{"id":311,"date":"2026-04-28T07:35:32","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T07:35:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/baler-hay.com\/?p=311"},"modified":"2026-04-28T07:40:21","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T07:40:21","slug":"wheel-rake-vs-rotary-rake-vs-twin-bar-rake-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/baler-hay.com\/es\/solicitud\/wheel-rake-vs-rotary-rake-vs-twin-bar-rake-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Rastrillo de ruedas vs. Rastrillo rotativo vs. Rastrillo de doble barra: \u00bfQu\u00e9 hilera se adapta mejor a su empacadora?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The hay rake is often the most underestimated machine in the haymaking lineup \u2014 quietly responsible for windrow shape, drying speed, soil contamination, and ultimately the quality of every bale you produce. Many growers will spend months researching their baler and minutes choosing their rake, then wonder why their bales come out barrel-shaped or full of ash.<\/p>\n

The rake matters because the windrow shape, density, and consistency are determined entirely by the rake<\/strong>. A poor windrow makes a perfect baler look like a bad one. A good windrow makes a mid-range baler look like a premium one.<\/p>\n

This guide compares the three main types of hay rake \u2014 wheel rakes<\/strong>, rotary rakes<\/strong>, and twin bar (basket) rakes<\/strong> \u2014 on the metrics that actually affect bale quality and operating cost.<\/p>\n

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Why your rake choice matters more than you think<\/h2>\n

Before we get into the comparison, two pieces of context worth carrying with you:<\/p>\n

1. Bale quality starts with the rake.<\/strong> A baler can only work with what’s fed into it. If the windrow is uneven, narrow on one side, or full of dirt, the bale you produce will reflect that. A common observation among experienced custom balers: the difference between a $30,000 baler and a $90,000 baler at the bale level is smaller than the difference between a poorly-set rake and a well-set one.<\/p>\n

2. Ash content is silent profit-killer.<\/strong> Every gram of soil raked into your hay is a gram you can’t sell. Multiple university studies have shown that wheel rakes \u2014 because they drive their tines along the ground \u2014 typically deliver hay with higher ash content than rotary or basket rakes that lift the crop without ground contact. For premium hay markets (export oaten hay, dairy lucerne, horse hay), the price penalty for high ash is significant.<\/p>\n

With those two principles in mind, here are the three main rake types.<\/p>\n

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Quick comparison table<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/th>\nWheel rake<\/th>\nRotary rake<\/th>\nTwin bar \/ basket rake<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Drive type<\/td>\nGround-driven (no PTO)<\/td>\nPTO \/ hydraulic<\/td>\nHydraulic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Working width<\/td>\n3\u201313 m<\/td>\n3.5\u20139 m (single rotor); up to 14 m (twin rotor)<\/td>\n6\u201314 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Field speed<\/td>\n8\u201314 km\/h<\/td>\n5\u201310 km\/h<\/td>\n8\u201313 km\/h<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Windrow shape<\/td>\nMounded \/ dome<\/td>\nFluffy, rounded<\/td>\nBoxy, square-shouldered<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Soil contamination (ash)<\/td>\nHigher<\/td>\nLower<\/td>\nLower<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Leaf loss in dry crop<\/td>\nHigher<\/td>\nLower<\/td>\nLower<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wet crop handling<\/td>\nLimited<\/td>\nGood<\/td>\nExcellent<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maintenance demand<\/td>\nLow<\/td>\nModerate<\/td>\nLow to moderate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Purchase cost<\/td>\nLowest<\/td>\nHighest<\/td>\nMid to high<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Best for<\/td>\nLarge clean fields, dry hay<\/td>\nHilly ground, heavy \/ wet crop<\/td>\nBig acreage, premium hay<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Now to the detail.<\/p>\n

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Wheel rake: simple, fast, and cheap to run<\/h2>\n

A wheel rake uses a series of star-shaped wheels (typically 8 to 24, depending on the working width) angled to the direction of travel. As the rake moves forward, the wheels spin from contact with the ground, and the curved spring-steel tines on each wheel sweep cut hay sideways toward the centre, building a windrow.<\/p>\n

Drive type:<\/strong> Ground-driven. No PTO connection, often no hydraulics needed.<\/p>\n

Working width:<\/strong> Compact wheel rakes start around 3 m. High-capacity carted wheel rakes can reach 12\u201314 m, raking many windrows or large fields in a single pass.<\/p>\n

Strengths<\/h3>\n
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  • Lowest purchase price<\/strong> of any rake type. A basic wheel rake costs a fraction of a comparable rotary or basket model.<\/li>\n
  • Simple maintenance.<\/strong> No PTO, no gearbox, no hydraulic motors on each wheel. Worn tines and bearings are the main service items.<\/li>\n
  • Fast field speed.<\/strong> 8\u201314 km\/h is comfortable in good crop, faster than any rotary rake.<\/li>\n
  • No tractor PTO needed<\/strong> \u2014 useful for older or smaller tractors.<\/li>\n
  • High capacity.<\/strong> A high-capacity wheel rake can match the throughput of much more expensive machines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Weaknesses<\/h3>\n
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    • Soil contamination (ash content).<\/strong> The tines drag on the ground to drive the wheels. In sandy, dusty, or volcanic soils, this picks up grit and pulls it into the windrow. Multiple field studies have shown wheel rakes consistently deliver higher post-rake ash content than rotary or basket alternatives.<\/li>\n
    • Inconsistent windrow shape.<\/strong> Because wheel speed depends on ground speed and ground contact, the windrow varies with the operator’s speed and the wheel’s tension setting. Turns and corners produce especially variable windrows.<\/li>\n
    • “Roping.”<\/strong> Excessive tine-on-crop action can roll the windrow into a tight rope, slowing dry-down and creating wet spots inside the baled hay.<\/li>\n
    • Limited in wet crop.<\/strong> Heavy, wet material can drag the wheels off pace and bunch in the windrow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      When to choose a wheel rake<\/h3>\n

      Wheel rakes are the right answer for:<\/p>\n

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      • Large, level, relatively clean fields<\/li>\n
      • Dry hay (post-tedding) where ash contamination is the main concern but soil is firm and clean<\/li>\n
      • Operations on a budget where rake purchase price is a major consideration<\/li>\n
      • Older tractors without hydraulic remotes or rear PTO availability<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        If your soil is firm and not particularly dusty, and you operate on flat ground with consistent crop, a wheel rake will pay for itself many times over. If your soil is sandy or volcanic, look at the alternatives.<\/p>\n

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        Rotary rake: clean, gentle, and the choice for premium hay<\/h2>\n

        A rotary rake uses one or two large powered rotors mounted on a horizontal frame. Each rotor carries a circular array of tine arms (typically 8\u201314 arms per rotor), and as the rotor spins, the tines sweep cut crop sideways, depositing it into a windrow on one side of the machine. The tines do not contact the ground \u2014 height is set by gauge wheels, and the lifting action is gentle.<\/p>\n

        Drive type:<\/strong> PTO-driven (mechanical) on most models; some larger machines use hydraulic rotor drive.<\/p>\n

        Working width:<\/strong> Single rotor models typically 3.5\u20134.5 m. Twin rotor models 6\u20139 m. Some four-rotor models reach 14 m for very large operations.<\/p>\n

        Strengths<\/h3>\n