marlinspiker
Participating member
- Location
- Pennsyltucky
I'm looking at purchasing a set. Has anyone used any of the alternative brands? Id be willing to go in with a local company.
Alturnamat prices
- Thread starter Winch
- Start date
- Location
- Asheville, NC
Big benefit to me of the smooth-sided kind, is loading the truck. If you aren't lucky enough to be using the Prentice to load them, but just sliding them into the pickup truck, one smooth side eliminates a bunch of hassle.
Also, the skidding thing X mentioned. Crane jobs, set the butt end of the log on the mat and use your loader to drag it closer, no skid marks on the pavement, no moving the loader.
Also, the skidding thing X mentioned. Crane jobs, set the butt end of the log on the mat and use your loader to drag it closer, no skid marks on the pavement, no moving the loader.
- Location
- Asheville, NC
"$2,200 for 60 lineal ft or something. I have decided to go with 1 Inch plywood as a 4x8 sheet is $50 delivered. I actually ordered 10 sheets today, expect to see them Monday."
I'm with X on this as well. Plywood is a total waste of money. If I'm reading you right, you are paying $500 for something that will last a fraction of the time mats will. I expect to be in this business for the duration of my working life. I don't want to buy the same things over and over again. Plywood turns into trash as soon as you use it - sopping wet and breaking, and then you have to find a dumpster to throw it into.
It's like an arborist buying a Makita chainsaw or something. Cheap tools.
I'm with X on this as well. Plywood is a total waste of money. If I'm reading you right, you are paying $500 for something that will last a fraction of the time mats will. I expect to be in this business for the duration of my working life. I don't want to buy the same things over and over again. Plywood turns into trash as soon as you use it - sopping wet and breaking, and then you have to find a dumpster to throw it into.
It's like an arborist buying a Makita chainsaw or something. Cheap tools.
No Makita chainsaws here, but no bucket truck or crane either. I would be singing a different tune if they were getting used everyday as I hate throwing money out the window. For now I can invest $500 into 80 lineal ft of travel for the Boxer and yes throw that away when I expand enough to go with the mats. Believe me I would rather own mats.
Daniel
Carpal tunnel level member
- Location
- Suburban Philadelphia (Wayne)
If there is a concern about the ridges damaging soft blacktop, its easy to put a little plywood under the mats. I dumpster dive plywood, and use it for to bridge walkways etc for the stump grinders, and keep some with the bucket to put under the ourtrigger pads.
We use the mats to create a turning zone for the skid loader.. the op doesn't like it because sometimes they move and get caught up in the undercarriage.. I think they do OK if they are spaced properly, AND for sure they would do better if one side was smooth.
We use the mats to create a turning zone for the skid loader.. the op doesn't like it because sometimes they move and get caught up in the undercarriage.. I think they do OK if they are spaced properly, AND for sure they would do better if one side was smooth.
bonner1040
Branched out member
- Location
- Boston
8x3s are $189 @ treestuff. Free shipping over $999 and you get 5% off with the code ARBORIST @ checkout...
- Location
- Asheville,NC
http://www.mudtraks.com/
the track mat is what I use
get them in charlotte
they make a smooth sided mat too(for virgin pavement)
the track mat is what I use
get them in charlotte
they make a smooth sided mat too(for virgin pavement)
- Location
- Longmont, CO
[ QUOTE ]
http://www.mudtraks.com/
the track mat is what I use
get them in charlotte
they make a smooth sided mat too(for virgin pavement)
[/ QUOTE ]
John. How much cost per 4'x8' sheet?
http://www.mudtraks.com/
the track mat is what I use
get them in charlotte
they make a smooth sided mat too(for virgin pavement)
[/ QUOTE ]
John. How much cost per 4'x8' sheet?
- Location
- Asheville,NC
last time I bought they were on sale for 180.....might be around 200.
Treecare incs post shows the best price on alturna mats. I got prices today on the trak mats, and they are a good bit more expensive than the alterna's.
