Crash Pad

[No_Bivy]

OK,...I know this thread screams foam at the start but I'll stick my neck out anyway. Usually when we need to soften the blow of a big trunk, we create a crib with smaller wqod. This works great on lawns and such, but is no good on a hard surface where the cribbing might damage the surface..ie paved drives. I purchased some track mat for a low impact job and decided to experiment a bit. I got some motorcycle tires and placed them under the mats. I used these because they are lighter and easier to handle. Bombs away! Worked like a charm. Mats are pricey though, but so far I have used them in lots of places. Unlike Alturna mats, they have molded in handles so they are easy to carry. The lighter color doesn't get as hot in the summer either. ................OK you can make fun of me know.

the traditional method
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dare I say foam?:lol: I prefer crash pad...much more versitle the old bedding!!!
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[No_Bivy]

Neighbors did come out thinking we dropped something on the house...it is a bit loud:lol: :/: :lol:

[No_Bivy]

the mats
http://www.mudtraks.com/product/trak.php

[brendonv]

Do you think that top really woulda damaged the drive?

[No_Bivy]

yeah.....maybe not, but re-paving would be expensive so I wasn't gonna take a chance. Besides I'm working my way up dropping bigger chunks on it....R&D ya know

[Chisel Tooth]

Looks like it works pretty good John, sure does make a racket.
:thumbup:
See Ya
Mike

[brendonv]

Ya,

Rather be safe than sorry.

[vharrison]

Those are neat, I have seen them and thought of investing. Did you get them locally or have them shipped?

[No_Bivy]

I drove to Charlotte. Thats where the company is. The have several versions and colors. 200 per sheet:\: I know it's a lot but so far I have been beating these things into sumbission. They also help cover obstacles like stairs for the mini. They do have holes where you can hook they together or stake em' down. Shipping would be pricey, the weigh 78lbs each.

[No_Bivy]

Those are neat, I have seen them and thought of investing. Did you get them locally or have them shipped?

They would rock in sandy conditions I bet.

[sotc]

i paid 170 a sheet for my 3' alturnas. id save some room in the truck by dumping chips rather than packing tires around. specially since you have a mini to load with!

[MasterBlaster]

I woulda roped that tiny top and skipped all the drama.

[lumberjack]

...Rather be safe than sorry.

And yet, you're both. :/:



Interesting John! Dumping chips seems like a major PITA to clean up, tires don't take up that much room.


I'dda used the manly lifter MB:P

[pantheraba]

I'd keep on with the R&D...good practice shot. It kinda sucks when you try the big stuff first time and it donna work.

Err on the side of caution.

[No_Bivy]

A six pack of moto tires is really easy to move around. Got two trucks in action so no biggie. It was a very dead pine, didn't want to rope it out. It was purely R & D cause I could. One of these days I will go BIG. The mats are 4x8, still a little cheaper then alturna. A bit easier to manuver as well.

IT WAS DRAMATIC THOUGH!!!:lol:

[Old Monkey]

I think it is cool that you are always trying different stuff out John, even more so that you share it with us. I have thought about buying tires and some plywood but the situation doesn't come up much for me.

[No_Bivy]

My next Xperiment is a "tire log" super Zorber...........

[pantheraba]

I think it is cool that you are always trying different stuff out John, even more so that you share it with us.

10-4 on that...I like seeing thinking (and doing) outside the box.

[sotc]

we fell this down the hill and across the paved drive way that the chippers on. a few logs on the down hill side and a half load of chips on the asphalt with plywood on top. no damage and 3 guys shoveled it all back in the truck. ive used tires with good effect but on big wood ill use the chips

[No_Bivy]

Chips make sense. Got any pics of the nugget across the drive?

[Paul B]

no pads? no problem! :D
http://officespam.chattablogs.com/archives/aw-crap-tree-truck.jpg

[No_Bivy]

That cushion worked great...and then you can sell it for scrap. Good idea Paul:lol:

[sotc]

nope, it slid down off the drive way and rolled. you can see the bark in the grass where it landed

[sotc]

haha paul, thats what chevys are for:D

[Bounce]

HA! Narcoleptic James style! Vehicles as crash pads work pretty well, but they're sorta expensive.

I've used alternating layers of tires and alturna-mats before (2 of each) for really big trees. The mats were worthless afterward though. Most of the time I just use piles of brush for small to average size trunks.

After seeing that thing laying in the yard (5' DBH?:\: ) I can see why you didn't just lower the pieces. There's no way you could have lowered a 16' log without bringing in a crane, and redwoods are way too valuable to cut into firewood.

