Bridge for ATV

Dozernut · Aug 23, 2004

That might work, but after seeing all the tons of clay we hauled and packed, washed away along with the culvert, we surrendered. We have had a cooler and wetter summer and didn't want to keep doing the job over and over, so decided to go with a ford.

txdon · Aug 23, 2004

Thanks for the suggestions. (A correction this is a 6' diameter pipe not a five.) I had originally planed on just a walking bridge and the small width would not be a problem to cover with a foot of dirt. But.... then I got my golf cart and after filling up about four feet on the sides realized If I continue up the sides the rock wall will be 7' high, a bit unstable, and the rock on the crest would have to be less than 6" wide holding the dirt on the top (I would like at least a foot but not enough pipe width) . The golf cart is 4'2" wide.

Harv, I wish I had a welder your idea sounds intriguing, are the drilled holes to hold the pins to hold the rocks for the sides?

I have 2 thinking weeks before I will continue this project. I have filled the sides with dirt and a 4' rock retaining wall which is about 2 feet from the crest.

I guess my choices are:

1. build up the sides with wood, 2x12x8' and fill with dirt. Attach the wood to four post, 10', at each corner of the pipe. Also I would attach a cedar hand rail to the top of the post.

2. Get Harv to weld an artistic top pipe thing with sides that will hold the dirt on top of the pipe, and hand rails that I can pick up with my 5x10 trailer. I can at least glue the rocks on. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

3. Start over with a 4' pipe, 10' long. (More cost) and a lot of work to remove the dirt already in place. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

4. Put wood ( 2X4) bolt on, or pavers(on 2" coarse sand) on top crest and use rock glue or mortar for the end pavers. Put a long cedar tree across the creek (connected to the crest) for a railing.

Any other suggestions or thoughts on which would be best at this point are appreciated.
Thanks,

EddieWalker · Aug 23, 2004

Can you get another 6' diameter pipe?

Seems to me your problem is lack of shoulder due to not a long enough pipe. I also kind of wonder at how practical some of the suggestions are for a simple creek crossing with a golf cart.

Good luck,
Eddie

txdon · Aug 23, 2004

Eddie, I can't get a longer culvert, I got this last one cheap from a relative. To get from one side of the creek to the other, through the woods, now requires me to drive back out and around - about a mile trip. I wanted to keep it simple...but then that is how most of my projects start. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Deerlope · Aug 23, 2004

I seriously doubt if your culvert is long enought to put the fill that high. The earth would have to perfectly vertical on the ends, and that won't happen. If you plan on putting your tractor across it you should plan on at least 10" of fill top of it.

txdon · Aug 23, 2004

Deerlope, your are right and I will not be driving across it with the tractor only a golf cart if I can figure this thing out safely.

wroughtn_harv · Aug 23, 2004

Okay Don, welcome to my world. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

If I was in your creek this is what I'd do.

I'd backhoe down below grade to get a good footing for the culvert. It'd be a crime to go through all this effort and have it sabotaged by a little shortsightedness.

If rock is right there then I'd set the culvert on it and start up. If the rock isn't there I'd pour at least a beam--footer on the up side to prevent the chance for a washout next big storm.

Then I'd put the culvert in place.

I'd then get the cheapest four by eight material, masonite? maybe? And I'd make a pattern of the culvert and the sides of the creek.

Let's say you do this much and then put the patterns on your trailer and have a weekend in Dallas. Saturday morning early we have a TBN thing where I keep my tools. Around the corner is Wylie Steel. We pickup a couple of sheets of three sixteenths plate, quarter inch would be too heavy, and eighth inch would be a little light.

We transfer your patterns to the steel. We plasma cut them out, almost as fast as you can name six adjacent counties to Lee.

Here's the concept. Think about the portable shoring you see all the time at construction sites. Now think about those holding dirt in instead of out.

