Wheel Rake vs. Belt Rake vs. Rotary Rake: Choose the Right Hay-Rake Type for Your Tractor and Bale System

Hay rake selection is the decision most small-farm operators make last and regret first. Most buyers focus on mower and baler choice, then purchase whatever rake fits the budget at the end. The result is a rake that either fails to match the baler’s pickup width, bounces hay off the windrow on hilly ground, or slows acreage throughput to the point where the hay is over-dry before baling is finished.

This guide provides constraint-based type selection logic — not product picks. The three rake types relevant to small-farm operations (wheel, belt, and rotary) each solve a different combination of constraints. Picking the wrong type costs hay yield and time even with the right tractor. For specific product comparisons by model, see the best hay rakes for small farms guide. For baler selection downstream, see best round balers for small farms and best small square balers for small farms.

The Four Constraints That Determine Rake Type

Before choosing a rake type, establish four operating parameters from the tractor operator’s manual and from the baler’s specification sheet:

Tractor HP and Drawbar Force — Rakes are passive implements: no PTO shaft, no hydraulic motors. They are pulled. Wheel rakes demand high ground speed (8–12 mph) and moderate drawbar force to keep the ground-driven wheels spinning consistently. Belt rakes demand slower speed (4–6 mph) but sustained drawbar force through the drag of the belt conveyor mechanism. Rotary rakes fall between, at 4–8 mph. Per Land Pride and Kuhn product manuals, a tractor below 25 HP should not attempt belt or rotary rakes wider than 10 feet, as the drawbar load at operating speed exceeds the tractor’s stable pulling capacity in soft or wet field conditions.
Acreage Per Day Target — Per calculated ground-speed and swath-width estimates derived from manufacturer operating parameters: a 54-inch wheel rake at 10 mph covers roughly 5–7 acres per hour in flat conditions; a 48-inch belt rake at 5 mph covers roughly 2–3 acres per hour. If the operation runs 15+ acres of hay per cutting, a belt rake alone is not practical — either a wheel rake or a wider rotary rake is needed. Operator intent drives equipment choice before budget does.
Bale Type and Windrow Width — This constraint eliminates the most type choices. Windrow width must match the baler’s pickup head width within roughly 6 inches. Per John Deere round baler operator’s manuals, round baler pickup heads range from 4.5 to 6 feet wide and accommodate windrows in that range. Per New Holland small square baler specifications, small square baler pickups are 4 to 4.5 feet wide and require a windrow of 4 feet or better to feed consistently. Wheel rakes typically produce windrows of 3 to 4 feet; belt rakes produce 4.5 to 6 feet; rotary rakes produce 4 to 6 feet depending on configuration. A mismatch between rake output width and baler pickup width leads to hay loss on every pass.
Ground Condition and Terrain — Per AGCO hay tools documentation and NRCS terrain roughness classifications, terrain has more influence on rake type than tractor size does. Wheel rakes are rigid and bounce on uneven or rolling ground; each bounce drops hay into the stubble rather than the windrow, resulting in measurable field loss. Belt rakes float and adapt to ground contours; rotary rakes are the most forgiving of rough terrain and also perform well in short crop or irregular conditions. Rolling hills favor belt or rotary; flat, smooth fields favor wheel.

Rake Type Comparison Table

The following table summarizes the operating parameters for each rake type, based on Land Pride, H&S Manufacturing, Kuhn, and Vermeer product documentation and operator’s manuals.

Rake Type	Acreage Target	Tractor HP Range	Ground Speed	Windrow Width	Terrain Fit	Bale Type Match
Wheel (4–8 wheel)	8–20 acres/day	25–50 HP	8–12 mph	3–4 feet	Flat/smooth	Round or large square
Belt (belt-conveyor)	3–8 acres/day	30–60 HP	4–6 mph	4.5–6 feet	Moderate hills OK	All bale types
Rotary (wide-spread)	5–15 acres/day	35–75 HP	4–8 mph	4–6 feet	Rough/hilly	All bale types

Reading the table: Acreage targets assume average field conditions. Wet grass, short regrowth, or rolling terrain will reduce throughput by 20–40% for wheel rakes and 10–20% for belt and rotary rakes. HP ranges represent the practical minimum for operating the implement at its rated ground speed without stressing the tractor’s drawbar capacity on rolling terrain.

Bale Type and Ground Condition Modifiers

HP class and acreage targets set the outer limits. The baler and terrain narrow the choice to one or two viable types.

Small Square Baler (Pickup Width 4–4.5 Feet)

Small square balers require a windrow of at least 4 feet wide to feed the pickup head consistently. Per New Holland small square baler specifications, a 3-foot windrow causes the pickup to miss hay at both edges, resulting in 10–15% yield loss per pass and frequent baler plugging.

Wheel rakes — which produce windrows of 3 to 3.5 feet on a standard 4-wheel configuration — are undersized for small square baler operations without two-pass consolidation. Consolidating two rake passes doubles field labor per acre and partially defeats the time savings of a raking implement.

