picking up rocks

raymond · May 22, 2002

What can I get to hook on my tractor to pick up rocks without killing the grass and my wallet besides a bucket?

thankyou,
Ray

RobS · May 22, 2002

The best combination I've found for picking rocks is the FEL, wife and a couple of kids. It's basically manual labor and the tractor acts as a diesel powered wheelbarrow. Pretty low tech, but it gets the job done /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thomas · May 23, 2002

Visit an equipment auction etc.. and see if you can pick up a good second trailer w/wide tires.

wroughtn_harv · May 23, 2002

What size are your rocks? Are you trying to pry them out or are you just wanting to move them.

A great source for auxillary hydraulics is picking up an old lift gate assembly. I've had great luck with them as a starting point. You have the twelve volt hydraulic pump and a cylinder. You just need a place to stand and you're Atlas.

I have access to three, yup three, wheel chair lifts out of commercial buses. They have the built in hydraulic pump, cylinder, a screw drive assembly like in a gate operator, and some really neat portable controls.

Sooooo many projects, so little time.

If you're liking the trailer idea keep in mind that Northern carries axle stubs down to two thousand pounds with hubs, tires and wheels. For about a hundred and fifty dollars or so you can have some squatty tires with hub assemblies you can weld up to any old box you dream up.

woodmills1 · May 24, 2002

my grapple arm is really for logs, but you should see it do up rocks.

normde2001 · May 25, 2002

If you don't have a FEL, I would think a dirt/pond scoop would work as good as anything, about $200.

Anonymous Poster · May 25, 2002

A builder I knew used an attachment on his"bobcat" that scooped up soil and rocks and held the rocks droping the soil. The soil nearly looked like tilled soil. I do not know how large or small it could handle the rocks. I also suspect it was an expensive tool. Personaly I've used the pick and pitch method, It's progress if you're doing it for yourself but it's again and again for others. happy rock plucking.

jhburke · May 26, 2002

There is a bucket for the fel that has teeth, but the bottom of the bucket is just bars. That way the dirt falls through and the rocks stay in the bucket. I haven't priced one.

Gary_in_Indiana · May 26, 2002

"a bucket for the fel that has teeth, but the bottom of the bucket is just bars"

That sounds like the perfect use for an old, worn out bucket. /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif Square out the hole in the bottom, weld on some bars, bolt on your tooth bar and you have a home made rock bucket. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif