Abstract: A material handling apparatus for use in lifting and transporting relatively large items, particularly rolled hay bales, is provided. The apparatus includes a grapple-like lifting component having a frame, an upper fork set and a bottom fork set. Both sets of forks are movable relative to the frame and to each other, their movement actuated by a single, floating, double-acting hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement. The lifting component is designed to be connected to a typical 3-point hitch of a farm machine (a tractor or the like) and includes another integral hitch structure attached to the frame for connecting a carriage component. The carriage component consists of a generally U-shaped bale receiving basket pivotally attached to a wheeled trailer-like frame. The basket is held in a bale receiving position by latches spaced along the length of the frame. When the latches are released, basket tips and the bales roll from the carriage.