lifting/moving big rocks with a B7610/B7800?

[DanR67]

I am deciding between a B7610 w302/352 or B7800 w/402 loader.

I live in Northern Ontario Canada with 20 acres of hilly maple woods with rocky soil and some big rocks in spots.

I was just outside checking out some of the rocks that I would like to move about.There are about 15 rocks a bit larger then the ones pictured on this link I found on TBN. This member has a B7610 w352

FEL Rock Moving

It occurred to me that that this guy's rocks may not be able to be lifted or a least moved easily by even a B7800 w/LA402 loader. I am not sure what rocks like this weigh but it may be better for me to get a real big backhoe into do that work and buy the 7610 w/302 or 352.

Any ideas on what rocks like this might weigh?

Northland & Co -

Have been deeply into my "Honey Do" list around the house - hadn't stopped by TBN in awhile - and surprise! surprise! - I see me and my rocks! Well that's why I put these pictures on my site - show off my B7610 and what it can do! Anyhow here's some "first hand" feedback :

First off - I'd guess the first three pictures show rocks in the 1000 - 1200 pound range - I remember I didn't have too much trouble picking up one end or the other - but also could not lift completely - so basically pushed / flipped them where I wanted them.

The last picture (me standing behind rock) - well that's another story. I'd guess it weighed in @ 1500 lbs - I was really amazed that I managed to dig it out of the ground! (and that was before my toothbar as well!). It took all of my B7610's power to even move that around once "topside" - and I didn't really move it all that far - on relatively flat ground....can't imagine trying to control that on a slope!

*********************************

In retrospect (all pictures were taken in 2004 - my first "Tractor Season") - I think the last rental of a larger TLB in Fall 2005 gave me a greater appreciation of "when to say when" - and simply rent a larger piece of equipment. As it was - one of the rocks I dug up with the rental unit was barely moveable with mid 40 hp unit! Here's the link / "stone wall" I piled up in a weekend:

Big Machine Work

**************************************

I'd imagine that the "rock sled" that folks are mentioning would be the way to go for the long term - if you have to rountinely move a "larger" rock a fair distance - and you don't want to get tippy with it in your bucket.

But if you just have the 15 or so big rocks to move for your immediate landscaping needs - then I'd say go for purchasing the CUT that will best fit your long-term needs - and rent a large piece of equipment to make short work (and spare your CUT from REALLY hard work) of it.

Last but not least - if you go for a B7610 - and you know you will be dealing with rocks from time to time: absolutely go for the LA352 FEL - as every little bit extra helps!

Hope that helps,

Dan

 

[The Gardener]

Lots of great pictures. It was fun to see the many ways you are using your Kubota. I really like the forks your welded together. That's the best set I have seen.

Did you heat and then bend the forks at a 90 degree angle?

Thanks for sharing your images!

The Gardener

 

[DanR67]

Gardener -

I put together the pics on my website which I feel represent a broad overview of uses for a CUT - some of which were not obvious when I purchased. I hope my pictures help clarify what *needs* a CUT can help fill - and that way hopefully someone can make a better informed purchase decision.

When I was first researching what CUT to buy - a few TBNers shared some of their pics of their CUTs *at work* - and it really helped clarify my needs. At the time - the "CFO" wanted to go subCUT - but I think one specific picture posted by GregJ (if you're still around?) of his B7500 lifting a pallet-load of firewood on his 3PH was what convinced me of getting a CUT. Here's a link to his post / picture attachment:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/.../33820-1st-tractor-jd-2210-vs.html#post377127

************************************

Regarding my 3PH forks: while I did make the 3PH frame from scratch - I won an eBay auction of several pairs of used fork-truck forks. The place I got the forks from was actually a welding shop that was closing down - and I picked up the big Lincoln welder shown in some of my pics there as well.

I recently sold off the last pair extra forks - so all in all - I ended up getting my forks and the welder for free!

If I can ever get out from under my "Honey Do" list (yeah, right! ) - I have been planning to fabricate a FEL grapple as well...but that's for next year at the earliest...

Cheers - and glad you liked the pics!

Dan

 

[dillo99]

... make a sled. I have an old car hood that I chain to the drawbar. Rocks can be easily rolled on the car hood and then dragged with the tractor.

This sounds great. I have used a piece of plywood for years, but a metal car hood would slide so much better.

Could you please post some images of how you connected your chains to the car hood.