[Skwerl]

John, how are these mats holding up? I'm finally beginning to tire of buying plywood all the time, and in our wet season (all summer long) the plywood can turn to mush in short order. On the other hand, Alturna Mats are $200 each :O and I'm not quite ready to shell out that much for pads only warranted for 6 years.

They also have outrigger pads for only $176 each. :O

[MasterBlaster]

I would bite the bullet and buy them. I bet they last a lot longer than six years.

[Skwerl]

Yeah, but I'd need at least 8 pads to have enough to pull the truck up on a yard. You wanna loan me a couple Grand?

[NeTree]

They are definitely pricey!

[MasterBlaster]

If it was me, I would buy a couple at a time, until I had ten. And again, I would buy those before I'd but a GRCS.

[Skwerl]

HAH! Google is your friend! I found a supply house here in Orlando that sells the Alturna Mat and their published price is $30 less than Sherrill. I called and they said they don't stock them, but if I know exactly what I want then they could cut me a great deal... :/:
http://www.atlanticsupply.com/product_item.asp?id=1947&category_id=135

[Buzz]

Foam foam foam lol

[Skwerl]

Their 'deal' was the published price plus shipping and tax, it came out to just over $200 per sheet total for the 3'x8'. :( I guess I'll go to HD and buy some more plywood. Rainy season is about over so the plywood I buy now should last through Spring.

[MasterBlaster]

You cheap bastid! :P

Buy one a month!!!

[lumberjack]

Surely you buy more than $1600 in plywood over 6 year minimum life of Alturna's?

That'd only be $266 a year. I've spent that much this year and last, but both were for 20+ sheets for making a road/work area in a friggin swamp.

[No_Bivy]

I have 10 sheet.se of TracMat....works awesome. Getting ready to buy ten more that have one smooth side to protect asphalt from marks...230 4x8

[JonnyHart]

We cut the plywood in half, 2' x 8'. We used plywood all the time, and they saw 2-3 years of abuse before being replaced. And a piece of 2x12 lumber for outrigger pad.

[Skwerl]

Yeah, I went and bought a few more sheets of plywood. Mine doesn't last as long since it is stored on the back of the truck and gets rained on, and we have rain almost every day in the summer. It falls apart quick when it's been wet for a week then you drive a truck on it.

On the other hand, I don't have $1600 for 8 pieces of mat right now. I can buy a helluva lot of plywood for $1600. I just spent $120 for 4 sheets and ripped them in half, giving me 8 strips. I can do that 13 times with plywood or once with mats.

[MasterBlaster]

I would at least cover the plywood, or use a treated piece for the top.

[stehansen]

I have 10 sheets of 1 1/4" plywood that I bought for a job almost a year a go and I have used them once since.

[MasterBlaster]

I bet you don't leave them out in the weather, either.

[stehansen]

Only in the summer when it is dry as a bone here.

[MasterBlaster]

Another trick to plywood longevity is to always store them upright, never laying flat.

[stehansen]

Do you guys cut any hand holes in them?

[Skwerl]

Not in the 3/4, although I imagine the 1 1/4 is heavy as shat. I've never seen that size plywood before.

[MasterBlaster]

Dang, 1 1/4 - what is that... 40, 50 bucks a sheet?

[sawinredneck]

Have you tried painting the plywood Brian? I would think a coat of Kilz would triple the life of it?

[No_Bivy]

plastique' is z best..........

[Skwerl]

I'm sure they are good, but I've already spent too much money this year and I'm running out of earning time before winter. I forgot that work drops off when the kids go back to school and and the sudden lack of work has caught me by surprise. I need to get back into penny pinching mode till after winter.

I'll address this again in the spring and will probably buy a couple mats at that time.

[squisher]

1 1/4" :O no wonder you never use them. I buy sheets of plywood for $5, from the local used building supply place. I can buy a whole lotta plywood for the price of those mats.

[No_Bivy]

so far they are worth it....i would not buy plywood.

[stehansen]

I think the 1 1/4" was $40/ sheet at Home Depot. I got 6 of them there and then my neighbor had some and I got them for $10 a sheet. I haven't used them in 4 months. And yes they are pretty heavy that is why I make my self scarce when it is time to deploy them.

[MasterBlaster]

Hahaha, so do I! :beer:

[sotc]

i bought alturna mats last year for 170 a sheet. i got 8 and 8 for a friend. 10 or more was a 10$ per sheet discount. 8 is minimum for my bucket as its 3 sheets long on each side.