Moving Heavy Rocks

[BX24FOR5]

I have 2 very large rocks to move to another location on my property.

They are about 3ft long X 2ft X 30 inches.

I will be trying to move them with my BX24.

I believe they are to heavy to put in bucket and lift.

Would any of you have any other suggestions how best to move them.

They are on the grass and not sunk in very much.

 

[newdeal]

sounds to me like you need a bigger tractor for that job

 

[whistlepig]

One thing I can tell you not to do. Don't truss up your rock with chains like a Thanksgiving turkey and try dragging it down a real steep hill. A big rock can slide extremely well on a grass covered hill. A 500 pound rock can get pretty frisky on a steep hill. The rock will out run the tractor down the hill and then the fun will begin. Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted.

 

[BruceWard]

My rough guess is that they would weigh around 1500 pounds each. With my B21 I have been able to slide forks under such rocks and push them around. When I did not have forks on I would sometimes roll the rocks with the bucket or otherwise try to play bulldozer. However the B21 weighs 4000 pounds including the 1000 pound backhoe. Your BX does not weigh much more than the rocks.

 

[HowlingWolf]

Use a sheet of plywood and make a drag slide.

 

[BigD23]

Not sure how far you have to move them. Flat ground, uphill, downhill but it will be slow tedious work...Don't get in a hurry...Just my .02 and good luck.

Don

 

[Tom_H]

Search the archives for the terms "rock sled" and "stone boat". You will find many pics. The simplest is to go to a junkyard, get a hood from an old VW beetle, get the rock onto it, and use it as a sled to drag the rock.

 

[Egon]

Fill the tractor bucket with rocks, put a chain around the rock, hook them real close to the tractor and give it a try. If they don't move rig up a piece of plywood or car hood to slide under them and try again.:thumbsup:

If all that don't work get set up with a drill, feathers and wedges and split them. Don't let the wife see this or you may have all sorts of new "Rock garden/wall" projects.:laughing:

 

[Ken45101]

I would suggest the chains around the rock and hook it to a bar on the 3pt arms to lift it a little if you can.

If it is stuck in the ground, maybe dig under it and wedge a timber underneath and lift that with the loader bucket (leverage) to get it loose.

OTOH, you might just have to accept that your equipment is too small to do anything with a rock that big.

Ken

 

[jmarotz]

I have moved many rocks that weighed to much for the loader by using using the 3 point

 

[KeithInSpace]

I've never tried to move a rock that big, but I have tinkered around with tree stumps. The weight can get very high, very fast.

I like Mr. Jmarotz' approach...get just a little bit of lift on the thing, then drag it. I don't think a "clean drag" without giving it some uplift force will work too well.

If you spend more than 2 hours trying to move one of the rocks, I think your time is better spent splitting them. I've spent many an hour riding a rental jackhammer with a simple point inserted. Based on the rocks I've busted apart, you could probably split each of them into 4 pieces inside an hour. It's easier than you think and the jackhammer rents for around $100 for the weekend.

 

[asylum575]

OTOH, you might just have to accept that your equipment is too small to do anything with a rock that big.

Ken

That's probably the meanest thing I've ever read on TBN.

 

[Tom_H]

I think your time is better spent splitting them...[with a ]...jackhammer....

How about: Masonry drill, dynamite, fuse, match, run fast.

 

[gotrocks]

Found one site that indicated "granite solid" wt. 168# per cu.ft.

3 ' x 2' x 2.5' = 15 cu. ft. x 168 # == 2520 #

 

[Ken45101]

That's probably the meanest thing I've ever read on TBN.

Hey, even though I have heavier equipment including a skid steer and a mini ex, I have plenty of rocks here that I know the best I can do is help them slide downhill....and then there are those I can't even get loose.

Wasn't it Clint Eastwood who said "A man has to know his limits"?

OTOH, if the OP has a teen daughter and a bunch of boys that want to impress her..... :laughing:

Ken

 

[BruceWard]

I have moved many rocks that weighed to much for the loader by using using the 3 point

Using the 3 point to lift and drag the rock can flip the tractor over backwards. The ROPS would stop it from fully flipping but that rock would end up where your back, neck and head should be. I would not try it.

 

[BruceWard]

How about: Masonry drill, dynamite, fuse, match, run fast.

Dynamite requires permits and is not needed.

I dealt with two white granite rocks larger than these in the path of a 30" deep electrical conduit last week. The smaller of the two rocks was about 4'x4'x2.5'. A single 1/2" hole was drilled 10" into the rock. A 3/8th inch diameter by 4" long tube containing a small electronically ignited charge of black powder was inserted into the hole and then the top couple of inches were sealed with epoxy. After the epoxy dried the charge was fired from 200' away behind a hill. The rock split into 4 pieces and was removed from the trench. The small charge cracked but did not explode the rock. This was done on private land, not for commercial gain, without manufacturing any explosive or using any controlled substance. I do not recommend anyone repeat my process.

 

[ChuckinNH]

"OTOH, if the OP has a teen daughter and a bunch of boys that want to impress her..... "

So that is what the old farmer I worked for in high school was doing......... when hay had to be loaded three cute girls showed up, and as soon as it was on the trucks headed for the barn they disappeared.......... poof! All the wagons, and trucks had at least two more tiers than they would have without the girls I'm sure.

 

[newbury]

Well there is a time and place for everything.

Get the rocks out of the ground so you can move them.

Make sure you've a clear path to their destination,

Come next winter, water a path so you have an "ice road"

 

[wdchyd]

I ran into this situation yesterday.....today a co-worker mentions he digs a bigger hole beside it and burys the rock.....found this on youtube....YouTube - Learning how to use a backhoe- Part 2 may have to do this next time....:confused2: