Subsoiler for Yanking Rocks?

[sixdogs]

There are different kinds of subsoilers. One is the $150 version that is lighter duty and will handle smaller rocks. The HD one is around $750 and will rip up anything a 125HP tractor can handle. I have used an HD one for years and ripped out rocks that must have weighed 500-800 or more pounds and no problem. The little one will bend with too much force so be careful but the heavier duty one is something every rock farmer should have.

In a post from long ago, as in this one, a guy warned about wires and such. He called the bigger ripper a "Non discriminating utility line locator" and I agree. Electric lines, gas lines are real possible. Phone lines are a given so have a cell phone.

 

[treedawg]

Here's what I use on my compact Yanmar. This little thing is a beast especially for the price. I've opened up several new deer food plots with this little ripper. It's also pretty handy on stumps up to 4-5" after you get the hang of it.

td

Titan Hitch Mounted Ripper

 

[sixdogs]

Here's an internet pic of one that is HD and can handle big rocks. Use with 40ish HP and up. Otherwise, smaller ripper is OK.



Smaller ones will break shear bolts endlessly or bend. Other implements like scarifiers also easily break shear bolts or bend.

 

[treedawg]

Here's an internet pic of one that is HD and can handle big rocks. Use with 40ish HP and up. Otherwise, smaller ripper is OK.

View attachment 566186

Smaller ones will break shear bolts endlessly or bend. Other implements like scarifiers also easily break shear bolts or bend.

I've got a large HD ripper/subsoiler I pull behind my 4x4 68HP Kubota.

I'm working in the woods right now so there's no way to get my cab tractor where I'm going w/o a lot of extra work.

I got the small hitch mounted last week and I've already got about 10 hours on it so far w/o destroying a single shear bolt. It appears to have a slight twist in the shank but maybe that's my imagination. I haven't put a straight edge on it so I can't be 100% positive until then. I'm really impressed with my new ripper especially for the price compared to other rippers I considered.

td

 

[Lelandwelds]

I have used an HD one for years and ripped out rocks that must have weighed 500-800 or more pounds and no problem. The little one will bend with too much force so be careful but the heavier duty one is something every rock farmer should have.

e.

"Rock farmer" would be funny if it wasnt true. I have been trying to consider my 800 lb rocks as "decorative" and leave well enough alone. How heavy a tractor does it take to pop one out with a deep chisel?

 

[dragoneggs]

I'm blessed that I have a backhoe for yanking big rocks but I'm very interested in how well a box blade will pick up rocks. Need to do some youtube hunting I suppose. I'm in China now on business and YouTube is not accessible here. Too bad because I have had tons of hotel time to surf... but the government has the internet here clamped down pretty well.

 

[sixdogs]

"Rock farmer" would be funny if it wasnt true. I have been trying to consider my 800 lb rocks as "decorative" and leave well enough alone. How heavy a tractor does it take to pop one out with a deep chisel?

I mounted my HD single shank ripper--like the one in post in #13--on either of two tractors. The first was a Kubota 43HP L4300 and the second was a Deere 5520 @ 89HP. For the L4300 I could pop out maybe up to 400 lbs depending on how the rock was shaped and how hard the ground was. For the Deere I could easily pull up and out maybe 800 lbs. It wasn't hard on the tractor and I think I could easily have done more with either tractor. I also have a small 7' backhoe and sometimes need that to get an awkward rock out of the hole. With a perfect flat rock I'll bet I could get 800 or so lbs with the L4300 and maybe 2000 lbs with the Deere. It all depends.

You can also rip out stumps after you know what you're doing. I mostly ripped out cedars and either tractor was fine. The Deere would also handle bigger stumps, especially if they had started to rot down a little.

Over the years I tried all sorts of ways to pull rocks and backhoes would be first but are very time consuming. The HD ripper I think is best because you can rip and go and do it in a hurry. Box blade teeth and scarifiers shear too easily and only intended to scuff dirt. When you dig rocks with a ripper, keep the tractor straight. When you don't pull in a straight line is when you bend things. We lived in glacial till New England so I had a lot of practice.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

My experience has been with a sub soil tool that takes the box blade kind of shank.
I sharpened the leading edge of the shank at about a 90% It helped a lot with cutting roots and does not ware or deform easily.

Yes it will loosen rocks pretty well. Ones the size of a basket ball will usually be loose enough to roll out of the hole and remove. However the rock that turned out to be the size of a kitchen table was another matter.
Your experience may vary.

 

[CincyFlyer]

Here's an internet pic of one that is HD and can handle big rocks. Use with 40ish HP and up. Otherwise, smaller ripper is OK.

View attachment 566186

Smaller ones will break shear bolts endlessly or bend. Other implements like scarifiers also easily break shear bolts or bend.

I always move at a crawl, so that the tractor spins the wheels if I hit anything huge.

 

[majorwager]

A rock battle can never be won. There are just too many and the numbers never diminish. One a good day you might break even.

I no longer turn my fields over. When I did, a rock picker kept the battle even, w/ patience and multiple passes. A backhoe is necessary for the enormous culprits. There are some in my fields that were too big to remove, and if I got them out, then what?

I simply dug a 8 ft deep hole right next to them and used the hoe to send them on their way. Subsoil and topsoil back on top RIP.

EDIT:

Suburban plowboy

Would like to see a video of any plow or subsoiler removing a 300 rock and resting totally on the surface. My 10 ft backhoe might struggle w/ this task. Members select a tool, if successful, great, if not, alternatives abound.

Many chiropractic practices offer specials, bundle 5 visit coupons for a reduced rate. A 300 rock is an automatic qualifier.