How to get a BFR off a Pick up Truck
Getting a boulder on a pick up truck is easy. All you need is a BobCat with forks.
Getting it off is another story. I’ll try to make it short.
It’s not going to unload itself so the first step to moving it by hand is to reduce the friction between the rock and the truck. Reason and dialog won’t work so you have to use what ever leverage you can to slip a roller under the rock as far a possible.
Using my weight scales (mud flap distance to the ground) I estimated this rock to weigh in at 1600 Lbs. Too heavy with no room to get a bar behind the rock a more creative way of persuasion was called for than a simple bar lever action in order to move the it forward.
Here’s where a chain, a come-along and a ramp used MacGyver style outwits a rock. Just pull down on the lever to pull the *BFR towards the back of the truck. Repeat as necessary until the rock is ready to roll.
Here’s the point things can get hairy. These longer rocks hang out and over the ramps. You never can be sure where the tipping point is so sometimes they come down hard when they keep extending out farther and farther before finally dropping. When that happens it’s best to run for cover. One time both ramps got snapped like toothpicks and the end of one went flying over the cab of the truck. I really don’t want to think how close it came to knocking some sense into my head.
This time the movement went smoothly and the rock rolled right as expected. Now it’s time to use fulcrums and the bar. This is basically the ‘crew’ position. Insert the bar at an angle, push down (thereby lifting the rock) and then ‘row’ letting the rock settle at the end of the stroke. Repeat as necessary. When dealing with something this large inches at a time make great strides.
Another position is the ‘Hernia Lift. Drive the bar into the ground under the rock at an angle. Lift and push at the same time. The rock (on rollers) will swivel.
This is the ‘don’t worry, you have enough kids’ position. With fulcrum in place this is basically the same maneuver as the ‘crew’. Only this time there’s so much weight that it might be necessary to throw a leg over the bar and sort of sit on the lever. It works but sometimes things slip.
One last move and the rock will be set in place. OOPS!
After getting rid of the evidence that I goofed up the rock is ready to display.
So this is one of the many things I do for fun and profit. There’s not much profit in it so I figure I must be having fun.
If you haven’t guessed by now a BFR is
Big (insert F…ing word here) Rock
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October 3rd, 2009 at 10:10 pm
I got here by intentional mistake and was just admiring the stones.
If there’s one thing I love in a garden, it is boulders. We’re fortunate to live in an area where there are few rocks just lying around, but underground is a treasure trove of limestone rock with fossils.
I’ll have to come back and see the rest of your collection.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I am glad you did not get your toe smashed, or anything else.
But it is a beauty.
Rosey
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I think you just need a telephone booth where you can wear your red underwear outside.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Nice rock! It’s interesting what you can do with leverage. I did an emergency response training where we pretended to free a person from a big slab of concrete. Using a pry bar, we managed. I was amazed. (Of course we that slap of concrete was not on top of a truck…)
October 4th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Looks like you have a gardening addiction there buddy.
October 4th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Maybe next time have the front loader put the BFR on the rollers in the bed….
October 4th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I thought you meant Big FAT Rock…Good grief, you are brave to attempt moving that thing! Looks great.
October 4th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Isn’t this at least part 2 of this series? At least you didn’t break the truck!
Nice rock though.
October 4th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
I knew exactly what BFR stood for as I worked for Home Depot in my early college years and those big signs all over the store were called (on the order form no less) BFS and RBFS. Two sizes. How politically correct is that. Now you know a HD secret.
October 4th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Those pretty red bits on the house. Just decorative, or functional?
October 4th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
sigh. after hefting LFRs all day, I think I need a bobcat and staff. Fun seeing the inside scoop on how you work–cool!
October 5th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
LOL! your title (and also Lynn’s LFR comment!). When we had a bfr we were fortunate enough to be able to back it up to its destination and roll it off. Where it landed – that’s pretty much where it stayed! Interesting post and useful info.
October 5th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I can’t believe you moved that…that is one BIG rock! Great job, brain out wits brawn every time! Kim
October 5th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I’ve known Wiseacre at least 25 years, and I consider him a very good friend. Remembering that, I take issue with the person who said brains will overcome brawn in accordance with this issue. Anyone with any normal amount of reasoning power would not be moving rocks in this manner. The inventors of this world have devised all sorts of machinery that will give a human a manyfold advantage over a rock. A Bobcat, Front End Loader, or any number of other types of equipment make this simple and easy.
October 5th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
You need a BFT. I don’t curse but could not resist that. Very impressed with your rigging and maneuvering. How many license plates do you go through in one season–this one is looking pretty beat up.
October 5th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
What a brave maneuver. You are a determined lady. And the rock looks just great in its new home.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:34 pm
Holy F Batman. That is a big rock!!!! I hope your back is o.k.(-: Better have another beer just incase(-:
October 6th, 2009 at 6:27 am
What a great, humorous story! DH and I have moved some heavy things over the years, but not that huge and heavy. That wears me out just looking at it. What a wonderful addition to your gardens.
FlowerLady
October 6th, 2009 at 9:37 am
I gotta agree with Leo on this one. I totally admire your ingenuity, WA, but surely your back is worth more than the cost of hiring or renting.
October 7th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
My back and knees hurt just LOOKING at those phtos of that big frakkin’ rock. I hope you bent your knees appropriately. (and not your back)
October 11th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Whew, I’m tired just reading about you trying to move that rock. One broken shovel isn’t too bad, when you consider what else could have been broken! I keep saying I want a boulder in my garden, but how would I get it here?
October 13th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Poor little pickup.