How do I move 1.6 tonnes of rebar up a hill manually?

I've dealt with similar logistical messes on steep slopes and carrying those 10-15 pieces at a time on your shoulder is a recipe for a blown disk. Even with a harness, the balance of 2.4m rods is awkward as hell on a steep grade. Instead of lifting the full weight, you should focus on dragging it. If you have any kind of vehicle or even a solid tree at the top of that hill, a manual come-along winch or a long tow strap is going to be your best friend. If you're truly stuck doing it by manual power alone, make a sled out of a piece of thick plywood or a heavy-duty plastic concrete mixing tub. Bundle the rebar into groups of 10 or 12 using duct tape or bailing wire so they don't slide around. Secure the bundle into the sled and use a **chest harness**—not a shoulder strap—to pull. It lets you lean your entire body weight into the climb rather than straining your lower back and neck. Another option is to build a quick third wheel rig. If you can find an old wheelbarrow wheel or even a sturdy lawnmower wheel, bolt it to a small wooden frame that can hold one end of a bundle. You lift the front end like the handles of a wheelbarrow and let the wheel take the weight at the back. It sounds like extra work to build, but for 525 pieces, the time spent fabricating a basic dolly will save you hours of recovery time later.

Don't forget the grip. Rebar is usually covered in mill scale or light oil that gets incredibly slick when your hands get sweaty or if there's dew on the ground. Get a pair of those **heavy-duty nitrile-dipped gloves**; they provide way better traction on steel than leather ever will. And honestly, if there are any teenagers in the neighborhood, offer them a hundred bucks to spend the afternoon helping. Moving 1.6 tonnes uphill is a young man's game.

If you end up haulin' 'em on your shoulder anyway, find some old carpet or foam pipe insulation. Tape that stuff thick over your shoulder and neck. The weight's one thing, but the constant bouncin' and metal-on-bone vibration's what realy wrecks you. Also, if you're bundlin' 'em, leave a bit of a 'tail' with the tape or wire to use as a handle. Makes it way easier to keep 'em from shiftin' mid-climb when you're gassed.

You shold prioritize minimizing the coefficient of friction against the gravel, as dragging 1.6 tonnes across loose aggregate involves significant energy loss trough surface displacement. I suggest laying down a temporary 'runway' of sacrificial 2x4s to provide a uniform longitudinal surface for your load, wich prevents the bundles from catching on larger stones. Additionally, ensure your bundles are secured with actual mechanical tension via ratchet straps rather than adhesive tape, becasue the cumulative vibration of the climb can cause those 2.4m rods to oscillate and slip out of the rear of the bundle, creating a localized hazard for your heels.

Update: I tried the pipe insulation on my shoulder and it’s a lifesaver for the bruising. However, the balance is still wrecking my lower back on the incline. I’m going to attempt the dragging suggestion next. Do you guys think a basic ratcheting tie-down will hold a bundle tight enough to drag over gravel without them slipping out?