Peter Carey
 | | 02/27/2007 2:51 PM |
 Alert | I'm ordering up some sand mats for myself. These are 1.5" thick fiberglass molded grating http://www.amdgrating.com/molded-grating/ 1.5"x1.5" squares. 5' long and 18" wide. Not sure on the color but maybe gray. I am getting final conformation that they'll be able to handle 3000lbs each over a 4' span (doubling as a bridging ladder if need be). This should hold the weight of a fully loaded rover if all the weight is on one axel some how. they will be about 30lbs each. Cost is my cost, which looks like $89 each + $20 each shipping from IL. Which isn't bad. They'd be something like this http://terra-trax.com/pb/wp_b9d3ad70/wp_b9d3ad70.html?0.603089186357904 but a little heavier. Half the price thought. This is my price for them by the way and I'm not trying to make a profit.....here....  Let me know by end of tomorrow if you're interested | |
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
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Peter Carey
| | 02/27/2007 3:28 PM |
Alert | right,
figure, in a perfect world, even with all the weight on the rear axle (ALL the weight....front wheels in the air) you are still distributing that weight MOSTLY evenly between the tires. 5000lbs/2 tires is about 2500lbs on each tire/sand mat.
Real world, you have weight on the front tires. Yes, this is dynamic weight and all, but I'm shooting for making them strong enough for sane people.....not someone wanting to jump up a rock or over a ditch.
My main use would be for any kind of ledges (beyond the normal sand use) that my long wheel base doesn't like as much. Like stacking rocks, but purdier. | |
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
| | 02/27/2007 4:13 PM |
Alert | I somehow read "This should hold the weight of a fully loaded rover if all the weight is on one axel some how. " as "This should hold the weight of a fully loaded rover if all the weight is on one wheel some how. " 
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My Overland Adventure Blog | |
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Isaac Fain
| | 02/27/2007 4:22 PM |
Alert | those would rock for my heep. as soon as i have $$$ i'm going to get some of those ... alot cheaper than 33's hehe
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I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the noise of how awesome I am. | |
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Rick Lindgren
| | 02/27/2007 4:29 PM |
Alert | yeah, I would be interested but I need to save my money for new axles/CV's. Unless you think these things will work well enough that I won't ever need front-wheel drive again. In that case, I'm sold!
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Finding my inner dirt again.... | |
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Peter Carey
| | 02/27/2007 5:40 PM |
Alert | I thought of going the route to hold the entire weight of the truck on one ramp, but that made them really heavy to carry around. Admitedly, this is some theory and some common sense. Once I get them I'll do some testing.
What's people's opinion on the 18" width? | |
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Isaac Fain
| | 02/27/2007 9:56 PM |
Alert | you have 235/85's so about 8" of tread on the ground, which is 5" of grate on either side of the tire. I'd say that leaves alot of wiggle room. depending on the obstacle and if the ramps are at the same angle, you may want a spotter to make sure the rear axle squares up and tracks onto the grates with the extra wheelbase. i bet with a bit of use you get used to them very quickly. nice score... i'd really like to add a pair of these to my future roofrack
edit: 30lbs each ...Oooof... that'd be 60lbs up top. | |
I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the noise of how awesome I am. | |
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Peter Carey
| | 02/27/2007 10:07 PM |
Alert | The weight is what they told me and it might not be right. we'll see. I'm trying to think of the best way to keep them low, but not much luck. On the other hand, I'm coming up with other uses for them (table, wel....that's really it so far).
Next thought is to hit them with some spray on texturaized stuff to make gription better. I might just order the 4 now in case I break one from pushing it way too far in testing. Otherwise, if I only need two, someone is welcome to buy them if they prove useful.
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
| | 02/27/2007 11:19 PM |
Alert | I'm interested in a set but too broke to spring for 'em. I guess I'll just have to make sure I have Peter's 110 support vehicle along on any difficult trips.
