Techniques for Moving Heavy Objects

Trying to figure out how I can use this ingenuity to move the 400 lb (I don't know how heavy they are, really) boulders that are strewn along the edge of the property.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/pf.php

with a car & ropes?

Any big firs or large trees to hook come alongs too?

I click on the 'hyperlink' and get a 'start a new post'. Am I missing a photo or something ?

Try, depending upon the topography, digging under the rock and lever up to place planks under, pointing in the direction you want to go. Place other planks or plywood on top with pipes between. Lever in back and push the rock, on top of the plywood/plank and pipe along. Not a very good explanation I know, but it works.

Katie, can they be rolled?

NWG wanted to show you my Tas. Love it.
And Welcome to NW

Hmmm. Let me try again. I posted this to another forum in davesgarden (construction) and thought I'd copy that link. But I'll just try the original web url:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRRDzFROMx0

Well, that was absolutely fascinating! Though I can't say I have any desire for large concrete pillars in my garden. Maybe it can offer some insights for how to move your boulders. We have a wheelbarrow sized rock that my husband moved in the general direction of my garden with a pickup truck and a chain. It took several tries, and the rock landed where it landed, kind of between 2 beds. I am considering expanding one to include it.

Wow TR that is nice looking. Have you kept it inside for awhile to get it started? I bought mine at the show and planted it on the same day. It looks about half the size as mine.
Katie I asked about the trees because we would pull stumps out by using a close, well within 50 ft , trees as anchors. Cleared 5 acres that way here in Clearview. You could always dig a long shallow hole on one side and drag the puppies out! Wouldn't be willing to trade a boulder for help would ya?

The planks might work. There aren't any trees in the direction I want to go for 30 feet. I've been thinking that I'd try this with a truck and chain, though the boulders are smooth enough that I'm not sure the chain wouldn't slip.

These are boulders about 3 feet wide and 3 1/2 feet tall. Whoever originally built the house had them placed singly in the border of the yard - looks kinda dorky. I'd really like to move them into groups and plan beds around them.

Heck yeah, NWGordon. You want a boulder? I have one. I'd be happy to share. They are, as near as I can tell, sitting on top of the ground. For the smaller ones, I think one of the techniques mentioned here would sure work. Of course, I'd like the easiest one . . .

Been working on a rock garden" Death to the Lawn Mower". I go to the Clearview rock place on Hwy 9, and have bought small granite and shale boulders for 10 cents a pound u-haul. But I can always take free ones for a couple hours of work. I need something in the front right here.Right between my sleeping gunnera and yellow flowering banana.

I'm sure I have something. How do you haul them and how do you get them into a truck?

I'm looking for some smaller rocks to build some informal borders for a couple of raised beds. Do you think the rock place you're talking about in Clearview would be a good place to look for those?

You can sort of see the boulders in the attached picture.

Oh yeah! Like this size? Literally tons of it there. Do you know where I am talking about? They are north of the Albertsons about a quarter mile. Clearview Nursery and Stone 16918 SR 9 SE . They have granite, basalt, and Clearview boulders(must of went far for them huh?) They have a front loader and load them in your truck. I have an old Chev just for that kinda thing. Be forwarned- really cool garden stuff there! Trellises and planters and big iron roosters. They were the ones that bought Ivars Giant clam.

Tons of it . . . lololol. I'm sure I've driven by, just didn't register it. I'll go check them out. I'm really looking for what might be scraps for them.

So my rocks are, I think, bigger than the one you've shown. And yours is much cleaner and prettier. I'll try to get a picture in the daylight. But, of course, you're welcome to have what you can fit in your truck.

Thanks for the information about Clearview stone. Big iron roosters - now that sounds cool. And Ivar's clam? Why haven't I been there?

You'll see it I garowntee!! Really cool place, you'll like it. I know you are busy on Sat. I am trying to figure out how to go to the green elephant swap and Peninsula on Sat. I have a lot of gourds potted up and wouldn't mind trading them for ?? Dmail me when you are ready. Must be a whole 15 mins between us!! Saturdays are best for me though.

NW, I bought my Tas at Dragonfly Farms in Hansville last Nov. Is has been in a cold GH ( no heat no lights) and sat on the floor, basically I have done nothing to it, but water it during the winter. It never lost a leaf or looked stressed. Just took it out yesterday. and was playing the game ' where do I want it' as I moved the pot all over, still not sure.
I don't remember what I paid for it, But I sure love it.

Love the driveway, what do you do to keep the grass and weeds out of the rock, wish I could get a load of that, but to far for me.

Tills

This message was edited Feb 27, 2008 7:56 PM

Well, under the rock is old feed bags.The advantage of living on an old farm is that there is old stuff everywhere. The feed sacks make excellent wwed block. Pulled some up to do some irrigating and the grass is dead dead. Just a little grass is poking thru where the there is nothing around the plants. Hate bark so I used lava rock. Keeps roots warm and water passes right thru it. And the best part is no color loss! It will be the same color 20 years from now.
Dragonfly Farms is one of the nurseries I am going to on my vacation. Kids are all grown, 19 and 18, so for the first time I am going on vacation alone and I am going to all the cool nurseries in Washington and Ore. I want to hit three a day in a week. One plant per visit(yeah, right!)otherwise, I will have to ship some.

Yeah, right. Plan on shipping. :-)

And we'll need pictures, you know, so don't skimp.

I am a picture freak, and it is the only way to remember everything!