Belt rakes and rotary rakes produce windrows in the 4–6 foot range, which aligns with small square baler pickup requirements. For small square baler operators, belt and rotary rake are the correct types; wheel rake is a workaround, not a solution.

Round Baler (Pickup Width 4.5–6 Feet)

Round balers are the most forgiving of windrow width variation. Per John Deere round baler operator’s manuals, windrows between 3 and 6 feet are generally acceptable, though consistency matters more than width. An uneven or lumpy windrow from a bouncy rake causes uneven bale density and inconsistent bale weight.

Wheel rakes are workable for round baler operations if the field is flat and the acreage volume is high (15+ acres per cutting justifies the throughput speed of a wheel rake). Belt rakes offer higher consistency for operators who prefer uniform bale density over raw throughput speed. Rotary rakes are the most uniform output but require the most tractor HP.

Large Square Baler (Pickup Width 5–7 Feet)

Large square balers require the widest windrows. Per AGCO large square baler documentation, a pickup head running a 3-foot windrow will pull hay unevenly and produce bales with soft centers and high edge density. Rotary or belt rake is the minimum standard; wheel rake is undersized for large square baler operations at any configuration.

Flat and Smooth Fields

On flat fields with uniform regrowth, wheel rakes maximize ground speed and acreage per hour. The lack of terrain variation removes the primary disadvantage of a rigid rake head. In this scenario, a wheel rake delivers more hay per hour than either alternative, at lower initial cost.

Rolling or Uneven Terrain

Per AGCO hay tools guidance and third-party operator reports in agricultural extension publications, a wheel rake on rolling terrain loses an estimated 10–20% of raked hay through bounce. Each time the rake head lifts off the ground surface to clear a ridge or hollow, hay that was in the windrow path drops back into the stubble.

Belt rakes float on uneven terrain. The belt conveyor maintains contact with the ground surface rather than bouncing off it, recovering hay consistently across slope changes. Rotary rakes are similarly forgiving of terrain variation and also perform well in short or thin-standing hay that a wheel rake would skip.

For rolling or uneven terrain — which describes the majority of small-acreage hay ground — belt or rotary rake is the appropriate type.

Muddy or Wet Field Conditions

Wheel rakes become difficult to operate in soft or wet field conditions. The ground-driven wheels lose traction and spin inconsistently, causing uneven windrow formation. In soft conditions, the wheel axles can also sink, increasing soil disturbance and introducing dirt into the windrow.

Belt and rotary rakes have lighter ground contact pressure and perform better in wet or recently rained-on fields. Per Land Pride’s operating guidance, raking when the field is too wet causes compaction and soil contamination in the windrow regardless of rake type — but when raking must occur near the margins of acceptable moisture, belt and rotary rake are less damaging than wheel.

Who Should NOT Buy This Type

The following combinations are documented failure modes based on manufacturer specifications and published agricultural guidance:

Do not buy a 4-wheel rake for a small-square-baler operation. A 4-wheel rake produces a 3 to 3.5-foot windrow. A small-square baler pickup head is 4 to 4.5 feet wide. Per New Holland and Case IH small square baler specifications, the baler pickup misses hay on both edges of a narrow windrow, resulting in 10–15% yield loss per pass and increased baler plugging frequency. The wheel rake is not compatible with small square baler operations without adding a consolidating pass, which doubles labor time. Either step up to a belt or rotary rake, or run two adjacent wheel rake windrows and consolidate them — but budget that additional pass into the time and fuel cost.

Do not pair a wheel rake with hilly or uneven pasture. Wheel rakes bounce on slope changes and terrain irregularities; each bounce deposits hay back into the stubble rather than the windrow. On a 10-acre hillside field with moderate rolling, field loss estimates from agricultural extension publications suggest 15–20% of raked hay may be left behind by a wheel rake operating at full ground speed. A belt or rotary rake floats and adapts to terrain, recovering 90%+ of dropped hay. Terrain choice matters more than tractor size in rake type selection.

Do not assume “faster ground speed = more hay capacity.” A 45 HP tractor pulling an 8-wheel wheel rake at 10 mph covers acreage quickly — but only if the field is flat and the regrowth is uniform. Most small farms have rolling, textured, or mixed ground. On variable terrain, the wheel rake’s throughput advantage evaporates because hay loss per acre increases with ground speed on uneven surfaces. A 4–6 mph belt rake operation on variable terrain consistently ends with more hay in the windrow than a 10 mph wheel rake run that bounces across ridges and hollows.

Do not buy a wheel rake without verifying bale-type windrow compatibility first. If the baler pickup head width is known (check the baler operator’s manual or specification sheet), verify the rake’s windrow output width matches it before purchasing. Per H&S Manufacturing and Sitrex product documentation, standard 4-wheel rakes produce 3 to 4-foot windrows and standard 6-wheel rakes produce 4 to 5-foot windrows. If the budget limits options to a wheel rake but the baler requires a 4.5-foot windrow minimum, the combination will produce yield loss on every pass until the rake or baler is replaced.

