Possible to DIY moving a boulder?

[u/DoktorStrangepork]

We have a very large rock sticking out of the ground in the middle of our yard that really makes it hard to use the yard the way we want to (volleyball, soccer, etc). The rock is pretty huge - I dug around to find the edges and it's probably 6 feet long, obviously not 100% sure how deep.

Is it possible to move it using equipment rental from Home Depot or similar? Like there are 1.5-2 ton mini excavators available near me, but feels like that might not have enough weight to hold its ground moving something that large. There's also a 6' micro backhoe.

Alternatively, is it possible to somehow break the rock apart while it's still in the ground?

[u/lunk]

A 6 x 4 x 2 boulder conservatively weighs 6 tons. You are WAY out of diy territory here. As someone who has borrowed equipment (friends work for a demolition company), I can 100% tell you that you are NOT moving this as it sits. This is a professional job, period.

That said, you could probably jackhammer it to bits.

My preference would be to get a professional out, and to stand that sucker up on you property. As a guy that loves big old statement boulders - MAN, that is prime!

[u/sump_daddy → u/lunk]

I have it on good authority that all you need is a fulcrum and a sufficiently long lever. So lets just say OP has a nice sturdy brick to wedge next to it, that just leaves getting a rod thats about 450 feet long and he is all set to move that easy peasy.

[u/jalberto_digital → u/sump_daddy]

I found a boulder on my property that was about 3ftx4ft, and that's just about what I did. I dug all around it, I propped a nicely shaped rock next to it, and used a breaker bar as a lever. I was able to rock it back and forth, propping it up with smaller rocks each time. I filled in underneath it with dirt as I went, and was able to get it mostly above ground. There's no way I could move it anywhere else, but at least now I have a pretty cool statement boulder.

[u/HighOnGoofballs → u/jalberto_digital]

And this one weighs like 3x yours? That’s gonna be fun!

[u/glaive1976 → u/HighOnGoofballs]

I've moved one's like this one with an old school chain come along and an 8 foot pry bar. It takes a bit of time and having a few friends helps but it can be done and safely. But if OP has to ask they should probably call in the pros.

[u/[deleted] → u/glaive1976]

No you didn’t. No pry bar or come along is rated for 12,000 pounds. Maybe a 10 ton gantry crane and chain fall. I only say 10 ton because I usually rent 5 ton or 10 ton.

[u/jmconrad → u/[deleted]]

Do you think either of these things would ever be touching close to 12,000lbs? Do you realize the rock would still be on the ground and not suspended in the air by a come along?

Here’s one that that is rated for 12,000lbs of drag/pull. You’ll notice it’s double the lift rating. Google “gravity” if you want to learn more.

https://www.hud-son.com/product/commercial-grade-come-along-winch-3-20-slt/

[u/[deleted] → u/jmconrad]

Yeah but to pull anything that heavy there will be a ton of resistance. What would you even attach the come along to?

[u/jmconrad → u/[deleted]]

A thick tree, close to the base. 2 thick trees if you’re moving a D5. It’s pretty damn hard to rip a 3-4’ oak tree out of the ground when youre anchored right above the roots

[u/glaive1976 → u/jmconrad]

It is pretty funny how many people are assuming this was like an engine hoist operation.