Customer Projects: The Rock Hauler in Action
Customer Projects: The Rock Hauler in Action
Every Rhino Tool Systems cart ends up in the hands of someone tackling a serious project. The Rock Hauler has been used to move giant boulders, install wood stoves, build retaining walls, shape landscape stones, clear property, and more.
This page highlights real projects from real Rhino owners, showing exactly how the Rock Hauler performs in the field.
If you’ve completed a project with your Rhino, you can submit your photos and story at the bottom of this page.
Project: Moving a 1,000 lb Boulder for a Wood Stove Installation (Washington State)
“I rolled a 900+ lb stone solo across gravel and into my cabin. Your cart system is really where I started. We could not have done this safely without it.”
— Matt C.
Summary
In Chimacum, Washington, Matt moved a 900–1,200 lb glacial erratic made of green serpentine—a very dense stone—using the Rhino Rock Hauler as the core tool throughout the process.
After carving the boulder down, he used the Rhino in several clever ways to get the stone across gravel, through a cabin doorway, and into final position beneath a wood stove.
He first used the cart as a skidder pulled by a truck winch to drag the stone safely over uneven terrain. Next, he attached a small welded angle-iron dolly to create a zero-turn rotation system for reorienting the stone before bringing it indoors.
To move the boulder through the doorway, he rolled it in on the Rhino, removed the handles, and used a scissor jack to lift the stone, remove the dolly, and lower it back onto the cart.
Inside the cabin, he switched to 12-inch rebar rollers for fine adjustments, using pry bars to lift and remove each roller as the stone reached its exact location. The finished boulder rests on a 3/8” hot-rolled steel plate to meet spark-protection and weight-distribution requirements.
Project: Moving Standing Stones for a Zen Garden Feature (Connecticut)
“I've used the Rock Hauler for nearly every part of my project, from moving slabs for my stage to standing stones as Zen-style lawn art.”
— Michael E.
Summary
In rural Connecticut, Michael E. used the Rhino Rock Hauler to move heavy stone slabs and upright standing stones for a Zen-inspired landscape project on his wooded property.
Working alone on sloped, uneven forest trails, he used the Rock Hauler to pry and carry large, flat stones out of the woods and haul them back to his clearing. From there, he repositioned the slabs and set selected stones upright as focal points in his garden.
The cart’s ability to clamp onto irregular rock shapes and roll them over roots, leaves, and soft soil let Michael place stones exactly where he wanted—without machinery and without tearing up the surrounding landscape.
Having completed his Zen garden feature, Michael now plans to use the Rock Hauler again to move rock for a small dam that will help hold water longer in his spring-fed vernal pool.
Project: Building a Japanese-Style Rock Garden with 400–500 lb Boulders (Indiana)
“The Rock Hauler gives me the capability I need without the mess. I can already see so many future uses for it, and honestly, I doubt I’ll ever sell it.”
— Scott W.
Summary
On his one-acre property, sculptor Scott Westphal is rebuilding a dry Japanese-style rock garden, using the Rhino Rock Hauler to move and position 400–500 lb boulders and awkward stone slabs that were scattered throughout his yard.
Instead of renting a Dingo or skid steer—and dealing with time pressure and torn-up turf—Scott uses the Rock Hauler to work at his own pace, carefully placing each stone in a traditional Japanese arrangement. He can move one boulder at a time, step back to evaluate the composition, and make adjustments without feeling rushed.
In these photos, he’s using the Rock Hauler to lift and hold a large boulder in place while he stacks leveling bricks underneath. The stone is strapped securely to the frame, and the cart acts like a mobile lifting jack, keeping the weight controlled while he fine-tunes the height and angle.
On steeper parts of the yard and in soft ground, Scott tows the loaded cart with his Exmark mower using the Rhino tow-bar accessory, and even adds a winch tied to the mower when extra pulling power is needed. As a metal sculptor who fabricates large pieces, he appreciates the engineering and leverage built into the Rock Hauler and considers it a long-term tool for both his landscape work and sculpture projects.
PROJECT: BUILDING A MOUNTAINSIDE STONE TERRACE (VERMONT)
“Absolutely worth the money. It is great for not only carrying but leveraging rocks around as it has a built-in fulcrum. Highly recommend.” — David B.
Summary
David B. from Vermont used the Rhino Rock Hauler to build about a 22' diameter circular stone terrace overlooking the Green Mountains. Working alone on sloped, uneven terrain, David relied on the Hauler’s leverage system, third wheel, and tow-bar accessory to move dozens of large flat-faced fieldstones. These stones appear to range between 80–250 lbs each, with several larger capstones approaching 300+ lbs.
The project involved transporting stones across open pasture, staging them, and then setting each layer with careful height adjustment. Thanks to the Rhino’s built-in fulcrum and ability to “walk” stones into precise position, David was able to construct a stable, level, dry-laid wall forming a raised terrace with panoramic views.
His finished space is a beautifully crafted circular seating area—built entirely by hand, made possible by the mechanical advantage and towing capability of the Rock Hauler.
PROJECT: MOVING 10 TONS OF BOULDERS FOR LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE RESTORATION (MICHIGAN)
“Rhino’s personalized service and advice as well as a great, solid tool, made it possible. Thank you Rhino Tool Systems!” — Bill H.
Summary
Bill H. used the Rhino Rock Hauler to relocate roughly 10 tons of mixed-size stones (30–300 lb each) from a beachfront on Lake Michigan up a steep, unstable shoreline slope. The terrain included deep sand, shifting mud, and embedded rocks — conditions that make moving heavy boulders by hand nearly impossible.
With the Hauler outfitted with the optional third wheel and a plywood base, Bill and a helper were able to roll 300-lb stones with ease over sand, and even manage **~600 lb loads** when working together carefully. The cart’s built-in fulcrum and balanced axle design allowed them to leverage boulders — not just carry them — making the project realistically achievable without heavy equipment.
Over multiple load-and-move sessions, they stacked dozens of large fieldstones into a retaining wall that now protects the hillside from wave action, rain runoff, and seasonal erosion. Several neighbors who witnessed the work were amazed the entire stone wall was built manually, with the Rhino and not a machine.
Bill says the combination of Rhino’s tool design and personalized support was the difference between “an impossible job” and a finished, solid structure that secures his property for years to come.
Share Your Project
Rhino customers all over the country are using the Rock Hauler to move boulders, build landscaping features, and complete projects that would normally require machinery. If you’ve completed a project and want to be featured, we’d love to see it!
Email your photos or videos to:
support@rhinotoolsystems.com
Please include:
- Approximate stone weight or dimensions
- A short description of your project
- Your state or region
- A few photos of your project in progress and/or the results