setting bridges

[smwwoody]

Setting some steel bridges this morning. 

[smwwoody]

some times i wonder how i worked 20 years ago without steel bridges and wooden mats

[Peter Drouin]

Years ago we put logs in the brook the way the water ran [ log forge ] then when done just push them out, Now we use Skidder Brige. 8x10x16' to 24' 3 of them 4' wide to make it 12' wide.
But steel is the way to go, where do you get them?

[smwwoody]

I bought the steel tubing at scrap price and built them myself. They are 30 foot long and work with the trucks or skidder. One set is 3 pannels 3.5 feet wide. And the other is 3 pannels 4 foot wide. I like the smaller ones better they are easyer to handle. The big ones weigh 8000lbs each

[loggah]

I used to do the same thing with my Franklin grapple, years ago i had a 70' bridge beam that was damaged it was 3' high with 12" flanges 1" thick .i cut it into 3 23' long pieces and i used that for a skidder bridge or truck bridge they worked great ,my brother ended up making a permanent bridge out of it a few years ago.

[treeslayer2003]

 

 

[jwilly3879]

Nice stick of wood. What's the bridge made out of?

I have plans for bridge panels made from 6x6 and 6x8 hemlock timbers if anyone is interested.

[treeslayer2003]

tree is avg. poplar [tulip] matts are 24x5 foot white oak 8x10s bolted together with 1-1/2" bar stock threaded each end. crane matts, they make a lot of um here but they not cheap.
I set the same way but the 540 sure is front light doing it.

[br389]

Iam interested in those plans... I have a job coming up were I am going to need some type of bridge thanks

[Peter Drouin]

tree is avg. poplar [tulip] matts are 24x5 foot white oak 8x10s bolted together with 1-1/2" bar stock threaded each end. crane matts, they make a lot of um here but they not cheap.

What do they get for them?

[Ed_K]

I was offered some at $100 per section,so $200 for a 16' bridge.

[smwwoody]

I do have a few sets of the wooden crane mats that i use for bridges also.  I do like the idea of wood better than the steel.  ( we should support our own business as much as we can )

This place builds a lot of bridges and mats  http://longislandlumber.com/

I sell them logs some times

Do yourself a favor and go to their site ad read the about us story.  it will  make you proud to be part of this industry.  this kid worked against the odds and is a huge success

[treeslayer2003]

boys, them two matts cost me 1700 new. consider they are made from good sized white oak and what it brings. you can buy gum matts cheaper but they won't last but a year or two, the white oak I can get 7-8 years if keep off the ground when not in use.
I like the idea of steel, I was toying with the idea of converting a flatbed but widening it would be costly.

[smwwoody]

treeslayer

I find the multi panel bridges much more user friendly.  they are easyer to handle

Here is a link to an old post of mine with the same bridges https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,65549.msg979041.html#msg979041 it shows how easy they are to handle.  i use them both for trucks and skidders

[treeslayer2003]

I was offered some at $100 per section,so $200 for a 16' bridge.

must been used? you shoulda got um if they was in good shape. a bit short for around here though, sometimes 30 footers ain't long enough.

[treeslayer2003]

treeslayer

I find the multi panel bridges much more user friendly.  they are easyer to handle

yup, I was gonna put a single axle in the middle so it would drop in the creek when backed over. we have some wide deep crossings sometimes.

[smwwoody]

i have thought about that same thing for long bridges

[Ed_K]

There's an ad in western world mag.that sells RxR flat cars,I don't know how much,but they offer up to 90'.

[treeslayer2003]

hmm, wonder how wide they are? 10' works ok. 12' would be better.

[Peter Drouin]

I do make them for a customer .


  

 

[treeslayer2003]

treeslayer

I find the multi panel bridges much more user friendly.  they are easyer to handle

Here is a link to an old post of mine with the same bridges https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php/topic,65549.msg979041.html#msg979041 it shows how easy they are to handle.  i use them both for trucks and skidders

they do look nice. how thick a wall is the tubeing? do they flex at all?

[smwwoody]

i dont remember the wall thickness it was about 7 years ago that we built them.  If I had to guess they are 3/8.

no flex spanning 22 feet crossing with a loaded tractor trailer or even my triaxle