300 loader bucket

[Matthew_H]

Hello all, I'm new here and I've just purchased a 3203 with a 300 loader, LX5 rotary cutter, RB2072 rear blade and a 60" finish mower.
My question is, how will the loader bucket fare when I try to move 12 ton of river rock this weekend? I have the standard bucket, not the materials or heavy duty bucket.
Also, my wife has just informed me that she wants to construct some retaining walls with boulders, I imagine 3'-4' diameter boulders. Will I be able to do this with this loader and bucket or will I need something more substantial.
Time is not an issue, if it takes me a while to do this work that's O.K., I'm not under any dealines.

Thanks,
Matt

 

[slaveToHorses]

<font color="blue"> Time is not an issue, if it takes me a while to do this work that's O.K., I'm not under any dealines.</font>

Well, that is the key /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

You should be OK. You might find that it won't handle a full bucket of rock but I suspect it will. As long as it is just a fresh pile of rock, the standard bucket should handle it. If you were digging rock out of the ground it would be a different story.
If you have troubles just take a smaller load.

You will probably be ok with the wall rock too. Depends on the rock. You might have to sling them and lift them at the pivot point.

 

[Matthew_H]

Well I guess that makes sense, just take a smaller load.
I'll have to figure something out for a sling, I've got a nice heavy tow chain to carry it with, but the sling...
I'm thinking perhaps some 2" strapping, like what is used in ratcheting tie down straps. Maybe I could use tie down straps and 'weave-connect' them in a grid pattern to form a web sling. Maybe.

 

[slaveToHorses]

all projects, especially those requested by your wife, should be considered as opportunities to acquire new tools.
I see a "proper" sling in your future. Maybe even a backhoe /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[3720_Owner]

We will let the math wiz's handle the problem of the weight of a 4' boulder, but I would assume it would be quite a bit. I know when I tried to yank a 3' block of concrete with my 3720 & 300CX & rock filled ballast box, I lifted the back wheels off the ground. Went back and replaced the ballast box with the 6' bush hog and it evened thinks out a little. Snce then bought an extension for the ballast box and plan on filling it with concrete to take it over 1100 lbs.

According to the spec sheet, a 300 loader can handle somewhere between 547 and 961 lbs. depending on how high it is lifted. Not familiar with the capabilities of a 3203.

No matter what be very careful when hauling heavy material such as a bucket full of stone or one "boulder". Keep it as low as possible, stay as far away as possible from any slopes, and make sure to use your ROPS and seat belt. Boulders roll and so do tractors.

Steven

 

[3720_Owner]

But as slaveToHorses said. Every project opens the opportunity for justifying required hardware. Honey you want the gravel driveway cleaned off? Need a box blade for that! Want all those limbs cleaned up? Need a chipper for that and I can even provide you chips for your lovely landscaping. Still working on the chipper ... and the tiller and the backhoe and ...

 

[gordon21]

Tilt the bucket back as far as it will go and go can easily haul 800#+ per bucket as long as you keep it low to the ground. Increasing the height you lift it will decrease your lifting ability. But, with rocks, you will not want to lift the bucket more than 2' off the ground anyway. You can easily do your project, but be prepared for a lot of trips. Take your estimate and add another 50% more trips. It takes a lot of practice to fill the bucket to capacity. You will definitely have more stuff to move than you think. Your first look at a pile of dirt says maybe 7-8 bucketfuls. About 12-13 trips later, you are done. The other guys are right about the wife endorsing the need for more toys (AKA implements). It is strange how a wife has no problem endorsing $500 here, $700 there as long as SHE gets something out of the deal as far as her honey-do projects are concerned.

 

[gordon21]

12 tons comes out to about 30 perfect loads. You will be close to finished after load #46. Let us know how it goes.

 

[roermo]

re: 300 loader

the key word here is be very carful. I have a 4110, last night with a full bucket of brick I was heading down a steep hill, noticed it would not stop. Had to lower the bucket to get the tractor to stop. Things can go wrong quick so watch your ground and tractor and think ahead.
roger

 

[Dex]

Re: 300 loader

They are right. Be careful. Had aout 1000 lbs of fertilizer and limestone I was off loading. All was good until I hit a slight down slope in the driveway. Rear wheels came off the ground and had to dump the load before I rolled the tractor. Only loss was one bag of limestone and a few heartbeats!

 

[TerryNY2]

A 3' diameter rock is quite heavy. Volume of a sphere is V=4/3 times Pi times the radius cubed. A 3 foot diameter round rock has a volume of about 14 cubic feet. Stone varies quite a bit in weight per cubic foot, but granite or limestone is about 165-170 pounds per. So a 3 footer would most likely tip the scales at about 2400 lbs. the bigger 4 footer would be around 5700 lbs. I think you'll need a bigger tractor

 

[Matthew_H]

Well, the tractor/loader performed without a problem with the River Rock.
Haven't tried any boulders yet, we're still searching for a cost effective source, cheap.
With a little practice I was able to get some pretty full loads in the bucket, only took about five hours total. Still have some arranging and black dirt work to do.
I'm trying to attach a picture to this post but I don't think it is going to work.
As far as the boulders go, I probably won't try to lift and place them so much as nudge them into place.

 

[BattalionChief]

Terry is correct.. you will need a bigger tractor for the large boulders! I just got a JD 5105 with loader and it can lift over 2000 lbs. I have been moving good size boulders that have "bounced" my tractor a bit and these boulders are no where near 4ft size.. Your tires may even dig a hole trying to scoot those behemoths around... I am sure you will have fun trying though!

good luck..