AFFORDABLE SAND LADDERS FOR EXPEDITIONARY VEHICLES - MAXINGOUT

[maxingout]

JMHE but have only had to use sand ladders for bridging once , and just put rocks under to support , and then could have found a way round but just decided easier to do what we did, with sand its just a matter of spreading the weight footprint , and getting back on top so to speak, so a well made short ali ladder works OK its the rung to side rail fixing that is the biggest factor . Most times I have used its because had not aired the tyres down for soft sand , but hard for faster travel , if you are down to say 18-20psi and are still sinking in then its time to reconsider your route in view of your weight( groundpressure) .

My experience is similar to yours. When the weather is hot and the sand is dry and like powder, route finding and tire pressures become supremely important. I automatically dropped tire pressure to 16-18 psi before going into the sand, and getting stuck at those pressures is much less frequent.

Route finding makes you look like a hero or an idiot, and it involves an element of luck. When conditions are really tough and you are in a sea of soft sand, sometimes you have to get out of your truck and walk around your vehicle on foot to discover the direction that has the most firm sand.

If you go into the dunes right after the winter rains and the sand is firm, you look like a sand driving genius because you never get stuck. If you head into the dunes after four months without rain and the ambient temperature is 110 degrees Fahrenheit, the sand will make you look like a fool.

 

[Antichrist]

That's a very long answer to why I chose sand ladders over bridging ladders.

I didn't mean for "off-roading", but even tracks, and bridges, can wash out and effectively stop your progress. There's a lot of the world that isn't sand.

 

[David Harris]

I didn't mean for "off-roading", but even tracks, and bridges, can wash out and effectively stop your progress. There's a lot of the world that isn't sand.

I agree here. I would prefer to carry something that can double as a sand or bridging ladder if I'm going to the trouble, like the Mantec bridging ladders or similar home made.

David

 

[t4rman]

I'll bet if you stacked all 4 angle iron sand ladders they would work just fine for bridging.

 

[Sirocco]

I'll bet if you stacked all 4 angle iron sand ladders they would work just fine for bridging.

that was my thought. Yes bridging capability is handy but there are ways around it.

we are going to take 4 GRP 'waffle' boards when we cross Central Asia/Mongolia/Siberia next year. These have proved to be good in mud here in the UK and used in the sand in Morocco. We also tried them out bridging a small wash out in the Italian Alps (was not strictly required). They cost around £30 a pair in the UK so are the only economic solution to traction aid.

G

 

[maxingout]

I'll bet if you stacked all 4 angle iron sand ladders they would work just fine for bridging.

I have never been in a situation where I needed bridging ladders. If it ever happens, I may stack them up and give it a try.

 

[Antichrist]

I'll bet if you stacked all 4 angle iron sand ladders they would work just fine for bridging.

Assuming only one side of the vehicle needed aid.

 

[LR Max]

I have never been in a situation where I needed bridging ladders. If it ever happens, I may stack them up and give it a try.

Thanks for the write up. I've always thought of using angle iron would be a cheap and effective sand ladder.

On the bridging comment, my father built the ramps of his trailer out of 2" angle iron (pretty much the same configuration you have, maybe the rungs are closer together). About 3~4ft long and about a foot wide. Never bent, flexed, whatever. Even when with an Oliver Diesel tractor on it (dunno how much that thing weighs, but I know it isn't made out of plastic!). If they are good for trailer ramps, probably not that far off from being a decent bridging ladder.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

Thanks for the write up. I've always thought of using angle iron would be a cheap and effective sand ladder.

On the bridging comment, my father built the ramps of his trailer out of 2" angle iron (pretty much the same configuration you have, maybe the rungs are closer together). About 3~4ft long and about a foot wide. Never bent, flexed, whatever. Even when with an Oliver Diesel tractor on it (dunno how much that thing weighs, but I know it isn't made out of plastic!). If they are good for trailer ramps, probably not that far off from being a decent bridging ladder.

Yes, but a 3ft ramp made of 2" angle iron will weight 40-60lbs depending on the number of rungs.

I've been tossing around the idea of making some angle iron sand ladders like the ones described in this thread. My thoughts were to use (test) 1 1/2" steel angle iron. I would measure my tire contact length at offroad PSI and then space the rungs at 2/3 the measurement of the tire's contact length. Overall length wouldn't be more than about 2ft. I may go nearly as wide as my roof rack and have two ladders. This is an untested assumption, but my experience is that 1 1/2" steel is robust enough to use for occasional bridging purposes, yet still light enough and easy enough to handle for sand extractions.

 

[t4rman]

That's a lot of calculating for a pice of metal you stick in the earth and run over with your truck.

 

[LaOutbackTrail]

You know it'd look cool on your 4runner cruising around Denton...

 

[t4rman]

You know it'd look cool on your 4runner cruising around Denton...

I almost built a set before heading to the expo! I'll be building a set this week now that I'm back. I'll bolt them on drive to target and look really cool (on a budget too!)

 

[CodyY]

You know it'd look cool on your 4runner cruising around Denton...

Ha!

 

[t4rman]

Ha!

Don't hate!

 

[CodyY]

Don't hate!

Just funny I saw "Denton". Im in Burleson