Best ways to move rocks/boulders

[rmully]

Gorgeous photo! You have a beautiful place.

I don't have much to add. My only suggestion is I've seen a poster recommend a small automobile hood as a sled for rocks.

I did this when I lived in MA ...used a chain and my truck with an old plymouth hood ... worked real well !

 

[Scotty Dive]

All great ideas!

California - thank you for the compliment especially from you with that beautiful orchard!!!!

I can't afford to add a grapple - I actually probably could afford it but not the divorce attorney it would result in!

I think I have to get better at getting the bucket under the rocks. The curl is not strong enough to lift them up but I know the loader can lift them...so it might that I need a lot of practice to get the rock to roll back in to the loader.


Since I will need to do more than one course of rocks I think I may get real good at using the loader and probably removing a few from the pond!

 

[YannyMan]

How about adding a set of pallet forks to the bucket and sliding them under the rock?

 

[cttractor]

Just as YannyMan said, I remove the QA bucket and connect the forks. Then, I adjust the width of the forks so I can drive up to the rock and slide the forks under each side. The loader's greatest power (breakout force) is when it's lowest. So, though you can't curl the bucket with the rock inside, you should be able to lift it off the ground a few inches with forks unless the rock is just too big for your machine.

 

[magicheater]

How big is the bucket? If they won't fit a 'normal' sized bucket, they must be pretty big (heavy) boulders.

You mean like this? This rock weighs about 2000 lbs. and is in a 5' bucket. Rocks weigh anywhere from 150-175 lbs. per cubic foot depending on the type.

 

[joe swanson]

The way to move big rocks is with a stone boat. About 24" wide 6' long with a turned up front lip (usually steel) has a chain on the front. roll the rocks on pull them to where you want them and roll them off. Mine is made of Black Locust strong as heck and resist rot.

Joe

Joe

 

[kenmac]

never heard of a stone boat until now. Googled & found this. Is this a stone boat ?

 

[YannyMan]

Just say goodbye to your lawn...

 

[Scotty Dive]

I think I will try a few of these ideas. Its funny about the stone boat. I have some very thick marine plywood that I have used before to move rocks with my SS12 Suburban. I just lift one edge up and pull. for the larger ones I was thinking of mounting a pair of old ski's to just give it enough upward pull.

However, I think the best approach is to use some counter weight, get the rock into the bucket or lift it via chain and then place it where it needs to go.

 

[YannyMan]

I sold my Sears SS16 Twin Onan last year.

I still have a front mount chipper/shredder that's been used once in its life for one of those tractors.