Commercial & Fleet

Bale Bed & Hay Bed Trucks in Oklahoma

By Jason Leck, General Manager, Carter Chevrolet — Okarche, OK

Around here, a bale bed truck does more real work than just about anything else on the place. When it’s 20 degrees and you’ve got cattle to feed, a hay bed lets one person spear a round bale, haul it to the pasture, and roll it out — without a second tractor, a second set of hands, or ever leaving the cab. That’s why bale bed trucks are everywhere in the country around Okarche, Kingfisher, and El Reno.

This page covers what a bale bed does, which Chevy chassis carries one best, and how the build comes together. It’s part of our guide to upfitted commercial trucks in Oklahoma. We sell the Silverado, and our sister company, OEM Truck Equipment, builds the bed a few doors down the same street — so a ranch truck doesn’t have to ship out of state to get outfitted.

What a bale bed truck does

A bale bed replaces the pickup bed with a flat deck and a pair of hydraulic arms. A spike spears the bale; the arms lift it onto the deck for hauling, then set it down or unroll it to feed. One person, one truck, no tractor required — which is exactly what you want at daylight in January.

Because the deck is flat with a recessed gooseneck ball, the same truck pulls a stock trailer or gooseneck the rest of the year. Common bale bed brands include DewEze, Bradford Built, and Hydra-Bed; OEM Truck Equipment can spec and install a bale bed setup on a new Chevy chassis. (Confirm current brand availability with us before you order.)

Why Oklahoma ranchers run bale beds

A bale bed truck shines where a tractor is overkill and a pickup can’t do the job:

• Feeding solo — load, haul, and unroll a bale without leaving the cab in bad weather.
• Moving hay between pastures — faster and more road-friendly than a tractor.
• Pulling double duty — a gooseneck ball in the deck hauls stock and equipment trailers.
• Daily ranch work — toolboxes and a flat deck handle fence, feed, and supplies.

Best Chevy chassis for a bale bed

If you’re also pulling a loaded gooseneck, mention it — it pushes the decision toward a 3500 and the right rear-axle setup.

Building your bale bed: arms, hitches, and toolboxes

• Bed brand and arm capacity — matched to the bale size you handle. [Confirm with us.]
• Gooseneck + bumper-pull hitches — so the feeding truck also pulls trailers.
• Toolboxes — lockable storage for fence tools, feed buckets, and supplies.
• Spike vs. fork — spear a bale or carry it on a fork, depending on how you feed.
• Lighting and rear receiver — spec’d for road and pasture use.

Frequently asked questions

What is a bale bed (or hay bed) truck?

A truck with a flat deck and hydraulic arms that pick up, haul, and unroll round hay bales. It lets one person feed cattle from the truck and still pull a gooseneck trailer the rest of the year.

How much can a bale bed lift?

Capacity depends on the bed brand and model. We’ll match the arm rating to the bale size you handle — ask us to confirm specs before you order.

Can one person feed with a bale bed?

Yes — that’s the whole point. You can spear, haul, and unroll a round bale without leaving the cab, which matters most in cold or muddy weather.

Which Silverado is best for a bale bed?

The Silverado 3500HD is the most common choice; single-rear-wheel for most feeding, dually for the heaviest hay and trailer loads.

Can I still pull a gooseneck trailer?

Yes. Bale beds are built on a flat deck with a recessed gooseneck ball and a rear receiver, so the same truck hauls stock and equipment trailers.

Do you build bale bed trucks in-house?

Our sister company, OEM Truck Equipment, is a truck upfitter on the same street in Okarche and can spec and install a bale bed on a new Chevy chassis. Confirm current brand options with us.

Can you put a bale bed on a truck I already own?

Often, yes — ask us. Many buyers prefer to start with a new Silverado HD so the chassis rating, warranty, and bed are matched from day one.

Where do you serve?

Ranch country across northwest Oklahoma — Kingfisher, El Reno, Watonga, Hennessey, and the greater Oklahoma City metro. Okarche sits right on US-81.