Thread: Sand Ladders / Bridging Planks

Originally Posted by waynep

Some plastic ones were reviewed in the last 4WD Monthly - they melted !! but they still gave them a good review.

I've also seen some in Ray's made out of old car tyres cut into strips similar to those outside doormats you see - they roll up. Bushranger brand I think ? Bit bulky though.

They were the Maxtrax and they didn't melt. One small part about 3 inches was scored/melted where they spun the tyres continuously on them. I've seen them in action they are awesome.
They are bulky though (although light) and not cheap.

The waffle boards are awesome, but I've never seem them in action.

I've got some aluminium sand ladders / bridges. They can take the weight of the land rover and have performed well in mud and sand. I carried them flat on the roof rack during the Simpson crossing, but never needed them.

They weight 9kg each and are a bit shorter than the space between the front and rear wheels, so they can be pulled out and repositioned.

I found some aluminium decking (looks like oil rig platform) at the scrap metal yard, and cut it to two lengths to form the bridges.

PM me with an email address and I could send you some pics.

Originally Posted by FenianEel

They were the Maxtrax and they didn't melt. One small part about 3 inches was scored/melted where they spun the tyres continuously on them. I've seen them in action they are awesome.
They are bulky though (although light) and not cheap.

The waffle boards are awesome, but I've never seem them in action.

I had them in the Uk and used them in competion alot. They are great and strong. Good for useing as bridging ladders. BTW it is stuff called Fidergrete and can be bought here. Is used for chemical floors so you walk on it and all dangerous water and cheimacls fall though it. But need to find it from builders and then get it cut to the size you need
I had them mounted on the back of the truck

I took some Carbon Fiber sand ladders with me round Aus. Diud not use them though. Great as they are really light but strong

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

I note from the photos of military LR's on this site that the brown jobs are still carrying Marston matting ( or pierced steel planks, "PSP"). Bit too heavy to be carrying a decent length of it. Has anyone tried a roll of shadecloth or maybe barricade mesh ( the orange stuff at roadworks sites)? Wonder how either would stand up to a vehicle rolling over them. The heavier shadecloth would probably be OK if you were not spinning wheels, just using it for the sandwich effect between tyres and sand to prevent digging in. You could even use it for shade whilst camped. Be a bloody site easier to handle & carry than PSP.

Since posting that, I have had a look through old photos. One of them is of my Uncle, Willy Wall, and a four ton Dodge on the Winton-Davenport mail run which involved some long sandy crossings of the Diamantina and other streams.
There are four rolls of coir matting/carpet of hall runner width slung under the tray. I remember now how he used them. He would lay down two lengths in front of the truck on the soft bits and drive onto them, then lay out the other two in front and drive onto them and keep moving the free bits forward until across. The pieces obviously have to be longer than the vehicles wheelbase. Light, and easy to handle and store.

If mounted on the side of the vehicle the PSP's would serve a duel purpose as body sliders

Originally Posted by defenderbilby

G'day Roger,

Have a look at this. Have no experience with the product but might be helpful.
http://www.gratingco.com.au/bridging.shtml

David.

They work just fine... Used these ones before.

Tombraider

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Since posting that, I have had a look through old photos. One of them is of my Uncle, Willy Wall, and a four ton Dodge on the Winton-Davenport mail run which involved some long sandy crossings of the Diamantina and other streams.
There are four rolls of coir matting/carpet of hall runner width slung under the tray. I remember now how he used them. He would lay down two lengths in front of the truck on the soft bits and drive onto them, then lay out the other two in front and drive onto them and keep moving the free bits forward until across. The pieces obviously have to be longer than the vehicles wheelbase. Light, and easy to handle and store.

Yes Brian, thanks for reminding me.

I also carried two rolls of coir matting from a church isle on a Simpson crossing with my dad back in 1983. Fortunately we didn't have to use them but unfortunately they have now rotted and been thrown out!

Roger