Tractor Bridge Ideas

jadefox · Sep 27, 2014

I'm looking to build a small bridge to span a ditch. It needs to be able to handle our tractor and other lighter machinery. My initial plan was the old telephone poles with a heavy wood deck, but sourcing telephone poles has proven a challenge. What have you done to build a small, tractor-worthy bridge on your property?

Streetcar · Sep 27, 2014

Can you get pictures
What is span of the bridge
Drainage area of ditch
What will be largest load on bridge

jadefox · Sep 27, 2014

Streetcar said:
Can you get pictures
What is span of the bridge
Drainage area of ditch
What will be largest load on bridge

The ditch itself is only 2' wide, and the span would be no more than 6' max from high point to high point. The drainage are is unknown (largely fed by a 100+ yea-old clay pipe that seems to divert water from the foundation. It never runs big and certainly has never overflown the banks. The biggest piece of machinery that needs to cross it is out Kubota BX25D with backhoe.

dave1949 · Sep 27, 2014

Why not make a rocked crossing? That is not much depth, width or water flow.

Using your backhoe, dig out about 18" below the ditch bottom about 12' wide. Fill the 18" with gathered rocks up to the original ditch bottom level. Use flatter rocks if you can find them so the bottom is reasonably smooth.

Dig some approach slopes to and from the ditch--deep enough to cover those with 6"-8" rock. Cover the approaches with 1"-2" clean stone so they are smooth to walk and drive on.

SPIKER · Sep 27, 2014

here is my solution for the problems at my place.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/315521-recent-flooding-yesterday-3-5-a.html

Old trailers work pretty good for bridges, the one in link above is based on an old mobile home frame.
Mark

jadefox · Sep 27, 2014

dave1949 said:
Why not make a rocked crossing? That is not much depth, width or water flow.

Using your backhoe, dig out about 18" below the ditch bottom about 12' wide. Fill the 18" with gathered rocks up to the original ditch bottom level. Use flatter rocks if you can find them so the bottom is reasonably smooth.

Dig some approach slopes to and from the ditch--deep enough to cover those with 6"-8" rock. Cover the approaches with 1"-2" clean stone so they are smooth to walk and drive on.

I hadn't thought of that route. I'm not sure I have the room for sufficient approach slopes. I'm actually leaning more toward culvert now.

jtygoku · Sep 27, 2014

12" corrugated metal or HDPE plastic would be the simplest solution. Can buy them at most farm and home or home big box store. Bed it in the right aggregate base and you'll be fine.

tcreeley · Sep 27, 2014

I'd buy a 20' black pvc corrugated culvert. Cut it to the length you want- but you will appreciate the length in bad weather (snow) when you are not quite sure of the ends. Available at the farm supply stores. A handsaw can cut it. Light - easy to move, but strong. Use a backhoe to ditch it and provide an inflow area and outflow area. I use drainage ditches around my field and property. Getting the horses over, as well as the tractor has been easy all seasons.
I tried the rock build up idea on my roadway into the paddock, but in March I was getting standing water as the area couldn't drain fast enough due to the ice build up and frozen ground. The culvert took care of that.

Goodluck.