Hay bale loader

Loading apparatus in combination with a pickup truck for large size, generally cylindrical, bales of hay, or the like, said pickup truck having a load supporting bed defined by generally vertical side walls terminating rearwardly to define a rearward open end and having a side wall standard vertically secured to the inner surface of the rearward end portion of each side wall, the improvement comprising:

• an elongated bar extending transversely across the rearward end portion of said bed forwardly of said standards;
• a pair of elongated flexible members secured at one end, in spaced-apart relation, to said bar,
• said members extending rearwardly of said pickup truck in parallel relation normal to the longitudinal axis of a cylindrical hay bale to be loaded and being entrained, intermediate their ends adjacent the surface of the earth, around opposing ends of a hay bale to be loaded with the terminal end portions of said flexible members contacting the circumferential portion of a hay bale to be loaded opposite said pickup truck;
• a cross member extending transversely between said flexible members adjacent that side of a hay bale to be loaded facing said pickup truck;
• and,
• winch means supported by a forward end portion of said pickup truck,
• said winch means having a winch line connected, at its end opposite the winch when payed out, with the other ends of said flexible members and entrained over the hay bale to be loaded,
• whereby winding up said winch line generates a rolling action on a hay bale to be loaded for disposing it on said flexible members and a subsequent lifting action onto said pickup truck bed.