Need Ground Protection Mat Recommendations

We use 2’ x 6’ Alturnamat Translucent Texture/Smooth with hand holes. We have a Mini Excavator, a Spider Lift and a Spider Crane, so the 2’ x 6’ is super easy to manage rather than the larger sizes. We put the texture side down to grip the turf and the tracked machines can move around with ease, even spot turning.

If we had to use them for bigger trucks, the larger sizes are a must. Either way, pay the extra money up front for hand holes and the translucent material. You’ll thank yourself over and over each time you use them.
 
I cannot stress enough that the mats with diamond patterns (alturnamats and others) are a pain to deal with if you stack them as they don’t slid across each other without catching. We are constantly fighting them because of this. I recommend the trakmats or others with round in-line patterns that will easily slide past one another when stacked and still grip the ground when driving over them. We have both and the crews are constantly trying to make sure they have the round lugged ones and Not the diamond pattern ones.
 
decreppo said:
I cannot stress enough that the mats with diamond patterns (alturnamats and others) are a pain to deal with if you stack them as they don’t slid across each other without catching. We are constantly fighting them because of this. I recommend the trakmats or others with round in-line patterns that will easily slide past one another when stacked and still grip the ground when driving over them. We have both and the crews are constantly trying to make sure they have the round lugged ones and Not the diamond pattern ones.
Click to expand...
I will agree Alturnamats are a royal pain to stack sometimes. However, they’re incredibly durable and have excellent traction.

Duradeck mats stack much more easily, but they also slide when you don’t want them to, since they don’t lock together as well - i.e. when you’ve overlapped the ends of two mats for for extra ground support. They also seem more prone to breakage than the Alturnamats.
 
decreppo said:
I cannot stress enough that the mats with diamond patterns (alturnamats and others) are a pain to deal with if you stack them as they don’t slid across each other without catching. We are constantly fighting them because of this. I recommend the trakmats or others with round in-line patterns that will easily slide past one another when stacked and still grip the ground when driving over them. We have both and the crews are constantly trying to make sure they have the round lugged ones and Not the diamond pattern ones.
Click to expand...
We have a rack that stands them on edge. If you have the room, it’s a good solution. If not, you’re right. A redesign is needed.
 
Reach said:
I will agree Alturnamats are a royal pain to stack sometimes. However, they’re incredibly durable and have excellent traction.

Duradeck mats stack much more easily, but they also slide when you don’t want them to, since they don’t lock together as well - i.e. when you’ve overlapped the ends of two mats for for extra ground support. They also seem more prone to breakage than the Alturnamats.
Click to expand...
How are they "prone to breakage" so I can avoid that happening?
 
flushcut said:
How are they "prone to breakage" so I can avoid that happening?
Click to expand...
From what I have seen, the most likely time they will be broken is using them over sharp edges, like the edge of a curb. One crane operator has broken at least two mats that way, trying to cross a curb with the end of the mat sticking over the edge of the curb. We have done that with the Alturnamats without breaking them. I don’t think I would actually call the mats “prone to breakage“, I would just say that they are not quite as durable as Alturnamats.
 
Versamats by alternamats with the heavy cleat surface on one side and the smaller cleat on the other, solve the difficult stacking issue of mats with the heavy cleat on both surfaces.
the small cleats provide ample traction for wheeled equipment on grades with the heavy cleat side placed on the ground.
Ive acquired 36 of the 3’x 8’ over the past 5 years. 12 are handled daily almost exclusively by a BMG and all are in perfect working order.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom