How big of a rock/boulder can a 60 HP tractor push on relatively flat dirt?

[Snezzy]

My dad said he saw someone doing this by hand, about 100 years ago, with just a crowbar and some smaller rocks. Took all day, but that boulder moved right across a field. Historically, similar work was done in moving Pemberton Hill into Boston Harbor north of Causeway Street, by using oxen. Look up "Pemberton" at https://www.ponyspot.com/asa/asa-sheldon.html

Who needs big machines anyway?

 

[smiley]

If it will fit partially inside the bucket you'll find By rocking the bucket back slightly and leaving the bucket lightly on the ground to act as a skid, you'll find you can push a lot more than leaving the Rock on the ground and trying to push or pull it.
While excavating with scrapers for a large landfill one time, We hit a giant granite boulder approximately 12 ft long 8 ft high and 10 ft wide. I had a D7 working right close by brought him over and he dug it out but he couldn't even budge it. We had a D9 push cat that I called for and they sent it down And the two of them together moved it but as soon as it dug in they just set there spinning their tracks. We had a 988 loader working close by so I brought him over had him put his bucket under the front of the rock and backing up to act as a skid. It took about 10 minutes but the three working together managed to slide the rock up out of the excavation and up on top by the office. I suggested they put a brass plaque on it giving the details of when the dump was built etc. If they didn't want to do that, I knew what I was going to do with it. Bury in the spoil area where they would be later digging out for fill to cover the dump and paint a sign on the side of it. " I figured out what to do with it Now you figure it out."
They eventually decided to put the plaque on it to make a monument out of it, Unfortunately they buried all but about three feet of it because it would be a safety hazard if a child climbed on it being so high.

 

[Djwshady]

I need to push some fairly large rocks around. I've was able to push many of them with a 70 hp mini excavator with a blade but I am wondering what I can do with a 60 hp tractor. I'm guessing the weight of the equipment and it being able to maintain traction is probably part of the equation.

Throwing this in as a reference
View attachment 750989

I'm in SW N.H. and I've been uncovering boulders on average of 6' x 6' to build a retaining wall about 300 yards away. I have a Branson 4015 R w/ FEL and BH. I've had no issue pushing these through the woods and gravel driveway. Sometimes, depending on the shape I can lift a corner to roll the boulders. Nothing broken yet. Low and slow.

 

[PILOON]

My CUT has a 4 ft bucket.
I have moved rocks wider and higher than the bucket.
Simple, I flip and roll them to where I want them to live.

 

[ELKx2]

A log arch and chain fall might be useful. Although, rigging rocks isn't particularly easy. They flip and fall out etc. A log arch that was tall enough might let you use a grapple.

 

[Carl_NH]

Same here on Coastal NH where we grow rocks too. I regularly dig out 2x2 size rocks with my B21 BH and transport them on the BH, and move larger 3x3 or 3x4 ones by rolling with the bucket short distances.

The big rock is 4x5x10 and was moved with a Cat 315 38K Lb excavator.

 

[Delfino35]

Man do I wish I can own both an excavator and a tractor. I'd be in heaven. Lol!

Lucky me. I own both. Good luck on moving your rocks.

 

[Fxfymn413]

I wonder what a purpose-built stone boat would look like?

The one I used as a kid with my grandpa was 2 inch thick oak planks held together by steel straps with the leading edge a solid piece of steel bent up on the leading edge so it would not dig into the ground. A chain was attached to the center through a clevis which was in turn hooked to a chain we hooked to the tractor draw bar.

This was in MA and despite having a garden in the same place for over 40 years we still "harvested" rocks each spring after plowing up the soil some of which were rather large.

 

[future_vision]

My dad said he saw someone doing this by hand, about 100 years ago, with just a crowbar and some smaller rocks. Took all day, but that boulder moved right across a field. Historically, similar work was done in moving Pemberton Hill into Boston Harbor north of Causeway Street, by using oxen. Look up "Pemberton" at https://www.ponyspot.com/asa/asa-sheldon.html

Who needs big machines anyway?

No doubt but what is the price to pay doing it by hand? I bet those folks and beasts didn't live as long. I plan to hang around awhile longer. Lol!

 

[future_vision]

I'm in SW N.H. and I've been uncovering boulders on average of 6' x 6' to build a retaining wall about 300 yards away. I have a Branson 4015 R w/ FEL and BH. I've had no issue pushing these through the woods and gravel driveway. Sometimes, depending on the shape I can lift a corner to roll the boulders. Nothing broken yet. Low and slow.

Good to hear. I am fairly confident a combination of present and past tech is going to get the job done. It's not as pretty as just plucking it off the ground and moving it exactly where you want it but when you have limited resources you get creative and find a way to get it done.