Rebar cattleguard

[slowa]

I want to build my dream home for $50/sq ft but it isn't likely to happen.

This is a grate for a truck to drive over and keep cattle from walking on.

 

[slowa]

6x12!!!!
Ain't gonna happen with that design.
Keep in mind anything you lay on top of that pit has to be completely self supporting and any bolting you do is only to keep it from vibrating out of place.

You can't just stack some concrete blocks up for a foundation wall on a road way.

Have you thought about just putting a gate in?

There is a gate, but I am tasked with putting an electric opener on it, so the owner can get in and out without suffering the weather. In case the opener malfunctions, there has to be a grate in place.

That span is ridiculous, I agree. That is why I am asking for advice on how to improve it (without adding a bunch of expensive steel).

 

[Rock knocker]

If you're not the owner, why do you care how much it costs to do it right? Cutting corners will only result in liability to you or others.

 

[slowa]

Would storm inlet grates work for your use? They aren't cheap, but if you contact some road builders, they probably have some in there bone yards. They can be hard to scrap (need a letter from city/county Public Works departments) and often road builders will have some old ones around. I would support them on 8" wide reinforced concrete footer, that locks them in; not CMUs.

I was trying to avoid scrap yards, not because I am against re-use, but for repeatability. In case I need to put in more of these, which is likely the case. The specifications for cattle guards I read everywhere is 4 inch gaps between bars. I will call around to the road guys to get an idea for price and availability. Thank you.

 

[Renze]

That span is ridiculous, I agree. That is why I am asking for advice on how to improve it (without adding a bunch of expensive steel).

You need to truss it like \/\/\/\/ with lots of these rebar, and do that every 15 inch so theres allways a truss underneath the truck wheels. Then add a similar truss crosswise in the middle so you wont roll it out and the ends stick up. And these need to be full penetrating welds.

If trusses are too much work for you, you need to weld I or C channel underneath it of at least 8 inches high. These could probably sit on a concrete bottom of this pit so they dont take any bend strain anymore.

 

[slowa]

If you're not the owner, why do you care how much it costs to do it right? Cutting corners will only result in liability to you or others.

I am asking for advice because I want to make something affordable, functional and safe. Plain and simple.

 

[RickB]

I want to build my dream home for $50/sq ft but it isn't likely to happen.

This is a grate for a truck to drive over and keep cattle from walking on.

My point is there is no free lunch. You build something like your first posted design, somebody will own you. Not sure why you refuse to understand that.

 

[Rock knocker]

The prefab guards are thousands of dollars. Thus the search for a better DIY plan.

Certainly not "thousands" as in plural. More like fourteen hundred
American Fence & Supply Co., Inc. E-Store

 

[slowa]

You need to truss it like \/\/\/\/ with lots of these rebar, and do that every 15 inch so theres allways a truss underneath the truck wheels. Then add a similar truss crosswise in the middle so you wont roll it out and the ends stick up. And these need to be full penetrating welds.

If trusses are too much work for you, you need to weld I or C channel underneath it of at least 8 inches high. These could probably sit on a concrete bottom of this pit so they dont take any bend strain anymore.

The truss is a great idea. I wonder if I could build up concrete walls in place of the I beams you mention.

 

[slowa]

Certainly not "thousands" as in plural. More like fourteen hundred
American Fence & Supply Co., Inc. E-Store

Certainly would be a lot easier... I am getting a freight quote.