Transporting boulders

[4570Man]

Never seeing a dump trailer in action, is that the typical speed of dumping material? Or is that a heavier load and hence a slower speed? Just asking. And yes I have some rocks as shown on my property. Thanks, Jon

They’re pretty slow but thar one is exceptionally slow. I wish mine had a Honda gas motor vs the battery pump.

 

[Hay Dude]

Dual batts

 

[plowhog]

A lot of variables, such as what kind of stone/rock, but if it’s 3x3x3, you’re looking at around one boulder, per trip, with that trailer.

Here are some things I found, with a quick search. Granite versus sandstone has a large spread, as you can see.


View attachment 697264

View attachment 697265

I could not get the attachments to open. They are granite boulders.

Last year I hauled two loads of football sized rocks from the same location. I only loaded the trailer to about 40-50% full and it seemed fine.

 

[nikerret]

I could not get the attachments to open. They are granite boulders.

Last year I hauled two loads of football sized rocks from the same location. I only loaded the trailer to about 40-50% full and it seemed fine.

This site is frustrating. Pictures only work a fraction of the time.

Here is a link:

http://www.graniteexpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/boulder-coverage-charts.pdf

 

[Xfaxman]

This site is frustrating. Pictures only work a fraction of the time.

What device are you using?
Since the new version I have not had a picture fail to upload and display.

 

[PILOON]

We were once building a stone retaining wall and hauling boulders from another site.
The dump truck lifted to dump his load and one big boulder got stuck under his tailgate.
The whole truck raised in the air with the cab close to 8 ft high.
I never saw a driver release the dump valve so fast!
When he debarked he was all white! (never asked if his shorts needed changing)

Using a dump truck they simply make a bed of earth B4 loading boulders.
Having seen that method often I assume it is approved practice.

 

[nikerret]

What device are you using?
Since the new version I have not had a picture fail to upload and display.

Usually my iPad. It works sometimes, but not most times.

 

[cjoffutt]

Usually my iPad. It works sometimes, but not most times.

Same issue for me using TapaTalk, pics hardly ever load. Figured it was just something to do with TapaTalk though as it happens across numerous forums via wifi, or ATT LTE service.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

Here's how I did it.

I took four 36" axle straps, joined them together to a shackle, spread them out like a star, and rolled the rock onto them. Then I wrapped them around and ran a chain through the ends, pulled it tight and fastened with another shackle. That gave me a handy handle for getting the rock out of the woods and onto the trailer. On the trailer I ran eight 1000-lb rated ratchet straps to the tiedowns.

I drove 500 miles that way, from where rocks are ample to where they are scarce. At the end of the journey the ratchet straps were as tight as when I began.

 

[oosik]

I would SERIOUSLY rig up a strapping/restraint system equal to the load and speeds you will be traveling. I've been directly involved in one such accident and had my vehicles involved in two. In both cases the "object" came forward and into the passenger compartment. One "object" - the engine in my VW bug. The other - a large weight blob of concrete in the bed of my pickup.

Fortunately - nobody was injured by either "object" but it was close. MAN - was it ever close.

 

[Egon]

Got to your local tire store and borrow a bunch of old tires. Sit the boulders on a tire and throw the rest between them.

Add one tire to the top and use chains & boomers to help hold it down.

 

[deezler]

Ooh I like that tire idea. But honestly, when I picked up a load of boulders in a dump trailer to go 10 miles, I didn't use any straps. They didn't move a bit. Just use all your straps on diagonals, crossing above the rocks and you are good enough.

Do you have to go on the highway, or is it all lower speed?

 

[nisaacs]

I have hauled a few boulders/rocks and just went with it. Like Hay Dude said, light layer of dirt and dump rocks in. If they are real big I come in from the open tail gate and set them down.

The row of rocks my driver is standing on we hauled and dumped.

 

[plowhog]

Ooh I like that tire idea. But honestly, when I picked up a load of boulders in a dump trailer to go 10 miles, I didn't use any straps. They didn't move a bit. Just use all your straps on diagonals, crossing above the rocks and you are good enough.

Do you have to go on the highway, or is it all lower speed?

Some freeway but that's ok. Then about 30 miles of 2-lane twisty mountainous highway where speed limit is 60mph max, down to 35mph in bends. And idiots on that road want to go 70mph. Many fatal accidents in this stretch in winter. I will have to go slow whether they like it or not ...

 

[rglabach]

Depending on the size of the boulders, I'd strap or chain them and them use some spray foam around the base to cushion or stabilize them

 

[McCaskey]

When I dump boulders out of the trailer, I now put the truck in neutral with parking brake on. The shock on the trailer against the truck when the boulders dropped snapped the parking pin pawl in the transmission.
It was an expensive repair.

 

[James Mason]

I would lay down a bed of old tires to soften the load against the trailer floor and stabilize any tendency to roll. A heavy tarp in addition would be good.

 

[spankan]

Whatever you do... Drive at night when there is no traffic...

 

[britbike2001]

I have run into this before.

My solution was to get some 4x4's or something similar. With them laying on the deck, slide them to the boulders till they were like chocks. Due to the odd shape of the boulders they were not parallel but thats fine, cut some other 4x4's so they are the right length to sit on top of the first set, but perpendicular to them. Slide them into the boulder till they were secure and then lag them to the first ones.

This keeps the boulders from rolling around pretty well. Its sort of like making a cradle.

If needed, you can make multiple layers of this to kind of create a cage. By playing around with the length of the 4x4's you could probably brace them to the sides of the trailer or at least be able to get a strap on them.

 

[thespaugh]

I've had luck packing boulders for transport with "hog fuel" (very light weight and cheap up here in the Pacific NW @ $8-10/yd) - Hog fuel: the useful fuel with an unusual name - Drax

A layer at the bottom of the trailer and then around and over the rocks. Protects your trailer and packed in such a way they can't move. Reminds me of eggs in a kids Easter basket when done.