What to Look at Next

Once the rake type is established, apply the same constraint logic to the implement match-up decision across the rest of the hay system:

Best Hay Rakes for Small Farms — specific model comparisons for wheel rakes and rotary rakes by acreage and tractor compatibility
Best Round Balers for Small Farms — pickup head width, bale size, and HP requirements for round baler selection
Best Small Square Balers for Small Farms — pickup width specifications and throughput for small square baler selection
What Size Box Blade for Your Tractor — same constraint-selector methodology applied to ground-leveling implements
How to Match Implements to Your Compact Tractor — the master constraint-selector framework covering HP, hitch category, lift capacity, and implement-type logic

FAQ

What is the difference between a wheel rake and a belt rake?

A wheel rake uses a series of ground-driven tined wheels arranged in a fan or V configuration; the wheels spin as the tractor moves forward, pulling hay into a windrow behind the center of the rake. A belt rake uses a horizontal belt conveyor mechanism to move hay from the outer edges inward, depositing it in a wider, fluffier windrow. Per manufacturer documentation, wheel rakes operate at 8–12 mph and produce narrow windrows (3–4 feet); belt rakes operate at 4–6 mph and produce wider windrows (4.5–6 feet). Wheel rakes are faster on flat ground; belt rakes are more compatible with small square balers and perform better on uneven terrain.

What size hay rake for a 40 HP tractor?

A 40 HP tractor is compatible with a 6 to 8-wheel wheel rake (covering 12–18 feet of raking width), a standard belt rake up to 15 feet wide, or a mid-size rotary rake up to 15 feet. Per Land Pride and H&S product documentation for the 35–50 HP class, the practical limit is a rake that maintains operating ground speed without pulling the tractor below comfortable engine load at rated RPM. For a 40 HP compact, a 6-wheel rake or a 12-foot belt rake is a well-matched range. Beyond 18-foot raking width, the drawbar load in wet or heavy crop exceeds the tractor’s comfortable operating zone.

Can I use a wheel rake with a small-square baler?

Not efficiently with a standard 4-wheel configuration. A 4-wheel wheel rake produces a 3 to 3.5-foot windrow; a small square baler requires 4 to 4.5 feet. Per New Holland and Case IH small square baler specs, the mismatch causes yield loss and baler plugging. A 6-wheel rake widens the windrow to approximately 4–5 feet, which is marginally compatible. The practical solution for small square baler operations is a belt rake or rotary rake that produces a 4.5-foot minimum windrow width. If a wheel rake is already owned, two adjacent windrows can be consolidated into one baler-width windrow — but that doubles labor on every field.

How fast should I operate a hay rake?

Ground speed depends on rake type and terrain. Per Land Pride and H&S operator’s manuals: wheel rakes are designed to run at 8–12 mph on flat to gently rolling ground; at speeds below 7 mph, wheel traction drops and windrow formation becomes inconsistent. Belt rakes are designed to run at 4–6 mph; higher speeds cause hay to skip over the belt. Rotary rakes typically operate at 4–8 mph depending on crop volume and terrain. Reducing ground speed is required on slopes and in wet or heavy crop regardless of rake type.

What is a rotary rake and when is it needed?

A rotary rake uses one or more large rotor heads with outward-sweeping tines to gather hay and deposit it in a wide, loose windrow. Per Kuhn GA series product documentation, rotary rakes are the widest-windrow option (up to 20+ feet per head on large machines) and perform best on uneven, rough, or short-crop terrain where wheel rakes would bounce and lose hay. For small farm operations, a single-rotor rotary rake (covering 12–18 feet) is appropriate for 40–75 HP tractors. Rotary rakes cost more than wheel rakes (typically 2–4x the price) and require more maintenance (bearings in each rotor head), but deliver higher hay recovery rates in difficult conditions.

How does windrow width affect hay yield?

Windrow width affects yield in two ways: first, it determines whether the baler pickup head captures all raked hay or misses the edges (a too-narrow windrow for the baler’s pickup leads to direct yield loss); second, it affects drying and curing rate (a wider, fluffier windrow dries faster, reducing the risk of mold in high-humidity conditions). Per extension publications on hay quality management, a properly matched windrow for the baler type reduces field loss by 10–15% compared to a mismatched width, and a 4–5 foot windrow in humid climates dries 20–30% faster than a tight 3-foot wheel rake windrow because air circulates through the loose windrow structure.

Sources

Land Pride RA1560/RA1572 series operator’s manual — rake type selection and ground speed recommendations (landpride.com)
Kuhn GA 4121 product specifications and operator’s manual — rotary rake operating parameters (kuhn.com)
H&S Manufacturing 4-wheel and 8-wheel rake product documentation — windrow width specifications (hsmanfg.com)
Vermeer R23 and WR20 operator’s manuals — belt rake ground speed and windrow width (vermeer.com)
Sitrex MK-8 wheel rake product specifications — windrow width and bale compatibility (sitrexusa.com)
AGCO hay tools product guide — rake type selection by terrain and acreage (agcocorp.com)
NRCS Soil Survey — roughness and terrain classifications for agricultural equipment
John Deere round baler operator’s manuals — pickup head width requirements (deere.com)
New Holland small square baler operator’s manuals — pickup width specifications (newholland.com)