| Author |
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Jack Quinlan (Jsq)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 01:40 pm: | 
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So I've been pondering the glass reinforced plastic waffle bridges in the Rovers North catalog and the steel bridges at British Pacific. I had always thought about getting the aluminum runway sheeting (PAP)for sand tracking but I'm begginning to think there is a superior alternative. I like to make my truck as capable as possible, but I also have a point to point expedition style philosophy. If I can buy something that will get me on down the trail, I will. I'm thinking that a bridge style waffle that can be used to ramp or cross ditches could get you out of many a jam. I'll still give it a go with my modified disco, but if I just can't seem to make it, why not whip out the briges and fill that hole or ramp that lip?
What are your thoughts?
Does anyone have experience with these two bridges? (I'm leaning towards the GRP for weight and size)
Who thinks they consititute cheating?
Anyone else think that I should be able to find a cheaper industrial supplier for this sort of thing?
thoughts? |
Carter Simcoe (Carter)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 01:43 pm: |
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Shhh..... I think i hear Kyle coming.  |
GregH
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 02:14 pm: |
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Don't know where you wheel but I use what's at trailside-rocks and pieces of fallen trees so I don't have to carry it with me. |
Jack Quinlan (Jsq)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 02:42 pm: |
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I'm in so. cal. and we're a little short on fallen trees. Rocks we have, but my experiences in borrego have taught me that they like to pop out and roll around at inopportune moments. |
Jack Quinlan (Jsq)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 03:06 pm: |
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oh christ.
i just did another keyword search for "bridges" instead of "GRP" and I found more than I wanted to know.
no real discussion of materials, just more shouting of "sig kyle!"
oy vey. |
Grant Lawson
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 04:41 pm: |
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I have priced out Galv. steel industrial stair boards. look like sand bridges . 1 foot wide and about $10-$11 cdn a foot. my thoughts .... buy 2 four foot lengths. and make a floor out of them for my exp. rack. that way they are always avail. Then i can take the piece of alum i have for the floor now(at the front ) and have it fabricated into a gas tank guard!
Strength not sure, but 8 feet of it weighs about 20 pounds i think.
just an option for a man with deep pockets and short arms. |
Kyle
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 05:28 pm: |
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There was plenty there to read Jack , I suspect it just wasnt anything you wanna hear....Doesnt matter what they are made of. Same BS applies.
Kyle |
gordon sitts (Gsitts)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 05:55 pm: |
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The galvanized steel weighs so much you'll have a hernia hauling it down from the top... Try al or fiberglass for weight
My 2cent worth
G |
Ron
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 06:17 pm: |
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The CB crowd found an alternative source for the GRP waffle. It is used as industrial flooring.
Ron |
GregH
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 07:12 pm: |
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Jack-
I'm in SoCal too and drive at borrego and big bear and have never found the need to carry a bridge. Your right about borrego being short on "fallen trees" but I find an "adjustable" rock bridge to be available when I need one-it might take a little time to find-but that's part of the fun ;). I know that the pumpkin patch has basically round rocks that would be difficult to use but everywhere else usually has rocks and dirt (I carry a shovel) that work OK.
Big bear is where I find more need for bridges and find them laying around-I've trained my 6yr old and 9yr old daughters to do my scouting when I need one.
I probably would get some matting if I wheeled alot in snow or sand (pismo or glamis) but I don't. I guess the OHV area of borrego would qualify as well but that's mainly a sand rail area. If I was to buy some I'd order from a surplus place like Anchor Supplies in UK-they always advertise used NATO matting for cheap (I think $30 after exchange rate plus shipping from UK) Look in brit mags LRO, LR enthusiast and LR Monthly-they advert in there-i would NOT pay the prices asked for by some retailers in US.
My 2 cents(pence)
GregH |
Jack Quinlan (Jsq)
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 03, 2002 - 08:27 pm: |
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thank you Ron! That was the sort of tip I was looking for. I suspect a little detective work will turn this stuff up much cheaper and if I find it I'll pass the info along.
I was happy to get some technical responses to what I suppose is an old topic. I'm going to try to buy the GRP and use it. As for it's utitility, if it doesn't weigh much, it won't hurt to have along.
I was surprised to see that no one in either thread made any ethical arguments against it.
hmmmm... |
nadim
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 04, 2002 - 11:20 am: |
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I finnaly got the GRP waffle mats for these reasons:
1. THe PSP steel ones I had for ~ 3 years were rusted, heavy, and a pain in the ass, and the few times I have used them they got a lot of bad vocab from me in every language I know...now one of them is under my mothers plant pots, and the other is somewhere in the Lebanese mountains (6 ft. under no doubt!)
2. Did not buy the Aluminium after them, although used them from a buddy´´s, and eventhough we knew that the cannot carry the weight of a vehicle (Stage 1 V8), we did put them as a ramp/floater (9 pm in February, snow blizzard), well, then became banana-shaped, and he did not get his money´s worth.
3. GRP do not rust, are not heavy, do not come with a tetanus vaccine, will not let you down (litterally)
4. I like red stuff.
Nadim |
Jack Quinlan (Jsq)
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 04, 2002 - 04:38 pm: |
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well folks, I went ahead and bought them. GRP waffle bridges. Ron's tip led me to one hell of a deal. I can't give an exact price but I paid less than half of what Rovers North was asking. A little phone book research and some persistence taught me that GRP grating is actually designed as high strength corrosion resistant flooring in chemical factories and cell tower applications. I found some particularly good green stuff that has a non slip pebbled surface on one side. My guy cut it to my exact specs and everything. At this price there value in strength vs. weight becomes apparent immediately. Can't wait to try them out. If any of you are interested, particularly those of you in so cal, I will be happy to pass along my contact info for my supplier. They were very helpful and even provided me with product info from the manufacturer regarding the design and it's advantages. Send me and email for info.
I'll report on how they work in the field.
happy trails! |
nadim
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 04, 2002 - 05:47 pm: |
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(Angry and confused)
I hate red! (lol) |
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