Plywood/mats on a hill

[Gorman]

The ground is super saturated right now and will be for a while. I gotta get down a slight decline for a few jobs and while it will be easy getting down there, getting out may be more of a chore since the truck will be loaded. If I put mats or plywood down I risk kicking them out of the friction between them and the ground doesn’t work out.

What to do what to do

 

[RopeShield]

use your ramps. pkywood still gets splippy

 

[Gorman]

What ramps, my rollerblade ramps?

 

[RopeShield]

trailer, equipment ramps
mb look at some grating

 

[Gorman]

Some of these jobs are around 60’ of hill

 

[RopeShield]

fencing, wire roll

 

[Gorman]

fencing, wire roll

Not a bad idea. You think they have that at the Home Depot?

 

[Merle Nelson]

Interesting idea Thomas. I just bought a roll of cement wire, 5' by 150' to make circular wood cages. If a person took 60' of that and folded it over in half to make double strength for each track of tires that would be pretty tough stuff.

Home depot, about $120

 

[RopeShield]

you can use the extra wire roll to make a rake/broom. fold and mash and grab with your grapple.

 

[cory]

Double cleated alturna mats are great for hills. Single cleated for all else. Fairly indestructible.

 

[southsoundtree]

Paul @pctree made some bad-ass roll-out roadways for his crane and wheel-loader. Something like 3"x3"x?' oak boards milled, drilled, and threaded with rope.

Picture this: The oak boards are spaced a bit like RxR ties, and instead of track on top, the 2 ropes runs through the middle of thickness of the board. Rolls up, rolls out, crane or wheel-loader moves them.

I've been thinking of experimenting with a scaled-down version, but haven't gotten to a round tuit.

 

[pctree]

our roll-outs

 

[B_Strange]

Not a bad idea. You think they have that at the Home Depot?

You could try woven wire field fencing. A farmer might be willing to part with partial rolls. Or maybe cattle panels. They are 20’ long and TSC and most farm stores sell ‘em.

 

[Gorman]

our roll-outs

I need them for Wednesday. You busy?

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

The fence idea scares me. It will certainly deform and if one of them gets stuck in a lug on a tire. If you don’t catch it wrapping up you could have a serious with wire wrapped around the tire, axle and everything else important.
We have very good success with trak matts, especially if it’s a simple in, work and then out. We have the same soil saturation problem here in the east I’m super glad I dropped 5 k on matts this spring. Thinking about doing it again this fall or next spring! I like the board highway too, just storage and handling might be an issue for us.

 

[TreeGuru4u]

I have been "banana peeling" on my mats too! My fix is to attach 2X4 cleats to the bottom side of the plywood sheets . Run the cleats horizontally, and stagger along the length of the plywood. For the 2x4s only attach shorter (16" to 18") pieces. Do not put 4' long piece of 2x4 across the width of the plywood because when mats flex the "cleats" will simply pop off the screws.

Also use 2" star drive screws (3\4" Plwood+1.5"for 2x4). Attach the cleats off center and not near the edges (Especially the top and bottom edges of the plywood as you are overlapping the sheets in the run and they wont bridge flat) Think of the design looking like a climbing gym wall layout. i.e. 1 cleat to the left, skip a foot, then 1 piece to the right, skip a ft. and repeat.

Use the star head screws because if you want to remove the cleats later it will be easy. If you get the plywood wet it will swell, plus add some dirt, thus burying the heads. Nothing is easier than to shove that star bit in there cause it will bite for removal. Forget philips heads they will strip. The star heads will be re-usable for next time you need cleats.

Lastly and most importantly DON't Go Down any Path that:
1) A tow truck cant pull you out of! Meaning would a tow truck have the angle and leverage to pull you out? Would the tow truck get stuck itself? Does the tow truck have a nearby tether lined up with the angle to pull you! A big nearby tree to tie off to? He is big and has stabilizers, but will he spin his own wheels after he gets you out? If he doesnt have any of these he ain't touching you!

2) Although guys are throwing ideas of items of what to lay down, a lot of what I am reading sounds untested and may not work SO use your head and don't try them when you have no time to test! Save those ideas to try on a short run where you know you can get out, not the 60' ft you have for this job.

The idea of laying down chain-link fencing sounds good, but I also think it will sink unless it is on top of plywood. But that type of fix won't solve the banana peeling problem you have.

Good luck! and don't be afraid to bail on the job or do the job with other equipment! 1 or 2 days stuck = no income, plus a big tow bill!

 

[TreeGuru4u]

I forgot but I think you get the idea. Much more strength in screwing 1st through the plywood and then into the 2x4, not the reverse. Stand or lean the plywood up as you attach cleats so you can look at both sides and see to aim your screws. This way you are not blind screwing (that is something you do when you leave the pub late with leftovers! haha!)

 

[RopeShield]

Safety grating