How Do You Guys Coax Big Rocks Into Your Bucket????

[k0ua]

Moss - I think the reason everybody is recommending a grapple or even pallet forks is because there is no "secret method" of cokesing a rock into a bucket. Some times you can get under it and it will fall back into the bucket. Most times, you are out there using brute force to leverage it into the bucket.

Lord knows - its apparent a lot of us have tried.

If you can load them "uphill" sometimes that will work. And I have done it. But a grapple works just about every time.

 

[k0ua]

Around our area rocks are worth big $$. I have to go hunting for landscaping rocks and they're not easy to find. I usually find them on the edge of a farmers field after he moved them there. I've seen 6-8 inch diameter rocks for sale for $5 and I thought they were crazy but people were buying them. That was at an FS farmstore a decade ago.

Oh man, I need to take a trailer load up there. That's all we have down here is rocks. I will swap you a dump truck load of rocks for a dump truck load of dirt!

 

[oosik]

I guess I need to start advertising "Rocks on the cheap" on CL. However, if I did - more than likely there would be a group of fellows coming out to put a restraining jacket on me. Must be city folk, trying to make like country.

As an example - long, long ago (even before my time) the homesteader to the north had four strapping young sons. They used mules and a rock bucket to clear rocks from a 30 acre meadow. There is now a "rock wall" about half a mile long, about 3 feet high and about 8 feet wide. Were they in the correct state/area, I'm guessing this would be a fortune.

 

[CADplans]

If you are going to load the rocks into a FEL bucket,,,
there is no alternative better than a second machine.

The OP figured this out with the "get off the tractor and roll" technique.

A backhoe is great,, a garden tractor with a snow blade will work OK,,,

Also, scooting the rock along with the FEL until you hit a tree works too.
Personally, I have used all of the above techniques,,,

The "get off the tractor and roll" is the best exercise technique,,,:confused2:

Rocks make a great back drop for your photography,,,

 

[gasbag]

I don't have a grapple, I use the same method used by timster2, 2 chain hooks on the bucket, tilt bucket over rock, loop chain around the rock and tilt bucket back thus lifting rock into bucket secured by the chain. Mark

 

[George2615]

I don't have a lot of rocks to move but when I do I use my forks with hydraulic thumb. I don't need a grapple so adding the thumb was about half the cost of a grapple. I can swap the thumb to my bucket as well but works better using forks.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Since you have the backhoe, buy a thumb for it.. there's a 24" hydraulic for only $290 from Titan. Weld on's are cheaper, and there's even a 5 position bolt on: Search results for: 'hoe thumb'

Backhoe Thumb Excavator Bolt On Universal Claw Tractor Attachment Kubota Deere

 

[onelostdogg]

Moss - I think the reason everybody is recommending a grapple or even pallet forks is because there is no "secret method" of cokesing a rock into a bucket. Some times you can get under it and it will fall back into the bucket. Most times, you are out there using brute force to leverage it into the bucket.

Lord knows - its apparent a lot of us have tried.

Man! What a relief this thread is. Being a greenhorn, I thought I just needed more practice. I think instead, I'll practice ordering a grapple ('til the piggy bank gets heavy enough to do it for real).

 

[k0ua]

Man! What a relief this thread is. Being a greenhorn, I thought I just needed more practice. I think instead, I'll practice ordering a grapple ('til the piggy bank gets heavy enough to do it for real).

Well, you being new at the game, and me being an experienced operator, I bet I could pick up and flip more rocks in the bucket than you can That being said, You could pick up a hundred times more rocks with you operating the grapple, than me operating the bucket. I hope that puts it in perspective.

 

[Egon]

Get under the rock. Take a little dirt with it.