We weld four two and a half foot pieces of two and three eighths pipe to the insides of the cut steel. We then drill holes through those pipes and a sleeve of two and seven eighths for each joint. This allows you to install one side a time with your Kubota and then pin them together. You could dump in loose sacrete in the bottom around the joint of the culvert and the sides. Then fill it up in layers compacting as you go.

If it's done right and we also put an angle iron on top of each side you can come back and bolt down a wood deck to make it look like a wood bridge.

If you want to drive an extra hundred miles north into Oklahoma on Friday to Atoka you can go by B&B logs and lumber and get some killer oak for decking. I bought enough two inch by twelve feet to cover my trailer where the tractor rides for eighty dollars. Yup, eighty dollars. I don't know why they're so cheap. And I didn't question their pricing structure either? Seven each two by twelve inch by twelve foot beams, one two by eight inch by twelve foot beam, and one two by four by twelve foot beam, eighty bucks.

If you're interested we can work out the details. I'm sure some of the local tbn'rs would like to have some fun with probably two of the craziest of the crew. I'm talking about Bird and you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

txdon · Aug 24, 2004

Yes, I am interested.
The culvert sat right where it is at through the biggest gully washer last year. My pond is about 600 yards downstream and it filled up 7 feet and overflowed in one day. Since the picture was taken I have put 4 feet of dirt with rock sides between the culvert and the creek sides, I will get an up-dated picture soon. The rock hard red clay is underneath the culvert and I feel comfortable that it will not sink. I will also put cement along the upstream bottom edge to prevent erosion.

Some Questions:
1. Can the tractor work be done from the banks of the creek with the FEL or BH? I can't drive in the creek-too narrow and there are too many large trees and roots.
2. What will be the size of the metal sheets and how will they be connected? Do you envision 3-5 sheets for each side?
3. Do you have an estimate on the cost for the materials?
4. When will you have the time for this project?

I like the pipe connecting and angle iron idea.

Sometimes I think this is too much for just a small bridge but then this is one of the prettiest spots on the gully/creek.

I am honored that you considered project! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

wroughtn_harv · Aug 24, 2004

Morning TXDon,

( Some Questions:
1. Can the tractor work be done from the banks of the creek with the FEL or BH? I can't drive in the creek-too narrow and there are too many large trees and roots.)

I'd suggest from the pictures delicate use of the backhoe. If it's survived a gully washer then maybe a little judicious use of the backhoe and a sharpshooter shovel to excavate for the sheets would be all that's needed.

( 2. What will be the size of the metal sheets and how will they be connected? Do you envision 3-5 sheets for each side?)

The steel comes in four by eight sheets. That should be enough material, one sheet per side. You're looking total weight as a quess on my part as four to five hundred pounds total. Your five by ten trailer should be more than adequate.

We can weld it up into manageable sections for you to install, with a camera of course. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

( 3. Do you have an estimate on the cost for the materials?)

I'll do some thinking this morning and then come up with a material list and a quote from my supplier.

( 4. When will you have the time for this project?)

The next two weekends are out. But the weekend of September 12 looks good for me.

I prefer a weekend for this kind of a project. One, of course is this would be a great excuse for a norte tejas tractor by net get together. Secondly, my wife reads over my shoulder every morning as I tour TBN. She's the lurker of lurkers and a great fan. She's also the best thing about me. She has a real job and would only be able to visit on weekends.

( Sometimes I think this is too much for just a small bridge but then this is one of the prettiest spots on the gully/creek.)

That's what I liked about the project. I think a wood deck or stone one would be really neat there. Think about it, what would fit. And we'll make the components accordingly.

Do you ever visit Kruetz Meats over in Lockhart? We order their sausages over the internet when we can't get down there at least once a year.

I'll post a meeting thing down in the new forum. I've talked to Bird in real life and am confident in saying he'd be there if possible. And I suspect at least three more frequent posters that are in the immediate area would show up if they can.

It would be fun.

Henro · Aug 24, 2004

All I can think is How come you guys live so far from Pittsburgh!!!

I wanna come too, I wanna come too... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Sorry for crying in public... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif