Sand Ladders??? [Archive] - Expedition Portal

viter

01-19-2007, 05:12 AM

sand ladders seem quite expansive...

I bought some 4' long aluminum diamond patterned ramps from Inudstrial Metal Supply in San Diego for about $80 total and have used them before semisucesfully in mud and snow.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/ua_taco/flooded%20by%20the%20railroad%201%202005/PICT3111.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/ua_taco/flooded%20by%20the%20railroad%201%202005/PICT3112.jpg
and by the way, these are 31" bfg mud-terrains looking more like cheese wheels
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/ua_taco/flooded%20by%20the%20railroad%201%202005/PICT3110.jpg
and just in case you are thinking what am I doing in the middle of some field tearing up the land? - we were following a dirt road and we got to a huge washed out rut that we couldn't cross, so we had to turn around, the road wasn't wide enough so I decided to drive out to the side of the road onto a plain looking green field to make a u-turn. well as soon as I entered the green field the truck just sank right into the super-soft mud. was one of these moments that reminds you that not everything is the way it looks... :)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/ua_taco/flooded%20by%20the%20railroad%201%202005/PICT3108.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/ua_taco/flooded%20by%20the%20railroad%201%202005/PICT3126.jpg

now back to the topic. these boards are not anywhere strong enough for bridging though, but they double as my motorcycle ramps (if I can find a nice hill, cause they are somewhat short for the tall bed of my truck) and sometimes even as tortilla heating pan, although I heard aluminum is not good for your health ;)
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c320/ua_taco/baja%20run%20oct%2021-22%202006/October2006127.jpg

devinsixtyseven

01-19-2007, 10:18 PM

www.amgrating.com will also do them. use the 2x2x2 grid in whatever length and width you think is best for your vehicle.

wesel123

01-31-2007, 09:41 PM

Thanks for the info so far.

We have tried the dimond plate thing once, it pretty much took out my buddies rocker panel (shot like a frekin rocket). They seemed to hook up on the tires but just slide on the mud.

I'll have to look at the fiberglass set up seems chaper then full blow British import sand ladder's.

OutbacKamper

02-01-2007, 02:42 AM

I wish I could remember who suggested these to me, but I can't. Anyway the cheapest idea, that works very well and is much safer than any metal sand ladder or ramp is as follows:
Get a used snowmobile track (usually free or close to it) cut the track in half and you have 2 steel reinforced rubber mats with traction ribs or paddles on one side and raised rubber knobs on the other. They measure approx 12" x 4'. For storage you can roll them up, or lay them flat. They don't work very well for heating tortillas, but they also won't damage your vehicle and (more importantly) won't hurt bystanders.
Cheers
Mark

toyrunner95

02-01-2007, 06:22 PM

sand ladders work if used properly, i have a set that i made and they have caribeaners on pieces of cable that i attach to rock rails on the truck so they wont fling out when u really gas it, realistically the ladders are supposed to be a pre laid trail that you cross slowly, like a bridge.

pwc

02-01-2007, 07:10 PM

does anyone use any form of actual ladder for sand ladders? I've been looking for the bridging ladders that have rungs, rather than just flat plate. I imagine the same type may work well for sand/snow

RoundOut

02-02-2007, 10:37 PM

I saw these at Sam's Club today and wondered what the board thought about their service as sand ladders. What do you think?

Folding Truck/ATV Ramps (http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?catg=535&item=198484&prDeTab=2#A)

offroadchef

02-18-2007, 02:31 AM

Here is a product from germany

http://www.sandbleche.de/onlineshop.html

If anyone is interested I can talk too them and see what it would take to get them

Beowulf

02-21-2007, 01:03 AM

The waffle boards work well for bridging, plus they weigh less than the actual aluminum bridges.
http://www.okoffroad.com/stuff-waffleboards.htm

RCA2222

02-21-2007, 11:23 AM

Thr these...

http://www.roversnorth.com/store/p-5649-sand-tracks-pair-aluminium.aspx

They were just reviewed in Off Road magazine.:coffeedrink:

OutbacKamper

02-21-2007, 07:28 PM

Here is another sand ladder option:

http://www.maxtrax.com.au

Check out the videos

Cheers
Mark

FortyMileDesert

02-21-2007, 08:35 PM

elcoyote

02-21-2007, 09:02 PM

There is a small company in AZ making sand ladders. www.sandmats.com
I gave a pair of them to Scott awhile back to review. Matbe he has some input here as to how effective thay have been (hint-hint)

pwc

02-21-2007, 09:18 PM

The few times that I've seen any kind of sand ladders used in N. Nevada for snow, mud or sand; they've always become missiles.

If you think that you might need something like that; you'd be better off with a second or third truck along.

They can shoot out if you've got no throttle control and let the wheels spin. But used correctly, they can help you out when that second or third truck is not in FRONT of you and you want to go forward.

Beowulf

02-22-2007, 08:36 PM

A good trick is to attach the ladder to your bumper with a length of rope. It will not only stop them from becoming profectiles but help in recovering them. Usually, you will want to keep forward movement for quite a distance until you feel you are safe ground. Instead of having to trek the distance back to where you were stuck and then dig the ladders out, they will be trailing you just the distance of the rope.

jayheats

03-01-2007, 05:33 AM

British Pacific has 'em

http://www.britishpacific.com/landroverparts/LRsandLadder.html

they also have bridging ladders :D

http://www.britishpacific.com/landroverparts/BridgingLadder.html

cheers
-isaac

Many of you call these Waffle Boards, take a look at these sand ladders at terra-trax. They can also be used as bridging ladders. They are shipped out of Utah at $195 a pair plus shipping. www.terra-trax.com
http://www.terra-trax.com/pb/wp_b9d3ad70/images/img1388643cedb048fd92

dieselcruiserhead

03-08-2007, 05:34 AM

cheapest I have seen them, and they are genuine "sand ladders" is at some of the big military surplus houses...

HarryT

03-09-2007, 12:57 AM

Has anyone tried a couple of sections of chain link fence as a traction device?

Harry
SC

HenryJ

06-25-2008, 03:54 AM

www.amgrating.com will also do them. use the 2x2x2 grid in whatever length and width you think is best for your vehicle.
I have been watching and looking for quite a while now. Finally I placed an order.

This self recovery helped to sell me on the stuff: Youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfthZpXFBHA&feature=related)
I ordered two pieces of grating material (http://www.amgrating.com/molded_grating.html#applications) from American Grating LLC , ( http://www.amgrating.com ) I have been dealing with Colin Kendrick. He has been very helpful.
I purchased two pieces Molded Grating, Isophthalic Resin, 2" deep with 2" mesh, Light grey with a gritted surface, 18" X 48" $70 each. They should arrive first part of next week.
Light weight and strong. The plan is for it to function as traction and bridging material.

http://www.amgrating.com/images/molded_impact_resistant.jpg

I have a couple places in mind to carry them. One would be a frame mount to the side bars. The other would be attached to the tailgate.

Terra-trax (http://www.terra-trax.com/) appear to be a similar product. The cost is higher at $195 + $29 shipping and they are narrower.

Wider is better if your aim is not real good ;) I do like the options these will offer. My approach angle may need some help now and then and stuck in sand is not fun either.

http://www.terra-trax.com/pb/wp_b9d3ad70/images/img2482643cd9173e8055.jpg

UPDATE 7/4/2008:
They showed up a few days ago. They are plenty wide. Over 25 lbs each. I want to keep that weight low and centered if I can.
Things did not go exactly as planned.

First, I do not need ramps 18" wide. 12" is plenty. The tread width on my truck is only 7".
The material was just way too wide to be carried practically. I could have saved 1/3 the price by ordering less.

I thought I could store these above the side bars, in between the frame. Nice idea, but just did not pan out. 10" is as wide as might fit in there. I wanted a little wider , so I stayed with 12". Right now they are nyla-tied / zip-tied to the side bars and frame from the underside. I do not know if the ties will hold up long term in this application. I would like to try a tire winch removed from the spare tire mount, or some slide in racks. Custom sliders may be the ultimate solution.

They do not reduce my ground clearance at break over since they are above the bottom of the frame. I am not crazy about the current location, but we will see how it goes.

http://209.78.77.109/coppermine/albums/userpics/10006/waffle.jpg

To cut the material, don't waste time with a reciprocal saw. A table saw ripped through them easily. I wasted three blades and a bunch of time on the first one with the sawzall.

I have two pieces four foot long and just over four inches wide to play with , left over. It should be fun to do some testing with those.
Black would have been nicer to hide them. This makes the Terra Trax a little more attractive. Price makes these attractive.

HenryJ

07-10-2008, 12:35 AM

Finally made time to find a solution to the installation of the traction mats. I knew zip-ties were not the answer as they require too much effort to put the mats in place. I ran several ideas through the last few days and settled upon a tried and tested method. Spare tire winches.

I checked out several types , starting with the one removed from my truck. Most were rather large. I settled on the fullsize Dodge 2500 winch. Small, flat top four bolt mount, 5/32 cable.
The lift plate was not going to work. I found that the mid ninties Nissan truck lift plate was perfect for a two by four inch hole. Cut one bar and It fits like it was made for it.

http://209.78.77.109/coppermine/albums/userpics/10006/matplate.jpg

Now to attach the Dodge winch cable to the Nissan lift plate. The Nissan uses a chain lift. Removal was simple. By creating a loop in the cable I had exactly what was needed to attach the plates.

Brackets were easy. Two pieces of 4" angle. One side bent upward to align the winch to pull in and up. Four nutserts in the frame to mount it and hang the winch.
http://209.78.77.109/coppermine/albums/userpics/10006/matwinch.jpg

It probably took about three hours to complete. Time will tell if it was time well spent.

http://209.78.77.109/coppermine/albums/userpics/10006/matmounted.jpg

As you can see I am not 100% trusting. I still have one zip-tie on each mat as a safety :)

HenryJ

07-13-2008, 09:30 PM

I am satisfied that this material will work just fine.

http://www.s-10crewcab.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10006/stresst.jpg

That piece is four foot long and four inches wide. It did flex, as you can see it bowed in the photo. I jumped on the front bumper to bounce it and rolled the truck back and fourth to see if I could break it. No luck. It held up just fine. Once the weight was removed it returned to shape with no bowing. Grip is good. It moved about an inch during the test. The tire was not centered very well and It did not look bad. I did hear some creaking, like stressed fiberglass can do. It was probably the gravel as it moved a little . I could see no deterioration of the material.
My 12" wide mats should spread the load better and be more than enough.

TheRoadie

07-13-2008, 10:13 PM

THANKS! Been hoping somebody would do a strength test. Now I've got the confidence to buy some. Where you're storing them should work for bridging ladders, but in case of deep sand or mud aren't you hosed? If your traction device is trapped under the stuck vehicle, you'll end up having to put something else under your HiLift to get at them, won't you?

HenryJ

07-13-2008, 10:41 PM

Where you're storing them should work for bridging ladders, but in case of deep sand or mud aren't you hosed? If your traction device is trapped under the stuck vehicle, you'll end up having to put something else under your HiLift to get at them, won't you?I am leaving the hi-lift home for now.

http://www.s-10crewcab.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10006/IMGP0152.JPG

As long as I can get to my shovel I am good. I only need a couple inches under the back or front to lift it high enough to pull the traction mats, using the air bag jack. I am hoping I will quit before I get in that deep anyway. I have thirteen inches to the mats where they are mounted.
I may change my mind later, but for my usual terrain, I should be OK. I don't frequent the muddy stuff. Sand is my main concern.

Weighing all alternate locations on my truck this made the most sense. Next placement will be in the back under the loaded gear. That would have been a pain to unload everything to get to them.

Time will tell.

TheRoadie

07-13-2008, 10:52 PM

Appreciated. I used to live in Oregon - I hate mud. I thought you might have the air jack after seeing the video, but I thought the cat/muffler heat issue would make it hard to use on one side. There must be places you can put it so you can lift one tire up at a time preferentially.

Heck, depending on how many pointy parts the vehicle has, you could even inflate the jacking pumpkin and drive off it without using the mats, if you're only stuck on one side.

HenryJ

07-13-2008, 11:23 PM

I have a shield on the rear Isuzu tank under the back that will work well for lifting the rear. With IFS The front shields will work for raising. From the sides The transfer case shield covers the left side and partially protects the cat. The torsion bar runs below the cat to the right side as well. My cat is pretty small and rides up four inches from the bottom of the frame. It would, hopefully be out of harms way.
I carry a thick piece of belting in the bag for the air bag and use that as protection. I don't know how long it would offer protection on a hot cat if contact was made. Hope I am not in a position where I have to test that.

The rest of the system is tucked up pretty well. I have a custom 3" pipe cat back installed after a 2" body lift. The muffler is just in front of the rear axle and pretty close to the tire. I would hope I don't need to jack at that point. Under the rear fuel tank would probably make more sense in that situation.

My side bars may not look like much , but they can be deceptive. They are filled with structural foam and the brackets were custom made. Reinforced and tied to the frame, I have lifted the truck from them. If needed, I could stuff the jack under a bar to raise it enough to recover the mats one at a time. Boy! I hope I never have to do that :)

Worst case would be the mats buried to a point of irretrievable. In that case I hope I could use the winch for recovery. Unable to bury a good anchor point or find one, I hope the cell phone or radio can reach assistance. That is quite a few options. Even then the SPOT is looking attractive ;)

I have no experience with the mats and bag as recovery tools. The mats and air jack weight about 15 lbs more than a Hi-lift. Placement of the weight is better and versatility also as good or better. I don't know if its the answer for all terrains, but sure hope it is right for me. One of those things that sure looks good right now.

TheRoadie

07-13-2008, 11:47 PM

Thanks for the thorough explanation. And the sand ladders can be used instead of rock stacking if you're on one of those kind of trails. Lots less work than stacking, then unstacking rocks to fill the same kind of gap. Because of worries about deep sand, I got a Pullpal to go with my winch, and went out and practiced with it to make sure it would work if I ever needed it in anger: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vd3OAKbgPr0

HenryJ

07-14-2008, 12:19 AM

Nice video. An off camber situation like that does lend itself to that recovery. My current gear would require a much more labor intensive effort. Bury the spare, bury the mats and the heavy belting for the air bag, drive stakes and lash together. I have thought about building a pull pal type anchor, but I am not sure I can justify the weight, or single use of the application right now. I have been fortunate in that I have yet to need the winch for self recovery. I hope to keep it that way by using some driving skill and common sense to keep me mobile.

TheRoadie

07-14-2008, 12:31 AM

Like the old saying about piloting: A superior pilot is one who uses his superior judgment to avoid being in situations that would require the use of his superior skills to save his sorry ***.

HenryJ

07-14-2008, 01:07 AM

:xxrotflma Nice quote!

That is good. I am far from considering my self superior, hence all the self recovery planning ;)

For my situation having the gear needed just lets me take things a little farther than would otherwise be advisable. My navigator (wife) does have a comfort zone, which I push from time to time. If I can justify the venture with assurances of a recovery plan, I get to go a little further. It is easier with my son a little older now. He can hike rather than our carrying him.
We tend to do lots of exploration with out additional vehicle support. That limits our adventure somewhat. My latest quest is versatility for unfamiliar terrain.
Some of my research directed me to bridging / sand ladders.

UK4X4

07-14-2008, 02:22 AM

"Bury the spare"

mmm ask Mike about that one......

You have a few scenarios to consider.....trail running,,, stack a rock place a ladder, makes for less stress on the truck, your riding with 4 other trucks....
some one can always tow you out

or your own you own middle of no where and can only go forward....

By the time you buried the spare....quite a job ...in any conditions....50" round by probably 4 ft deep ......to get the anchorage required.

How many hours is that.......if the muddy track is 400 meters long you'll be there a while....dig- bury -winch ad finitum

every situation has its issues and they differ widely....you can pack as many toys as you want, each one will help in some way.

some may make things worse.

Me I'm just buying some molded fiberglass grating this week as I'm heading to oman.

I have a winch....yep maybe a pull pall will work....but to keep it simple stupid
is a sand matt ladder of some description, even if it only gets me 4 ft forwards

My order will be for the 38mm ones, not quite cross two rocks strong but sufficient for traction.

if you wanted a solution for every situation you would not be able to leave home for the weight.

so lets see.....

winch...yep just messing in a ditch with friends...although drove out, just used a winch and strap to diminish damage
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g165/POshaughnessy/DSC_0129.jpg

mmm nice winch...where's the trees......oh for some traction
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g165/POshaughnessy/Discovery/DSC_0024.jpg

my dog bowl, a claw hammer and a just in reach rock saved the day........

did I wish for something more.....yep........chains, shovel, pick food and sleeping bags became standard carry items..............

try shovelling frozen track ridges....those liitle snazy snow shovels only look good in rei

no winch no trees, a 1 day walk back to a road, travelling alone.......I did'nt even try and back out........if i broke anything, or made the situation worse... i was gona be stuck a long time.

I took a long time to assess the situation.......took a long time, jacking and filling the hole and checking underneath as the front of the truck was sat in the dirt, along with the transmission cooling lines, fan belt lower hose etc etc.....

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g165/POshaughnessy/Venezuela/DSC_0138.jpg

HenryJ

07-14-2008, 02:41 AM

... and can only go forward....
Ahh, the very reason I use a receiver mounted winch. It plugs in to the back to winch me out the way I came :)
I agree that burying a spare is an act of desperation. The traction mats covered by the belting would offer another option as an anchor. They would be wider, but not need to go as deep. A trench cut to drop them in might work? I would probably wrap them with a snatch strap to spread the load and attach.

astateofmike

07-14-2008, 04:25 AM

On the sand ladders...we bought a sheet of the stuff they use for forklifts, coated for traction and cut it up. Cost us about $200 a set, we made 5 sets from them. Holds something like 15k lbs over a 1' width, and then it goes to like 7 or 6K at a 3' width... I have set them 2.5' apart on rocks and parked my truck (RRC) loaded on a pair, with deflection, but not snapped....very nice...

To the point of mounting them, or anything you need to remove easily and regularly, my favorite trick is an oldie but goodie....toe straps. Bike shops carry them, some throw them out...cost $8 and can tighten/loosen quick. Designed to be used in wet weather, sun etc and hold a lot. I had them hold in a pair of the sand ladders (waffleboard composite) and shovels, etc....they work great.

Anyway, my silly tip of the day.

mwoods

10-24-2008, 03:57 PM

I'm heading off on an extended coastal trip in a few weeks and won't have time to demo these products. I'd like to make sure I have my facts straight and hear about your hands-on experience with these products--especially if you have had the opportunity to work with several different ones.

Attached is a PDF that compares 7 sandladders that are commercially available and mentioned previously on this thread.

The info on the first two pages comes from the mfg/distributors websites i.e basic research info. The last page is an attempt to summarize the research info - which of course, tends to reflect my bias toward the 3 non-metal solutions.

If you have a few minutes to look at it, I would appreciate your feedback---either about the "fact" section or the "opinion" section (i.e. summary section).

Keep in mind, it's a draft--think of it as a "pinata"--and take a whack at it! I'll update the document it to reflect your corrections of fact and differences of opinion and re-publish it for all to see.

Thanks

TheRoadie

10-24-2008, 04:29 PM

You missed my bargain ones from http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17223

UK4X4

10-24-2008, 04:58 PM

"Thank you for the interest in American Grating and our products. The price is $45.00 for each 1' x 4' piece of our 1-1/2" deep molded grating. Colors are yellow, green or light grey. Freight to 93313 is $25.00.

Sincerely,

Colin Kendrick
American Grating, LLC
702-567-0303"

exert from thread mentioned above..

Grey - gritted- lighter than in your list-cheap

My shipment is still somewhere underway..so no chance to test yet in the small dunes we have round here......"The empty quarter" - "Wahiba Sands":safari-rig: :arabia:

Originally Posted by UK4X4
... and can only go forward....

Ahh, the very reason I use a receiver mounted winch. It plugs in to the back to winch me out the way I came.

I was thinking more--we are on our way to South- africa...and turning round is'nt an option unless you want to go back to London/places north...obviously the try, try and try again method is allowed

winch cables can also be used under the vehicle and back to a handy tree...but a great deal of care is required to insure no damage to the vehicle occurs

mwoods

10-24-2008, 05:06 PM

UK4X4

10-24-2008, 05:15 PM

"What is your time estimate from day of order to day of delivery?"

3 days from the supplier to CA.....I then packed them in a container in August and am presently awaiting the arrival of my "stuff" in Oman....in the middle east

hence google wahiba and empty quater

madizell

10-24-2008, 05:24 PM

Ahh, the very reason I use a receiver mounted winch. It plugs in to the back to winch me out the way I came :)

Somehow, in 37 years of off road driving, I have never needed to winch myself backwards. I would attribute this to two things: 1) never go forward into anything you can't get out of by going forward, unless 2) you have brought friends along who can tug you out from behind.

I have trouble enough just lifting any of the winches I own, much less having to mount or remount them, along with associated bracketry, on the trail on a bumper that is likely not going to be where I can reach it. Much as I hate using a Hi-lift as a winch, I would much rather pull a vehicle backward with a Hi-lift than dismount, carry, and remount a winch pushing 100 pounds weight while scrambling around on rocks or slipping around in mud.

I have seen only a few such mounts on the trail, and have yet to see a situation where the ability to remount the winch came effectively into play, but I have seen lots of situations where the remountable winch could not be dismounted from where it was because it was planted against whatever stopped the vehicle from going forward. I have also seen remountable winches pull their mounts loose because of the inability to withstand side loads (i.e., 2" receiver mounts). Not that they can't work, but I find them an elegant solution to a problem that hardly ever exists, and a potential threat to bodily health trying to move them around.

Not to mention -- take a look at the 2" receiver hitch you have. Most are rated for loads well below the weight of the vehicle (1,500 to 3,000 pounds), and none are rated for substantial off angle use. They are made for attaching trailers. Using them as a serious pull point requires a great deal of caution.

viatierra

10-24-2008, 06:01 PM

Here's my improvised sand ladder from this last weekend. Worked great and only slightly tweeked it...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2962301087_607b8de50d_b.jpg

Willman

10-24-2008, 06:05 PM

Here's my improvised sand ladder from this last weekend. Worked great and only slightly tweeked it...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/2962301087_607b8de50d_b.jpg

What about the floor mat option i saw in other thread???

:elkgrin:

cruiseroutfit

10-27-2008, 04:21 PM

You missed my bargain ones from http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17223

As well as the Sand Tracks ARB has been distributing here in the states. Would be neat to see how they compare with the others

Overland Hadley

10-28-2008, 01:10 AM

As well as the Sand Tracks ARB has been distributing here in the states. Would be neat to see how they compare with the others

Are the Sand Tracks new? I had not seen them before.

I am trying to figure if they would have enough added traction for use in snow, I am doubtful, but they might work just fine on snow/ice.

Sure would not want them to wrap around the tire when driving out.

Clark White

10-28-2008, 01:32 AM

winch...yep just messing in a ditch with friends...although drove out, just used a winch and strap to diminish damage
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g165/POshaughnessy/DSC_0129.jpg

Hey, I think I know that place! Alto West of Prescott AZ? I've driven through that very ditch more then my fair share of times. Don't think I ever used a strap for me (had people standing on high side bumpers the first time I did it, after that I learned the correct line) but I did have to put a strap to my friends Toyota PU just as your doing there. I miss Alto, I was a little peeved when then closed it to 4x4.

Clark

cruiseroutfit

10-28-2008, 02:17 AM

Are the Sand Tracks new? I had not seen them before.

I am trying to figure if they would have enough added traction for use in snow, I am doubtful, but they might work just fine on snow/ice.

Sure would not want them to wrap around the tire when driving out.

Within the last year, I've sold a couple of them and carry one for myself but haven't needed it yet. Had a mandatory 40' sand climb (45*) this last weekend that was well beyond its use or any ladder types for that matter. Ended up being a winch routine for all 6 rigs. I did have a customer use one in the snow/ice to get out of his steep driveway, supposedly worked really well.

mwoods

10-28-2008, 03:50 AM

As well as the Sand Tracks ARB has been distributing here in the states. Would be neat to see how they compare with the others

Cruiseroutfit, here is the side by side comparison with the other products. The ARB Sand Tracks have lots of surface area ( 59" long; 20" wide) and correspondingly heavier ( 52 lbs per pair). Other info can be found at the link in the attachment.

Best regards,

teotwaki

10-28-2008, 03:35 PM

Overland Hadley

10-29-2008, 03:36 AM

Cruiseroutfit, here is the side by side comparison with the other products. The ARB Sand Tracks have lots of surface area ( 59" long; 20" wide) and correspondingly heavier ( 52 lbs per pair). Other info can be found at the link in the attachment.

Best regards,

You should also look at the bridging ladders that infopec is selling on ebay, while not an "official" product, I think they are similar to other waffle board bridging ladders at a fraction of the price.

There is also Terra-Trax. (Link (http://www.terra-trax.com/index.html))

Overland Hadley

10-29-2008, 03:40 AM

Within the last year, I've sold a couple of them and carry one for myself but haven't needed it yet. Had a mandatory 40' sand climb (45*) this last weekend that was well beyond its use or any ladder types for that matter. Ended up being a winch routine for all 6 rigs. I did have a customer use one in the snow/ice to get out of his steep driveway, supposedly worked really well.

Thanks Kurt!

mwoods

10-29-2008, 02:14 PM

You should also look at the bridging ladders that infopec is selling on ebay, while not an "official" product, I think they are similar to other waffle board bridging ladders at a fraction of the price.

There is also Terra-Trax. (Link (http://www.terra-trax.com/index.html))

I don't know what the deal is with Terra-Trax--the only contact info they have on their website is an email address (no address, no phone). Around Oct 20, I sent an inquiry to their email address
and have not heard back from them--so haven't included them on the comparison list.

Regarding infopec, I searched ebay for bridging ladders by infopec and couldn't find them. If you have a link, can you forward it?

Best regards,

Beowulf

10-29-2008, 02:28 PM

infopec does not have his stuff on Ebay at the moment.

I contacted infopec directly.

Norman Klapper
info@pecboulder.com
Ebay vendor: infopec
2" FIBERGLASS MOLDED GRATING, VINYLESTER RESIN

Even though he does not have anything up on ebay, he can still supply them.

Here is his reply when I asked if he was still making them.

from infopec:
Sure...any size you like really. Standards are as follows:

12" x 36"
14" x 35"

12" x 48"
14" x 48"

12" x 60"
14" x 60"

Can ship in a few days - any of the above sizes or custom lengths.

jh504

10-29-2008, 10:16 PM

This might have been mentioned, I did not read the entire post. You can buy surplus steel landing mats from the military. They are called marston mats and come in around 10' sections. Cut one in half and they seem like they would work.

TheRoadie

10-29-2008, 10:29 PM

Also called PSP (perforated steel planking), and I see a bunch (1500!) are available on Ebay for $35 in El Mirage, CA - curreutly Ebay item 4575900681. Thomson's Aviation Manuals
(760)388-4216

Beowulf

10-29-2008, 10:36 PM

How much do the PSP mats weigh?

Beowulf

10-29-2008, 10:38 PM

Never mind, found it.

One sheet is 16 inches by 10 feet, and weighs about 62 pounds.

jh504

10-30-2008, 01:34 AM

jh504

10-30-2008, 03:26 PM

I have never actually seen these used, but they seemed like they would work well. There is a surplus store here in NC that sells them individually for $35. They are out of stock right now. I would like to hear if anyone picks some up how they do.

I found some in stock, and think I will be picking up a couple of 6' sections. I will post pics and let everyone know how they work.

jh504

11-01-2008, 09:18 PM

Here is a picture of the landing mats that the surplus store had. I picked up two. They have a good bit of surface rust on them, so I will be stripping them down and coating them soon. I will also cut them down a little, maybe to 4 feet or so. They are very sturdy and I think they will support the weight of my Jeep over a small span. The thing I have to figure out now is how to mount them. They weigh about 50 lbs. Once I shorten them that will take some of the weight down, but they will still be heavy. The only options I have are either inside or on the roof. I dont want them inside because I want to have easy access to them, so I guess they will go up top. I will post up when I wieght test them to see what they will hold.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/jharris504/sl.jpg

Overland Hadley

11-01-2008, 11:25 PM

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/jharris504/sl.jpg

You might want to paint them with some grippy paint, they look like they might get slippery if they get muddy or snowy.

madizell

11-02-2008, 12:13 AM

Without a traction grid, they will be almost too slick to use. Traction paint might help, but I would not expect much out of it. Adding grid only makes them heavier, and may be why landing mats are not generally used for this purpose.

jh504

11-02-2008, 01:05 AM

Yes I think they will definitley be slick. I was thinking of covering them with bedliner material or something that is texturized and non-slip. I do think that for saving the money of buying bridging ladders, I can figure out a solution for the traction issue.

ExploringNH

11-02-2008, 01:35 AM

If it were me, I would probably try to figure out a way to drill or slot those to reduce weight and increase traction. They look sturdy enough to be able to lose some meat and still hold up the truck. I dont think traction paint will last too long with a bit of tire spin.

Alaska Mike

11-02-2008, 01:43 AM

A bedliner would be too slick and would melt or peel off. You could weld on thin rods or small angle iron every 3-5 inches, which would probably weigh less than the bedliner and actaully stiffen the PST. You're probably going to want to cut off those tabs to prevent them from being bent up into your tires.

Overall, I think the plastic grid is the best thing out there, and I might just have to get a set for the Rover. They don't look as "expedition cool" as aluminum sand or bridging ladders, but they're way more practical.

cruiseroutfit

11-02-2008, 02:46 AM

Dimple Die them!

Seriously, if you can find someone with the know how and tools, its an extremely clean way to accomplish what you need. Saving weight and adding traction.

That said it would likely be far more cost & time effective to just find the landing mats that has the holes already.

http://i.pbase.com/g6/97/723097/2/86039831.5VDXnl26.jpg

Mayne

11-02-2008, 12:36 PM

We use some industrial traction tape (lack of a better term) here at the sewage plant. The "tape" holds up very well, if put on a clean surface, and is all but impossable to remove. McMaster Carr may carry it, as I don't think it's industry specific. The "tape" holds up to a lot of abuse daily out here, for a good long time. I'd be willing to bet it would do steallar for the occasional use it might see on that steal plate.

Mayne

762X39

11-02-2008, 01:02 PM

The stuff you really want is this (PSP). It is heavy and big and if I remember right, Calumet would prefer to sell it in bundles.Go in with a few buddies to cut the cost. Each person could get 1, cut it in half and drop them off at the galvanizers to finish them.http://www.calumetindustries.com/?cat=36

madizell

11-02-2008, 02:02 PM

Bed liner is "non-slip" only in a general sense. As you are planning on using them under tires, and tires will slip even on dry pavement, "non-slip" has to be pretty serious to stand up to the task. No bed liner is going to be non-slip used in this context.

Traction tape likewise is intended for feet, not tires. A spinning tire will take the paint off of steel. The traction tape won't last either.

Dimple die stamping would work, of course, but getting someone to dimple die cut 1/8th inch steel is going to be a) problematic, and b) expensive, which tends to defeat the purpose of buying something inexpensive to start with.

I had a section of dimple die cut landing track, about 8 feet long. It was all I could do to lift it and carry it around. I would NEVER have attempted to carry it on the Jeep off road.

Give the stuff a try. I personally expect that, after a trip or two and because of the weight involved, you will reconsider it.

jh504

11-02-2008, 03:02 PM

[QUOTE=Alaska Mike]You could weld on thin rods or small angle iron every 3-5 inches, which would probably weigh less than the bedliner and actaully stiffen the PST. QUOTE]

This is kind of the way I was leaning. I will try to remove as much metal as possible without hindering the structural integrety of it, and then apply some type of cross bars, like you were saying. If I can keep it around 40-45lbs that is manageable in a bad situation.
I would definitely go with waffle board if I was only interested in sand ladders. The whole reason I got these was to use as bridging in the event of an impassible wash or object.
I could have got the landing mats that have the dimples in them but they would only have been useful for sand ladders. They were not as strong as these and werent designed to support weight.

Alaska Mike

11-02-2008, 04:43 PM

I think you'll find that these will bend as well without some serious lengthwise bracing. The waffle boards actually can be use for bridging, and have been used that way for years. Very popular for that over in England. They're also lightweight and, in this case, pretty cheap.

About 15 years ago, I built a set of traction aids out of galvanized steel grating that was used for industrial steps, with the tread cut and bent into a diamond tread. They were formed so that they had structural integrity, and I added a frame of 1" square tube. The whole thing could be bolted together and configured into a camp table, with the 1" stiffeners becoming legs. They worked pretty well as a traction aid every time I used them, but they were heavy and kind of cumbersome to carry around. They now sit in my garage under my gear oil drums and pans.

Even a few years ago there weren't many options for sand ladders or bridging aids other than fabricating your own or spending $200-$400 on ones from Land Rover patrs houses. Instead, I put my money into winches that saw much more use and were much more effective. In my trail Jeep, there are few instances where I would need a bridging ladder. I have Swampers and ARBs and a winch. With my less-built Rover, I may opt for some of these bridging ladders, since they will likely fit in with my "less traction and more extraction" plan.

madizell

11-02-2008, 05:19 PM

[QUOTE=Alaska Mike]
I could have got the landing mats that have the dimples in them but they would only have been useful for sand ladders. They were not as strong as these and werent designed to support weight.

All landing mats are built to support a certain amount of weight, but only when fully supported from below by an even grade. By definition, landing mats are intended to be landed on, and a landing military aircraft isn't exactly light when dropping at 300 or so feet per minute.

As far as supporting a load bearing only at the ends (bridge) I would expect to find both the dimpled and non-dimpled to bear similar weights, but would not expect either one (used in pairs) to bear the weight of a fully loaded expedition vehicle without risk of permanent displacement.

Alaska Mike

11-02-2008, 06:24 PM

I should have said they are designed to distribute weight, not be the sole source of support. I built a pad in the Saudi desert back in '97 for a group of very large generators, and they held up well in that application. I almost bought 10 feet of the stuff a few years ago, when a local scapyard was selling them for $5 a plank, but a little experimenting in the yard showed me just how easily they would permanently bend with some weight on them. To be fair, the aluminum versions would probably fair far worse if used for bridging, which is why they developed bridging ladders.

After my experiment with homemade traction devices, I learned there are probably better materials than steel and that the weight can be better utilized in other ways.

jh504

11-02-2008, 07:41 PM

cruiseroutfit

11-02-2008, 09:20 PM

...Dimple die stamping would work, of course, but getting someone to dimple die cut 1/8th inch steel is going to be a) problematic, and b) expensive, which tends to defeat the purpose of buying something inexpensive to start with.

Agreed a 2" dimple die is ~$150, and you need a shop press or iron worker. 1/8" isn't a big issue though, even the cheaper dimple die sets will handle 1/8" on a cheap HF press.

jh504

11-02-2008, 10:01 PM

I found this write up today as I was thinking of different options for modifying the landing mats. Anyone ever used these?

http://www.worldoffroad.com/eqpt/nowinch.asp

Overland Hadley

11-02-2008, 11:32 PM

Alaska Mike

11-03-2008, 04:40 AM

I found this write up today as I was thinking of different options for modifying the landing mats. Anyone ever used these?

http://www.worldoffroad.com/eqpt/nowinch.asp
I played around with a similar design after seeing what Mark A. Smith used for the Expedition de las Americas. I eventually abandoned the idea, because the fabrication was prohibitively expensive compared to what was out there and the money was better spent elsewhere. As my recovery kit grew and I primarily wheeled in areas where a winch was of more utility, I pretty much forgot about sand and bridging ladders.

Now that I know there is a source (or two) of relatively inexpensive waffle mats, I will likely pick up a set and use them with my Rover. I also want a PullPal and whatever else will allow my small rig to traverse terrain where the big kids play. It may take more effort, but I'll get there.

jh504

11-04-2008, 12:10 AM

jh504

11-04-2008, 10:35 PM

Here is what the finished product will look like.

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/jharris504/bridgingladder.jpg

Alaska Mike

11-04-2008, 11:26 PM

jh504

11-05-2008, 01:15 AM

Very clean design, although the edges might be a bit high. Think about what a spinning tire would do on that edge. I would also look at adding a couple crossmembers so the tire doesn't get stuck between them with no traction.

Have you run a guesstimate on weight yet?

The edges are a little high. I am going to try to keep them as low as possible, just for that reason, but as high as need be to give it bridging strength. The sides will be made of either a 1/4" or 3/16" angle and the edges will be rounded. I think it will serve well to help keep the tire from sliding off the mat if it does spin.
I figured after removing much of the metal from cutting it down to 48"X14" and also the 2" holes, percentage wise, it should take me down to around 30lbs or so. Then I will be adding the angle which will probably put me back up around the 40-50lb range. I can deal with 50lbs, especially when I am in a situation where it is a necessity. Also if I do my fabrication right these things will be durable, and hopefully they will last me a long time.
Thanks for the tips and constructive criticism.

flyingwil

11-07-2008, 08:08 PM

cruiseroutfit

11-08-2008, 01:40 AM

There is also the Bushranger sand tracks (http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=589), called the X-trax:...

They are in the spreadsheet Wil ;)

PS, looks like we missed you Thursday night, I was hoping to finally get to meet you!

flyingwil

11-08-2008, 04:03 AM

They are in the spreadsheet Wil ;)

PS, looks like we missed you Thursday night, I was hoping to finally get to meet you!

Yeah had to make it back for baby duty! I would have loved to met ya finally!

coldwarkid

11-12-2008, 05:49 AM

There is also the Bushranger sand tracks (http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=589), called the X-trax:

http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/images/products/large_589_sandtrack_1.jpg

http://www.sierraexpeditions.com/productimg/Xtrax.jpg

Those look like a great alternative to the space challenged jeepers such as myself. As aluminum sand ladders are a little impractical for my limited travel time these days, hint, hint, 9 month old.... It looks like a sound design. Does anyone have any experience with these?

Alaska Mike

11-13-2008, 12:31 PM

I used an old industrial floor mat with a similar design for a couple trips in Georgia, cut down to size, but again I stopped carrying it because it took up more space than it was worth. I rarely do sand, and bridging capability/rigidity is more important to me. Geez, I think I've spent far more on "cheap" traction aids than I would have on the real stuff.

The thing I like about the waffle boards is that they can be used for all sorts of things once you get to camp, like a table or a shower floor. Cleanup is simple (I'm in mud country) and there are no moving parts to deal with.

UK4X4

11-13-2008, 01:35 PM

Those sand tracks look neat especially for sand/ mud..

mmmm a length of plastic rebar a drill a angle grinder and some 6mm rope.....

One thing with the steel ones....remember usually in deep sand etc once you get going you keep going...

ie you tied the matts to the back of the truck before you raced off....I'd definately prefer some plastic ones following me than two steel landing matts..

Obviously if its a mud hole extraction then walking back 10 ft won't matter

Beowulf

12-28-2008, 02:53 PM

Thought everyone might like to see a practical application of the waffle boards.

From these guys in Australia: http://www.gratemates.com.au/

http://www.mountbarker4x4centre.com.au/gratemates/images/gallery03.jpg

Z O O R O P A

01-07-2009, 01:32 AM

I like the snowmobile track as an idea - that sounded creative and appropriate

I like the waffles and sand ladders seem to work well in Camel Trophy. I like the idea of tracks that roll up to save space

we could use something longer perhaps, something like the bridges used in the first exploration/adventure land rover took south of the border - remember those long bridges tired to the roof of those 2 RRs?

we will be towing a trailer and be heavy loaded so maybe a long set of xtrax or multiple sets might be a good choice but that wouldn't help bridging high "steps" in mud or rock

Z O O R O P A

01-07-2009, 02:40 AM

I found these which look like like they would suit my needs

http://www.brownchurch.co.uk/generalequipment.html

I'll call and ask on availability and price. I know Rovers North has a shipment coming over in February

JIMBO

01-07-2009, 03:01 AM

:rappel: Check out Sierra Expeditions ARB sand tracks PT#SKU 54X06

They roll out 54" then roll up in a handy little container-neat

Mine's on back order right now, but SOON

:wings: :wings: :safari-rig: :safari-rig:

seashore

01-07-2009, 03:30 AM

I drew up some modifications to my landing mats today on AutoCAD. I will post them up for everyone to see. It will involve cutting 2" dia holes in the flat to lighten them up, then adding 2 peices of 1.75" angle long ways on either side and .75" angle mounted across, with the 90 up, every foot. Hopefully that will provide all the strength I need as well as plenty of traction.

I've got a set that are "dimpled" and coated. stupid heavy, but they do work for mud and snow. but not for bridging.

jh504 i'm local to you if you want to check them out. shoot me a PM...

Carl

Kilroy

03-10-2009, 03:15 PM

Overland Hadley

03-11-2009, 04:55 AM

"Tow Truck in a Box," huh?

Is this a quality product? They look as if they might bend easily. How much does a set weigh? Interested in seeing some of your photos of them.

Kilroy

03-11-2009, 05:05 PM

"Tow Truck in a Box," huh?

Is this a quality product? They look as if they might bend easily. How much does a set weigh? Interested in seeing some of your photos of them.