If anyone on the northeast needs some mats, maybe we can split the shipping from the link he provided. PM me if interested. Not in a rush really, but in the next two months.
If anyone on the northeast needs some mats, maybe we can split the shipping from the link he provided. PM me if interested. Not in a rush really, but in the next two months.
FYI, I called the Atlantic supply place. Shipping 10 of them to the east coast would cost about an extra $15+/sheet. So they would be 182 each. If tree stuff really ships them for free, that would be 180 each for 3x8's white with the 5% off. They would be the cheapest.
The guy at Atlantic said he never got so many calls about the mats like he has in the last week. I told him I might know why.
Do i want versamats or alturnamats. Hmmm
The guy at Atlantic said he never got so many calls about the mats like he has in the last week. I told him I might know why.
Do i want versamats or alturnamats. Hmmm
- Location
- Southeastern MA
I'd be interested in 10 of the white one side smooth 3x8. I have two dozen 4x8 now, and yes they are a bear to handle. The smooth one side is way nicer to load and unload.
- Location
- rhode island
[ QUOTE ]
Banjo, are you saying that you have a secret source in the government to buy these things from? PM me if so!
[/ QUOTE ]
Unfortunately no, not personally I've been out of contact with the old boss for some time now. If you do some digging who knows what you'll find out!! Some other outside the box ideas include contacting PGA tour folks or music festival promoters. I have no idea if that would yield results but it seems worth the effort, after all, we aren't the only folks using these type of products. Heck, why not see if you can get the Alturna Mat people to give you some clues. Squeaky wheels get the grease and whatnot!
Banjo, are you saying that you have a secret source in the government to buy these things from? PM me if so!
[/ QUOTE ]
Unfortunately no, not personally I've been out of contact with the old boss for some time now. If you do some digging who knows what you'll find out!! Some other outside the box ideas include contacting PGA tour folks or music festival promoters. I have no idea if that would yield results but it seems worth the effort, after all, we aren't the only folks using these type of products. Heck, why not see if you can get the Alturna Mat people to give you some clues. Squeaky wheels get the grease and whatnot!
- Location
- Rocky Mount, NC
I didn't read all posts so someone may have already mentioned it... ever thought about trying used conveyor belt... might be able to get it free... try any local company's that use it. The attached is a nationwide distributor.. you never know, your area rep might need a little pruning, stump job etc....
http://www.lewis-goetz.com/contact/index.html
http://www.lewis-goetz.com/contact/index.html
- Location
- Billerica, MA
[ QUOTE ]
I've been looking through a few local guys that use them all the time as they do Seashore work and mostly on Multimillion dollar properties. They too pay way too much for the mats. I think one said $2,200 for 60 lineal ft or something. I have decided to go with 1 Inch plywood as a 4x8 sheet is $50 delivered. I actually ordered 10 sheets today, expect to see them Monday.
[/ QUOTE ]
I personally like 3/4" 5 ply plywood the best, holds up well and protects the property better then alturnmats. In the company we have at least 50 alturnamats, they work ok on real basicstuff with lighter trucks, as soon as you have any kind of hill or try and protect walkways plywood works much better. We carry 50 sheets on the crane and we get about 6 months out of them.
I've been looking through a few local guys that use them all the time as they do Seashore work and mostly on Multimillion dollar properties. They too pay way too much for the mats. I think one said $2,200 for 60 lineal ft or something. I have decided to go with 1 Inch plywood as a 4x8 sheet is $50 delivered. I actually ordered 10 sheets today, expect to see them Monday.
[/ QUOTE ]
I personally like 3/4" 5 ply plywood the best, holds up well and protects the property better then alturnmats. In the company we have at least 50 alturnamats, they work ok on real basicstuff with lighter trucks, as soon as you have any kind of hill or try and protect walkways plywood works much better. We carry 50 sheets on the crane and we get about 6 months out of them.