Thanks So Much!
The Gardener

Gardener -

I don't have pictures - but the approach was pretty simple. I simply took a large screw driver and pounded two holes in the hood near where it curved up in the front. I then turned them into slits. My chain hooks fit up into the slit and then slide forward holding the hood. This way they can be easily removed.

 

[The Gardener]

Easy enough. Thanks.

I was unsure if you had to weld a re-inforcement bar onto the hood to prevent the chains or hooks from tearing through the hood. I am pleased to read that the connection is a simple process.

 

[The Gardener]

I put together the pics on my website which I feel represent a broad overview of uses for a CUT

Yes. I find the images [like your's] to be a GREAT help in better defining my needs and what I could potentially accomplish with some equipment.

GregJ's pallet of wood was impressive. Yet another convincing reason to have forks for the 3-pt-hitch.

Thanks!
The Gardener

 

[WayneW]

I'll try to upload a few photos of the rocks I've moved with my 7610/352, as soon as I can. Gets dark early now here in NE. I was too busy movingthem at the time to go inside & get the camera.

 

[npaden]

Here's my 42hp Kubota moving as big of a rock as it can handle with the FEL.

The bucket is 5' long and about 1.5' tall and 1.5' deep. That rock was conservatively 55" long, 16" tall and 30" wide. At 150lbs per cubic foot it would put it at 15 cubic feet and 2,300lbs!

I've read somewhere that the LA680 loader has a lift capacity of only 1,500lbs. But is that to maximum height? I could only lift this rock a few inches off the ground and actually had the best luck lifting it as high as I could with the bucket slightly down and then using the bucket curl to actually get it off the ground.

I'm pretty sure the rock weighed at least 2,000lbs but I don't have any of the specs on the LA680 loader to know the breakout and fun stuff like that.

I know it was a heavy sucker!!

P.S. - I could pick up one side and push around rocks about 50% larger than the one in the picture. I have one rock that is at least double the size of the one in the picture and I pretty much couldn't do anything with it. I could pick up one side a little way but couldn't really get a grip on it to push or pull it. I might have been able to do something with a sled and some heavy thinking, but at some point you just have to admit that there are rocks bigger than you can successfully manuver!

 

[WayneW]

I've read somewhere that the LA680 loader has a lift capacity of only 1,500lbs. But is that to maximum height? I could only lift this rock a few inches off the ground and actually had the best luck lifting it as high as I could with the bucket slightly down and then using the bucket curl to actually get it off the ground.

I'm pretty sure the rock weighed at least 2,000lbs but I don't have any of the specs on the LA680 loader to know the breakout and fun stuff like that.

I know it was a heavy sucker!!

P.S. - I could pick up one side and push around rocks about 50% larger than the one in the picture. I have one rock that is at least double the size of the one in the picture and I pretty much couldn't do anything with it. I could pick up one side a little way but couldn't really get a grip on it to push or pull it. I might have been able to do something with a sled and some heavy thinking, but at some point you just have to admit that there are rocks bigger than you can successfully manuver!

It sounds like you have just about as much fun with rocks as I do. You also use the breakout force of the bucket (by curling the bucket back) to lift the rocks just enough to move them too. That is some rock. hmm.....wish I had a bigger tractor....

 

[Northland]

Hi All, after all my research and the advice from all you good folks I finally ended buying a new Kubota B7800 w/402 loader + 60" bucket, Rim Guard in the back tires, block heater and hooks welded onto L brackets on the bucket - $US16K - with 3 Kubota hats.

Based on the TBN advice I also had a Markham Welding toothbar shipped to my dealer and installed into the bucket. That was US$300 installed but based on a few hours use of skidding out trees and knocking over/out old stumps that $ was well spent. I picked up the tractor Friday afternoon and had it stuck in the my back forest while trying to skid out a ready-to-burn maple tree the size of a telephone pole. I used the bucket to push myself out. I really need to learn all the in and outs of pulling, pushing and lifting with this tractor because it's apparent to me that safety first is required.

Now I need to buy some sling chokers for tree skidding, a 3 pt hitch blower or back blade for snow removal, a set of the Payne-type removable bucket forks, maybe a bucket grapple next year, a PTO generator for power back up and maybe even a backhoe.

I had hoped to buy a slightly used B7610/7800 or Kioti but the slim pickings and nominal savings over buying new convinced me to buy new. After yesterday's bush work I am very happy that I didn't buy the more easily garaged B7610 as the extra stability, ground clearance, and I suppose hp, came in handy. Out to work...lots' of trees and rocks to move around.