I'll try to get the photo's in a couple of days. They are a heavy piece of aluminum. I think it would take quite a bit to bend them. They claim aircraft grade. I'll try to weigh them also, they're not light. I'm on a roll working on taxes right now so will have to wait till I'm done.

kerry

03-11-2009, 07:18 PM

I saw these at the Milwaukee sport show and decided to try some. The larger size is not only wider, it also comes one more to the box and is the only choice for our use. I'll put a hole in each one to attach rope. Fairly easy to carry and are quite sturdy.

http://mycarisstuck.com/

When I get a chance I'll see if I can get some better pictures. Will also measure to report size. Not looking for a place to use them, but will take pics when I do.

Does the price include one or two? When you click on 'order' the description of the wide one says 'set' but it's not clear to me if that means the various pieces for one side or enough pieces for two tracks.

Kilroy

03-11-2009, 09:10 PM

Does the price include one or two? When you click on 'order' the description of the wide one says 'set' but it's not clear to me if that means the various pieces for one side or enough pieces for two tracks.

I believe what they call a set is a box of 4 pieces (in the case of the wide ones, 3 pieces for the narrower ones). Depending on how you want to use them, what is enough. For day to day I'm going to keep 2 sets in each truck. For overlanding I'm keeping 4 sets with me.

Hopefully attached are 3 pictures. One shows locking mechanism. Set together measures 26 in long and 8 in wide. Material is 1/8" thick aluminum. Box set weights 5 lb's.

Off Topic: I was hoping these pics would just be open on the forum. Anyone help with what do I need to do so they open in the forum? Thanks

JIMBO

03-11-2009, 09:18 PM

:wings: Might as well just get these, from JC Whitney, for $30 bucks

They go in a little 5"x!0" box, never see em

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm83/jimbowby/PICT0120.jpg

:victory::ylsmoke::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

jham

03-12-2009, 01:14 AM

you can see the ladders we use on our truck in Africa in these pictures. (blue)

This bridge was pretty washed out, so we laid them down as reinforcement. They worked great, but they bowed. I'm not sure if this is due to the quality or simply the massive weight of this truck.

They have raised circular cutouts in them for traction. Very effective. We store them on the side with a lock on them. In africa, those things will disappear like a set of rims at a rap concert.

Colorado David

03-12-2009, 01:25 AM

:wings: Might as well just get these, from JC Whitney, for $30 bucks

They go in a little 5"x!0" box, never see em

:victory::ylsmoke::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

Jimbo, are those called Go-Treads? If that's them, I did a television commercial for them in 1991. While shooting the commercial we got a front wheel drive Mercury sedan stuck in mud up to the axles and got it out with the Go-Treads.

flyingwil

03-12-2009, 05:07 AM

Sierra Expeditions is currently testing some new units from OZ that will be available shortly. :drool:

ThomD

03-12-2009, 11:48 AM

Funny that this should come back as a topic. I've been thinking about fiberglass grates as a sand ladder/motorcycle ramp/table top.

Beowulf

03-12-2009, 01:41 PM

Sierra Expeditions is currently testing some new units from OZ that will be available shortly. :drool:

Any hint at what these new units are? Teaser details could make a fun guessing game for this thread.

JIMBO

03-12-2009, 02:13 PM

:sombrero: Well CD, the concept is pretty old and JCW doesn't call these (Go-Treads), they call them-FOLDABLE TRACTION UNITS-(same thing, modern language)

Jimbo, are those called Go-Treads? If that's them, I did a television commercial for them in 1991. While shooting the commercial we got a front wheel drive Mercury sedan stuck in mud up to the axles and got it out with the Go-Treads.

Of course they're not BRIDGES, but these would really help in a pinch

I've also got Sierra Expeditions, ARB Sand Tracks and those would get you out of THE SAHARA desert

:victory::elkgrin::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

Overland Hadley

03-13-2009, 12:46 AM

Any hint at what these new units are? Teaser details could make a fun guessing game for this thread.

x2

Colorado David

03-13-2009, 01:45 AM

http://www.gotreads.com/index.html

:sombrero:

JIMBO

03-13-2009, 02:27 AM

:sombrero: Looks identical to the JCW ones, except different color, small world

http://www.gotreads.com/index.html

:sombrero:

:snorkel::smiley_drive::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

Colorado David

03-13-2009, 02:44 AM

They were orange, just like the JC Whitney product, when I did the commercial for them in 1991. I've still got two of them on a shelf out in the garage. I have thought a couple of times of putting them in my rig. Maybe I should.:ylsmoke:

RocKrawler

03-14-2009, 04:49 PM

The thing I like about the waffle boards is that they can be used for all sorts of things once you get to camp, like a table or a shower floor. Cleanup is simple (I'm in mud country) and there are no moving parts to deal with.

never thought of that, great idea. I recently bought a set of the arb/bushranger sand tracks, have yet to try them out but hoping for the best.

UK4X4

03-14-2009, 06:26 PM

These are pretty cool and are funiily enough from OZ

https://www.maxtrax.com.au/

jayshapiro

03-19-2009, 05:04 PM

infopec does not have his stuff on Ebay at the moment.

I contacted infopec directly.

Norman Klapper
info@pecboulder.com
Ebay vendor: infopec
2" FIBERGLASS MOLDED GRATING, VINYLESTER RESIN

Even though he does not have anything up on ebay, he can still supply them.

I ordered a set from him today!

Thanks for the contact details, I think these are going to be perfect for the EcoRoamer (http://www.EcoRoamer.com).

He was extremely helpful and responsive. We ordered a custom length to fit a spot I've got reserved for them on the truck. He said they'd ship out on Monday.

I'll let you guys know how they work. ExPo comes through again!

Thanks,
Jay.

kerry

03-19-2009, 11:49 PM

I'm hooking up with Norm tomorrow to buy a set.

Crikeymike

03-20-2009, 12:14 AM

These are pretty cool and are funiily enough from OZ

https://www.maxtrax.com.au/

I've seen a shop in Miami selling these.

chuck45

03-22-2009, 04:55 AM

I noticed that the shop guys pulled some flooring out of one of our trucks today and it was the 2" fiberglass grating with grit on one side. Apparently our fab shop buys it locally in 4x10 sheets. If the price is right I'm going to find out if I can buy a partial sheet.

mikelite80

03-22-2009, 05:42 AM

Any one ever try these (http://sandmats.com/index.html)?

Mike

UK4X4

03-22-2009, 09:24 AM

Took my grating sand ladders with us last weekend

camping on top of a dune next to the beach.

I was pulling my trailer and got stuck just at the brow of the dune.

dug the fronts out, stuck in the matts for the rears, gently poped onto them then a bit more gas to get some momentum.

worked perfectly.

Later a hyundi 4x4 with no low range got stuck half way up so they were used again.

he needed them twice to get over the brow of the hill.

NOTE the gratings end up buried in the sand,

so don't try the tie them on the rear trick, as they will either stop you in your tracks, or release with some energy.

They also doubled as a great BBQ table

Kilroy

03-24-2009, 01:19 AM

you get a price on these?

Any one ever try these (http://sandmats.com/index.html)?

Mike

mikelite80

03-26-2009, 09:31 PM

you get a price on these?

Just heard from them $155 for a pair.