NW is that the Tas now? and when do you plan on coming to Dragonfly, Would love to know, I am 15 min. from there. And have Valley Nursery just down the road. and between that we have Savage Nursery. Would love to meet you, but got to put in my schedule for work work, I am a pic nut too. LOL
Never thought about feed sacks, but around here 'not'. I am the the wet land queen I think, Blackberry's, Buttercups, swamp grass, horsetails, and my most unfavorite is nettles. and many others

This is a pic of the outback, have a creek in there, just below my DH

That was my gunnera last fall before I cut his leaves off. I wish that was the Tas! I want to now but just don't have time with plant trade and Ciscoe seminar all on Sat. And have to work Sun! But I will let you know, most likely in two or three weeks.

I know what you mean, I love Cisco, would just love to meet him, He's just so how do I put it ? In to life. My DH lthinks hes nuts, I cant belived his going to be 3 miles from my house and I cant be there, thats just so sad.
Look forward to seening you.
I have to go nite nite, work work in AM
Tills

Just got done working 5am to 9pm so I understand. Will see you soon I bet!
Nitey nite!

Hey NW
Let me know you schedule we could have fun, if I know far enough in advance we might be able to get a few other NWDGers involved too. Hope you plan it around the time we all go to Dragonfly on April 27th.
Tills

That is probably when I am going to vaca. I am going to go up on Fri. the 7th to Dragonfly just to see it ahead of time. What to look at their cobra lilies for sure!

Easy to move Kathy just get a piece of plywood (full or half a sheet ) and drill two holes at each end towards car. Pass a big enough chain or rope to tie to car or truck. Then just roll the rock on to plywood with a long breaker bar or 2X4. (lever) Then just drag it to where you want it and roll it off the same way.

Nw wish you could re-plan that for the 9th, I would love to go and meet you and introduce you to, are very dear Heidi. Would give me a excuse to go from my DH and find something I want for my Buddy's place.

I don't think I can get them to roll, even with a big bar, but I should at least try so I can say I did. So isn't the problem with a truck pulling the rock about losing traction on a lawn? You have moved lots, so I'll try it if it's what you did.

You can move a mountain with a fulcrum (Small rock) And a lever. Just dig down behind the big rock to get a purchase and place a small rock behind the bar you are using and pull down on the bar. You can move any of those rocks onto the plywood on the other side. I have moved 4 times that size with my truck chain and lever.

Steve - you are also known for your monosyllabic utterings, beating your chest, baptism by icewater & so on. Oh, I forgot the He-man moose slippers that you wore to chase away Deer, Moose, which???...oh, I don't remember which.

The rocks she has are huge - I would have to stand on that bar with her! But I think we'd probably give up & enjoy a glass of wine while admiring the location of the rocks.
Kathy, next sunny day, I may have a hankering for checking out those rocks and I'm sure I'll be thirsty... I do have a 6' San Anselmo bar...

With wine, female fortitude and a couple of 6' bars, I should think we could get SOMETHING to happen. :-)

When is you work party Katie
All female muscle and brains, nothing can over power the minds of females, not even males
Going to bed on that note.
Nite
Tills

This message was edited Mar 2, 2008 12:21 AM

Hey Katie! I have a 5 foot pry bar and plenty of junk plywood to use as a sled just need a dry day to do it.Is it a fairlt dry area in your yard? I have parts you can't drive in until summmer it is so wet.

Katie - I have to thank you for posting that marvellous video of the moving man! What an inspiration - I wanted to get some big stones onto the power barrow and move them - so used a rough version of moving man's rocking/adding a shim technique - absolutely brillant! Husband saw me unloading them and just stood wide eyed wanting to know how I got them into the bed of the barrow. I just smiled. I must e-mail mm and thank him too.

This has changed my designing! Yahoo.

I am serious that those rocks are small compared to a lever and fulcrum. You by yourself with a steel bar and a brick/rock fulcrum can "flip" those babies our by yourself. Make sure you line up the brick/rock close to the rock you are lifting and 'voila' it rolls out and down hill to the plywood. Please note that if you have a steep hill it keeps on rolling.
And it was a black bear and a bathrobe only that I scared it away from my bird feeder. Bruin to Bruin we went into battle and the bear had no courage. Ask my DW she saw it all and called me "stupid to go out there in just my bathrobe" I'll have to find that picture of me chasing the bear out of my garden. RRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGUH! I don't have it on this computer.

I found a picture of the biggest rocks I moved with a lever and fulcrum. All of these are much bigger. Admiditly I had to dig a hole to set the biggest one on the end and lever it up. Once it was partially up I pulled it with a chain.

Yes there is a picture on another forum. And it's definately a keeper!!!

Steve, all your pictures make living in Montana actually seem potentially tolerable.... ;)

Put nicely, another beautiful garden picture, thanks!

Living in NW Montana is like living in Seattle except the sun shines and it is real cold one week out of the year. Otherwise it is 10F more or less than Seattle.

NWg - It's not swampy here. There's a meadow-type "lawn" and it gets shade, so it's pretty moist throughout the summer, but I think it's worth a try with this technique.

The rocks are up against a chain-linke fence, so I may have to move them at an angle at first, but I only want to go about 20 feet or so with them. It's on a gentle slope, so the new challenge (thanks, Steve, for making me think about this) is to make sure they don't get rolling down hill.

So Steve, were you out moving rocks in your back yard and the bear just happened by? Or were you rolling rocks at the bear in self-defense?