Thread: Sand Ladders / Bridging Planks

been there... Its an even worse feeling when they do it after youve laid on a heap of

"Dont come in, I already chewed it up, you're just gunna get yourself bogged."

Originally Posted by cartm58

l wouldnt bother with sand bridges where you are going if you have 2 other vehicles on the trip

cartm58

What happens if you encounter terrain that all vehicles can't get through, but might with a few sand ladders?
Has happened to me a few times on tropical jungle trails ... long gentle climbs on slippery clay where a good fast run takes you so near to the crest, but momentum runs out and all 4 wheels spin helplessly, and no winch point in sight.
I've also driven in the Sahara on extremely soft, powdery sand called fesh-fesh, with consistency almost like talc powder.
The instruction from the local experts was, every man for himself, do NOT stop to help another vehicle that gets bogged because all you end up with is 2 bogged vehicles.
We had to pour on the coals to get to hard ground about 3km away, and some hardy souls trudged back to rescue the stuck vehicles with shovels and human power. Not fun in 40plus degree heat.
Sand ladders would have been useful but we did not have any.
Pic below is of sand a grade up from fesh-fesh, snapped while driving.
No fesh-fesh pic 'cos too busy with driving and watching temp gauge go up.

i carry 3 2.5 m lengths of 4X3 that i rope together but more often used to hold up a tarp off the roof rack. i also cary a role of carpet, Nothing beats carpet on sand or mud or even shale, this also doubles up as a ground cover in front of the tent.

Originally Posted by vogue

Interesting artile in Nov 2006 4wdMonthly on the Maxtrax, which are a plastic sand ladder. Just not sure if there worth $295 a pair?
Has anyone used them?

look at pa blanchard the british army use ali and steel jobs and should be a whole load cheaper if none on there i think cradocks do em and padocks had some.
When using them on soft flat sand tie some para cord to the ladder and the other end to the hoops on the rear of your landy that way you can continue onto solid ground without walking back 2k's

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

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.

Hmmnnn - interesting suggestion. I wonder if you combined the shadecloth idea with the potato sacks filled with sand and made up some shadecloth bags and filled them with sand. Afterwards they can be emptied and folded up and take up very little room. Can serve a double purpose as door mats, etc. Keeps things light and simple - but only any good if they work. Must get some to experiment.

Thinking about that - I've got a couple of old trampoline mats in the shed. I wonder ...

Willem

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Remember, before the fifities no-one in the bush had 4wd's. They got the job done with skill, knowledge, & patience. No-one in my family had a 4wd on a mail run until 1992. I asked the person if he found it easier with the 4wd ( a second-hand Nissan), and he replied that he "put the hubs in once last year, but probably didn't need to".

Len Beadell used 4wd. But not sand ladders. He just made his own by cutting trees and stacking rocks (when available).

Absolute legend, you MUST read his books.
r

I have never seen conditions in australia during driving on tracks (not cross country) that would require sand mats or tracks. As long as the tires have been let down and wheel spin is avoided. Just thinking that sometimes less is more. In the sahara, would take them for sure. In australia if it comes to the crunch there is usually some sticks and stuff around.