Mike

NA EP3

05-09-2009, 02:49 AM

I made a set of sand/mud/snow/ice mats myself. I started off with a 120" snowmobile track (freebie). I cut it into two 60" sections and voila, homemade mats. The roll up pretty for what they are.

R_Lefebvre

05-09-2009, 01:32 PM

vhram

05-09-2009, 02:20 PM

There's a guy on the Bakersfield craigslist selling 18" x 10' "military landing mats for $20.00 each. Cant figure out how to link it.

kerry

05-09-2009, 02:59 PM

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/for/1150912474.html

cjmitchell5

05-09-2009, 06:14 PM

JIMBO

05-09-2009, 06:49 PM

:sombrero: These tracks look like they would work if you were using SLICKS, on the rear wheels, good job NA

I made a set of sand/mud/snow/ice mats myself. I started off with a 120" snowmobile track (freebie). I cut it into two 60" sections and voila, homemade mats. The roll up pretty for what they are.

That looks like more traction knobs, than my Buschranger X-Tracks

:Wow1::smiley_drive::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO

michaelgroves

05-09-2009, 10:24 PM

Have you used them yet? I was on a trail somewhere where somebody had put down some snowmobile tracks, and they didn't work very well. Rubber doesn't grip to rubber very well, particularly when it's wet.

I think the main advantage of using any type of sand ladders or mats is to spread the load and prevent the wheel from sinking into the ground. Traction is generally a secondary issue - in fact too much traction just makes the sand ladder/mat get thrown out from under the wheel.

I have seen people using them on all types of ground, though, including rocks, where I guess traction would be an issue. I'm not convinced about that kind of use anyway...

NA EP3

05-10-2009, 01:12 AM

No I haven't used them as I just made them. They were free, so I decided what the hell. If they don't work then ,oh well, I'm not out any money. Hopefully, they will work during the winter.

R_Lefebvre

05-12-2009, 04:40 PM

if so I wonder if he could stud the mats, tedius work screwing in a few hundred screws but I bet it'd work.

Would probably help a lot.

I think the main advantage of using any type of sand ladders or mats is to spread the load and prevent the wheel from sinking into the ground. Traction is generally a secondary issue - in fact too much traction just makes the sand ladder/mat get thrown out from under the wheel.

I agree, but I don't know how much load spreading these will do. With the weight of a truck on them on soft ground, they'll probably just flex, offering only a slight advantage over the tire by itself.

No I haven't used them as I just made them. They were free, so I decided what the hell. If they don't work then ,oh well, I'm not out any money. Hopefully, they will work during the winter.

Yeah, no problem. Worth a shot and let us know. I'm just saying, don't go somewhere where you're relying on these to save you... cause they might not work.

flyingwil

05-13-2009, 05:38 AM

FYI, Sierra Expeditions (http://www.sierraexpeditions.com) is soon expecting MaxTrax in... (still waiting on the boat).

https://www.maxtrax.com.au/uploads/photos/listing_3_1019059835.jpg

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_gR8wSd9MvMc/SbQlmnxmv-I/AAAAAAAAE1k/3Pn6v2C27iY/s800/product%20testing%20047.JPG

Signcutter21

05-13-2009, 06:25 AM

http://bakersfield.craigslist.org/for/1150912474.html

I thought about trying to use some of these too. I was going to use it to fix up and bridge some wash-outs down here in SE AZ. :sombrero: After trying to lift even a 5 ft section, I reconsidered. It was way to heavy to load up on the jeep. I'm only guessing but I'd say it was 60 lbs plus. Good find though if you wanted to build something like a fence.

NA EP3

05-13-2009, 07:26 AM

Yeah, no problem. Worth a shot and let us know. I'm just saying, don't go somewhere where you're relying on these to save you... cause they might not work.

Oh I would never just rely on untested equipment. Or rely 100% on anything for that matter.

egn

05-13-2009, 01:41 PM

I thought about trying to use some of these too. I was going to use it to fix up and bridge some wash-outs down here in SE AZ. :sombrero: After trying to lift even a 5 ft section, I reconsidered. It was way to heavy to load up on the jeep. I'm only guessing but I'd say it was 60 lbs plus. Good find though if you wanted to build something like a fence.

Here in Germany there were two versions of this landing mats available. One is made from steel, like the ones above. The other ones were made from a very special version of aluminum alloy. The ones made from steel a very heavy, but on the other side they are also very rigid. For very heavy expo vehicles this is a plus. The ones that were made from the special aluminum alloy are also very good, but this version isn't available anymore. Both of this landing mats have the problem with the sharp hooks. For use as sand ladder they have to prepared in order to prevent broken tyres.

As it is now very hard to get the light aluminum landing mats, a supplier of expo articles here in Germany (Daerr (/http://www.daerr.de)) has constructed a replica (http://www.lauche-maas.de/kat_ev/lm07/403.pdf), but specific for use as sand ladder. As he didn't get the special aluminium alloy with MIL specification, he improved the construction so far that it has similar stability at low weight. A 6 ft long sand ladder weights less than 20 lb. They are now used by a lot of truck owners. Of course, they are not cheap.

I own 4 of them with a length of 6'8", but I didn't have to use them yet. :D

R_Lefebvre

05-13-2009, 05:11 PM

I've been wondering for a while... In University, one of our professors of materials science showed us a few samples of composite construction. One of them was a simple board made from two thin pieces of aluminum laminated to a foam core. The sample weighed next to nothing, but could support a man's weight. I wonder if something similiar could be made, a scaled up version. Maybe two pieces of diamond plate aluminum. I just don't know what adhesive to use.

FlyNdrive

05-13-2009, 05:15 PM

flyingwil

05-13-2009, 06:19 PM

I can't wait for them to get in.

Me either... I hate how slow the dang boats are!

Signcutter21

05-14-2009, 06:08 AM

Both of this landing mats have the problem with the sharp hooks. For use as sand ladder they have to prepared in order to prevent broken tyres
Yes they do. Seen pictures of people with pretty much stub of finger left after catching it the tongue section of the mat.

As it is now very hard to get the light aluminum landing mats, a supplier of expo articles here in Germany (Daerr (/http://www.daerr.de)) has constructed a replica (http://www.lauche-maas.de/kat_ev/lm07/403.pdf), but specific for use as sand ladder.

Funny you posted this. Was at my girlfriend's house tonight and her dad's small horse trailer had a section of this style around the bottom of it. Unfortunately, he bought the trailer so therefore did not know the weight of the matting.

Well you'd better get out and start testing your pieces to make sure they work. lol

later,mike

syncroand101

05-15-2009, 02:45 PM

Has anyone tried the waffleboards? I'm curious about them as well.

Something like http://www.devon4x4.com/shop.php?mode=productview&product=290

Yep, I have waffle boards on my van, mainly because they provide more uses than a Alu Sand Ladder (light bridging / great for mud etc) . Mine were about £40, one side smooth, one side is gritty. After a few years use they have started to break up at the corners, one of the first things we did was tie lengths of strap and rope either end to drag them back. (Also made them easier to find in sand when you walk back to recover them).

A good cheap alternative!