would 
summarize responses.

1.  Bale bag  (in the dressing room) - Should have mentioned I have one and 
agree about their usefulness, though as some folks noted many of them rip at 
the handles pretty easily.   They also take up a fair bit of space (the hay 
in the dsg room, not the bag).   Maryben's suggestion for putting it on 
"upside down" was a good one.  Also several people mentioned using them even 
in the hay is stored outside the trailer, to keep road grunge off of it.   
BTW, I love the one I have with the wheels.

2.  Store upright in the collapsible tack area - good idea from Ruth Abair.   
Of course then you don't have room there for tack, but this does have the 
benefit of keeping the hay somewhere you can just grab it when you get there, 
and keeping all the mess in the back of the trailer, not the front.

3.  Roof of trailer - lots of folks mentioned that this was good except for 
the hassle of getting the bales up there.    Several people mentioned wishing 
they had a pulley/arm arrangement.  For all of you, check out Karen's web 
page for her great photos of same.   If you have a roof rack, this looks like 
a simple, inexpensive way to go - should have known Karen would have this 
problem licked  :-)

4.  Outside trailer but not on roof - this was what I originally asked about 
and it turns out several people are already doing it (dang - here I thought I 
thought it up!)    Numerous people mentioned storing hay on the trailer 
tongue, though there were issues about the hay picking up road dirt from the 
truck tires, and about weight distribution.   In addition, a few people 
described systems for putting the hay on the wheel wells, strapping it to the 
sides (like some do with portable corral panels).

So, lots of options, and their various pros and cons.  
Thanks, ridecampers!

pat