Bright Idea

Bob S. · Mar 27, 2012

Howdy,
I have a pile of field stones to move for a rock garden. Lifting and hauling is not an option (old age creeping up awful fast). I was thinking of "inventig" something to help with this type of chore. How about this idea, take an old snowblower (5speeds forward, 3 reverse)remove the auger, add some wheels or skids up front, maybe some weight on the back, then I could just roll or scrape heavy stuff into it and away I go. I don't have an old blower but there are plenty around. I figure I should give you guys the chance to shoot holes in my idea before I waste time and money in this project.
Thanks,
Bob

Anonymous-0 · Mar 27, 2012

Rent a small skidsteer, not too costly.

donjr · Mar 27, 2012

Sounds like a reasonable idea. At our age, you shouldn't have to add weight to the rear- yer butt ought to be enuf--

Chris(WA) · Mar 27, 2012

Kind of a walk behind dozer/ tumble bug? Hmmm, might work!

M-MAN · Mar 27, 2012

Sounds like too much work to me. Hooking a drag pan behind the tractor would be easier. They aren't expensive if you don't already have one.

Vern · Mar 27, 2012

Ever hear of a "Stone Boat"?
Vern

OldFarmTractor · Mar 28, 2012

We often used an old car hood for a stone boat. Easy to pull with almost any tractor.

showcrop · Mar 28, 2012

(reply to post at 18:24:57 03/27/12)

First question is do you not have a tractor? If yes fixing up a 3 pt carrier would be easier. If not I could see the idea working but I think that you would need to extend to the front a foot or so to have a little flat surface, then some castor wheels from an old mower deck, but then I don't know if the drive wheels would get enough traction with the weight on the front. Perhaps the rear weight as you mentioned would do it.

Ultradog MN · Mar 28, 2012

Since this is a tractor board I'll assume you have a tractor? Does it have 3 point hitch?
I moved a lot of rocks with a dirt scoop on the back of my little Ford. Fill it up and haul them off and dump them. Larger rocks you can install the scoop backwards and almost back in under them.
Worked good and not much manhandleing required.

Anonymous-0 · Mar 28, 2012

if you have a tractor with 3PH, I have a real cheap and simple carryall that is easy off/on. Consists of 2 4x4's (can use pipe of some kind also) that slip over the drawbar, under the tractor, and then rest on the drawbar. Can be as creative as you want for a floor from a pallet to a nice board floor with walls to make a box. Have a pic if you want.

Dave

JimDRIl · Mar 28, 2012

I made a slider out of a 10' long piece of roofing tin that I sandwiched between 2 2 X 4's on the end, and attached a chain to pull from with the tractor. I've hauled a lot of stone and broken concrete over the years. Works like a charm, can carry tons of weight, and pulls very easily. Loads so easy. Jim

Dick2 · Mar 28, 2012

Ditto. Rent, borrow or hire a loader. Forget anthing that calls for manual lifting; it can cost you too much in health care later on.

old · Mar 28, 2012

I have tons of rock and I always use a loader on the tractor to move them. If you do not have a loader a 3 point scoop will also do the job.

RayP(MI) · Mar 28, 2012

Tried to move a rock pile with a fairly large payloader one time. Couldn"t push bucket into pile, also found it difficult to even load individual rocks off the ground.

Anything you use, like a 3pt dirt scoop on a tractor is almost going to require you to load by hand. That"s what I end up using for picking rocks in the fields - by hand - no fun!

By the way, I finally had a friend with a large hydrohoe who wanted the rocks for building a nearby bridge, came in and moved the rocks out for me.

Steve in VA · Mar 28, 2012

I helped weld a rig for a buddy years ago that he used on his 1210 Ford. We basically made a log tong with parallel bars and 3 teeth on each side instead of hooks. He attached it to a lift bar off the 3-pt and could move quite good size rocks without leaving the tractor seat. Back up to the rock, drop the tongs, lift and go. Simple to make if you have a welder and some scrap steel.

Bob S. · Mar 28, 2012

Howdy,
Thanks for all the input, I didn't want to make my post too long otherwise I would have mentioned that I do have a loader tractor but although I only have to go about 75 feet I would probably bury the tractor and never see it again. It's gotta be something small even if I only can move a few stones at a time.
Bob

Anonymous-0 · Mar 29, 2012

(quoted from post at 17:12:47 03/28/12) Howdy,
Thanks for all the input, I didn't want to make my post too long otherwise I would have mentioned that I do have a loader tractor but although I only have to go about 75 feet I would probably bury the tractor and never see it again. It's gotta be something small even if I only can move a few stones at a time.
Bob

75 feet.... assuming the rocks are on solid ground, set a post where you want the rocks to be, pulley on the post with a rope thru and one end on a car hood (??), other on your tractor, and put them where you want em. Or, maybe just use your blowsnower as a horse and pull a smaller skid with the stones on it.

Bright Idea

Bob S.

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Anonymous-0

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donjr

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Chris(WA)

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M-MAN

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Vern

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OldFarmTractor

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showcrop

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Ultradog MN

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Anonymous-0

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JimDRIl

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Dick2

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old

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RayP(MI)

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Steve in VA

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Bob S.

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