lifting small boulders?

[shireen]

I have some small boulders in the back yard, sitting on a pallet. I need to move it to the front yard to do some DIY landscaping.

A strong guy could lift the boulders. I'm not that person. Are there other ways to safely transport the boulders? I was thinking of getting a landscaping hand truck -- push the rock into it, but since I have to move it up a slight slope, that may be too much to handle.

Another option is to get a small but strong cart for my troy-bilt mini rider lawn tractor. (I already have a plastic dump cart but don't want to risk breaking it.) I could move the rocks one at a time, if needed, but need a cart that's low enough and tilts so I could roll the boulder into it.

Any suggestions? I dont want to hire anyone to do it since I'm on a tight budget, so it's something i need to do myself.

[Warpy]

1. The hand truck will work. I even manage to get those up a couple of front steps when

I have to haul something heavy into my house. Yes, I own one, the price of having rheumatoid arthritis. Lots of stuff is too heavy for me these days.

The other piece of gear you need is an iron bar of some description to level it into place when you get there. A long crowbar might be enough to let you position the rocks when you get them to the general area. Learned that building a wall.

[shireen]

7. i may end up doing that ...

my concern was getting it up a slight slope but it may not be that bad.

[mopinko]

2. a good landscapers truck is on my wish list.

i have a bobcat, so i use that a lot, but sometimes i cant get in w it. the tree guys i work w have big wheeled, wide trucks to shuffle logs around. they are awesome, and give me tool envy.

i cant lift shit any more, tho. forced to act my age. the horrors.

[shireen]

8. wish i had a bobcat!

They're so cool. BTW, love your Facebook page. Sorry to hear about all the troubles you're having with those jerk neighbors and clueless alderman. They don't seem to understand that urban farms are going to become an essential part of a sustainable food supply. You're one of the pioneers.

[mopinko]

14. i love my bobcat.

especially now that it is all rebuilt, and going strong.
and yeah, neighbors, pioneers, all par for the course. but in a city w an official policy of expanding urban ag, you would think i could get a little slack. but nooooo....

[PoliticAverse]

3. There are some great youtube videos concerning this issue...

For example:

Look through what you can find there to see which one might match your situation.

How big are the ones you want to move?

I've found that with a come-along and a digger bar (6' steel bar) most anything is possible.

[shireen]

9. not that big

About a third the size. But that's not going to work for an upward slope.

Great idea tho' ... thanks for sharing the video.

[rusty quoin]

4. If your lawn tractor cannot handle them, I don't know what can do without help.

You cannot pick them up, but you can roll each one off the pallet with a bar or shovel.

I guess you can use a winch and ropes. Try to roll each Boulder onto a net, or even a tarp, and crank it up the hill strategically. Even this way would be better with help.

I assume what you say will mess up the plastic cart, but there might be smaller stone that the cart can handle. I admire your determination.

[shireen]

10. the lawn tractor isn't the problem

The lawn tractor should be able to pull it. My concern is getting a strong enough cart to haul the load. I can't use my current cart because it's made of plastic--it can handle heavy loads, like wood chips, as long as its spread across the entire container. With boulders, a great deal of force is exerted over a small area and I could end up destroying it. I need to find a small metallic cart that I can attach to the lawn tractor.

Thanks for the other ideas. The tarp idea may be a viable option.

My "determination" has got me into so much trouble. And debt! LOL! Thanks.

[rusty quoin]

13. Oh so you do need wheels and low ones. I hope the best for you.

When I was young and alone I did stuff with brute force. Find a guy like that for free or at little cost. You seem nice, and as a young guy I would have helped you.

[pscot]

5. Roll the rocks onto a tarp

and drag them. If you have an old tire, roll the rock onto the tire and drag it. Lay down a plastic tarp to reduce friction. Or you can lay a wheelbarrow on its side, roll the rock in and tip it back up. A steel bar like a crow bar or even a weight bar can be used as a lever. Be careful.

[shireen]

11. thanks, the plastic tarp idea is good.

I don't think my old wimpy wheelbarrow can handle it. But a tarp may do it.

Thank you!

[ret5hd]

6. First: Invest in a 12 pack of cheap beer and a folding lawn chair.

Unfold the lawn chair, pop open one of those beers, then sit and study the situation. Study very very carefully. Very carefully. Open another beer as needed. Again, study the whole situation. Stroll to the front yard with a fresh beer. Stand and study the whole situation again, plotting your route, the elevations, any obstacles etc on the route. Get another beer, this time stand in the front yard with one hand on your hip while you study the situation again. Return to the back yard, pop another beer and study the back yard situation from a standing position. Check the temperature...it might be too hot to do it today. Might need to wait till tomorrow. You know, get up early while it's still cool. Think on all that with another beer.

Pretty soon you will realize that the damn boulder looks just f***ing fine just where it f***ing is.

Drink the last of the 12 pack in celebration of a job well done.

[shireen]

12. LOL!

I really want to move those boulders. But your suggestion may work for some other challenges I'm facing.