Craig
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My Overland Adventure Blog | |
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Peter Carey
| | 02/28/2007 10:45 AM |
Alert | | Final price is $119 each shipped and they come with grit already on them. I'll order 4 today, 2 for me and 2 for someone else if they prove useful. If nothing else, they'd make a nice strong shelf. | |
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Peter Carey
| | 03/01/2007 9:21 AM |
Alert | | I'm looking at getting them in 12" sections instead, after thinking about the weight. This should bring them down to about 20lbs. Just waiting on a price and I'll be ordering 6 instead of 4 ifthe price is the same (the sq' is the same, but I realize it requires a few more cuts) | |
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Todd Eliason
Title Sponsor
| | 03/04/2007 10:48 PM |
Alert | Hi Peter, Is it $119 ea or $119 a pair? Not to sound dense but there is some confusion. The terra-trax are $195 a pair (not each) and you mentioned they are twice the price, so I am thinking you might mean $80 a pair, though I could be wrong. I would easily spring for the $119 a pair. I like the idea of the 12in wide versions.
Let me know, I may take you up on the extra pair you are ordering...
Thanks,
Todd | |
93 LR Defender 110
05 Land Rover LR3 | |
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Peter Carey
| | 03/05/2007 8:31 AM |
Alert | Hi Todd. I read things wrong the first time too. The Terra-trax are indeed $195/pair and $29 for shipping for a total of $224/pair. The ones I'm getting (the final 5'x1' size, qty 6) are $79/EACH shipped for a total of $158/pair. Material wise they are actually about $60 each, but shipping from IL is the pain. They dropped the price some after I pointed out some things but still, I could get a better price using my Fedex account. The shipping for 130lbs from IL to Seattle is about $80 throuh Fedex and if you can get it for that price you'd be looking at $60 each + $14 each shipping. So I'm paying a few more dollars in shipping and handling to not be a bother and because there is pacakging included.
If I were to order more, I'd just have them stretch wrap them and call Fedex to pick them up. SHipping a pair at 40lbs should be around $30.
This is all assuming they'll give me the same price next time. And it's also assuming they work out. I will have some good oportunity to try them out in the first month after they show up (next week).
If you lived near Chicago, you could pick them up for about $60-$70 each. But then, you'd be living in Chicago. I've tried finding a local place but haven't had luck | |
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Todd Eliason
Title Sponsor
| | 03/05/2007 1:47 PM |
Alert | I'll pass on Chicago... Not that there is anything wrong with that. (any Chicago folks on the list?)
If no one has put dibs on the additional pair, I'll take em... Sound far better than the PSP Mats (again, not that there is anything wrong with that).
Todd | |
93 LR Defender 110
05 Land Rover LR3 | |
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Craig Miller
Title Sponsor
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Todd Eliason
Title Sponsor
| | 03/05/2007 9:37 PM |
Alert | DOPE!!! Sorry Mike,...
Not that there is anything wrong with Chicago... Great to visit, but too damn cold for me.
Todd | |
93 LR Defender 110
05 Land Rover LR3 | |
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Peter Carey
| | 03/14/2007 4:03 PM |
Alert | The sand mats showed up yesterday!
Attached are some photos. They seem pretty good. the first time you use them they make crackling sounds as they flew. I used them on one of our sand hills and if you put them on both tires you just walk up. Of course, at some point you need to trade off, but they dig right in and give great traction.
I need to find something good to bridge. So far I've gone up a stump and they do flew a lot to the point of making you wince. A nice thing about them though is you can stack them and then there is little problem. Throw a a strap around them and you're set. I'll be taking them with me on the trip and hope to use them now that I know how well they work in sand. I still might be cautious about bridging a full Suburban.
And one thing no one mentions about the weight. these are 21.5 lbs on my scale.....but when they get sand in the holes.....WHOA! And it's not always easy to knock out. |
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Peter Carey
| | 03/14/2007 4:03 PM |
Alert | | more |
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Peter Carey
| | 03/14/2007 4:04 PM |
Alert | | last one |
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