Sand Ladders???
- Thread starter wesel123
- Start date
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Have you used them yet? I was on a trail somewhere where somebody had put down some snowmobile tracks, and they didn't work very well. Rubber doesn't grip to rubber very well, particularly when it's wet.
cjmitchell5
Adventurer
if so I wonder if he could stud the mats, tedius work screwing in a few hundred screws but I bet it'd work.
JIMBO
Expedition Leader
:sombrero: These tracks look like they would work if you were using SLICKS, on the rear wheels, good job NA
That looks like more traction knobs, than my Buschranger X-Tracks
:Wow1::smiley_drive::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO
That looks like more traction knobs, than my Buschranger X-Tracks
:Wow1::smiley_drive::safari-rig::safari-rig: JIMBO
michaelgroves
Explorer
I think the main advantage of using any type of sand ladders or mats is to spread the load and prevent the wheel from sinking into the ground. Traction is generally a secondary issue - in fact too much traction just makes the sand ladder/mat get thrown out from under the wheel.
I have seen people using them on all types of ground, though, including rocks, where I guess traction would be an issue. I'm not convinced about that kind of use anyway...
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
Would probably help a lot.
I agree, but I don't know how much load spreading these will do. With the weight of a truck on them on soft ground, they'll probably just flex, offering only a slight advantage over the tire by itself.
Yeah, no problem. Worth a shot and let us know. I'm just saying, don't go somewhere where you're relying on these to save you... cause they might not work.
flyingwil
Supporting Sponsor - Sierra Expeditions
Signcutter21
Adventurer
I thought about trying to use some of these too. I was going to use it to fix up and bridge some wash-outs down here in SE AZ. :sombrero: After trying to lift even a 5 ft section, I reconsidered. It was way to heavy to load up on the jeep. I'm only guessing but I'd say it was 60 lbs plus. Good find though if you wanted to build something like a fence.
NA EP3
Observer
Oh I would never just rely on untested equipment. Or rely 100% on anything for that matter.
egn
Adventurer
Here in Germany there were two versions of this landing mats available. One is made from steel, like the ones above. The other ones were made from a very special version of aluminum alloy. The ones made from steel a very heavy, but on the other side they are also very rigid. For very heavy expo vehicles this is a plus. The ones that were made from the special aluminum alloy are also very good, but this version isn't available anymore. Both of this landing mats have the problem with the sharp hooks. For use as sand ladder they have to prepared in order to prevent broken tyres.
As it is now very hard to get the light aluminum landing mats, a supplier of expo articles here in Germany (Daerr) has constructed a replica, but specific for use as sand ladder. As he didn't get the special aluminium alloy with MIL specification, he improved the construction so far that it has similar stability at low weight. A 6 ft long sand ladder weights less than 20 lb. They are now used by a lot of truck owners. Of course, they are not cheap.
I own 4 of them with a length of 6'8", but I didn't have to use them yet.
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R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
I've been wondering for a while... In University, one of our professors of materials science showed us a few samples of composite construction. One of them was a simple board made from two thin pieces of aluminum laminated to a foam core. The sample weighed next to nothing, but could support a man's weight. I wonder if something similiar could be made, a scaled up version. Maybe two pieces of diamond plate aluminum. I just don't know what adhesive to use.