Ed Grantham
New member
I plan on building a wooden bridge for tractor crossing(5000 lbs.) 6" x 6" support posts (5' apart) with 2" x 12" or 2" x 16" bolted on both sides of the support posts. Is this sufficient for safe support?
Building a wooden bridge to hold 5000#
- Thread starter Ed Grantham
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LD1
Epic Contributor
Re: Wooden bridge span question
This thread is 6 years old. You will have better luck getting answers if you post a new thread.
And we need more detail. What is the span each beam has to make? you say you will have 6x6 posts 5" apart, is that along the beam (IE beam only spans 5'?) or is that the beams are going to be 5' apart??
And footings, joists between the beams, and decking material are all just as important as beam size.
Also, what are you crossing? how deep? does EMS ever need to cross? do you have zoning or codes in your area to follow?
When you start a new thread, please include these details for the best help.
This thread is 6 years old. You will have better luck getting answers if you post a new thread.
And we need more detail. What is the span each beam has to make? you say you will have 6x6 posts 5" apart, is that along the beam (IE beam only spans 5'?) or is that the beams are going to be 5' apart??
And footings, joists between the beams, and decking material are all just as important as beam size.
Also, what are you crossing? how deep? does EMS ever need to cross? do you have zoning or codes in your area to follow?
When you start a new thread, please include these details for the best help.
aczlan
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I split these posts into a new thread.
Aaron Z
Aaron Z
cartod
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I don't know that you could convince me to drive over it first.
Tractor Seabee
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Sounds too light weight for 5,000#. Just wait, once you get it built you will wish you could take the pickup across it. Like has been said, not enough info to help you much. Big thing is how much does the creek rise in wet weather or snow melt and how fast is the current. Current will undermine stuff real quick. I built a 10 W X 16' L bridge of RR ties and 2" rough sawn planks. Sills are 4' from the edge of the water at high water. I take my one to dually PU and 2 yds of rock across it. Probably 12K #. $200 in materials.
Ron
Ron
BHD
Veteran Member
a 4x12 should hold a single point 5000 pounds mid span (3 foot) on a 6 foot beam.
I would use a solid beam, not built up 2x12, less chance for rot,
but if I had a choice I would use steel, possibly wood posts properly treated, but the main supports I would consider steel.
using hem fir number 1 lumber,
Free Beam Sizer - Home
better lumber one could down size,
but if your any height or if the danger of failure I would not consider under building it,
If failure would mean flipping your tractor and killing your self, do not under build,
an option may be finding a truck bed or trailer deck and using that for your bridge, and building a deck on it, If you can put posts in, I would think a trailer house frame would be better than wood,
the problem with many woods is the rate they will degrade in open weather,
most bridge timbers are heavily treated to what would be greater than in contact with soil for normal consumer grade lumber.
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I do not know how far you wanting to span fully, but if you can limit the span and build up the approaches so one can limit the span you most likely would be better off,
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any regulation on the creek your wanting to cross, (would the building of the bridge cause you legal problems?)
I would use a solid beam, not built up 2x12, less chance for rot,
but if I had a choice I would use steel, possibly wood posts properly treated, but the main supports I would consider steel.
using hem fir number 1 lumber,
Free Beam Sizer - Home
better lumber one could down size,
but if your any height or if the danger of failure I would not consider under building it,
If failure would mean flipping your tractor and killing your self, do not under build,
an option may be finding a truck bed or trailer deck and using that for your bridge, and building a deck on it, If you can put posts in, I would think a trailer house frame would be better than wood,
the problem with many woods is the rate they will degrade in open weather,
most bridge timbers are heavily treated to what would be greater than in contact with soil for normal consumer grade lumber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I do not know how far you wanting to span fully, but if you can limit the span and build up the approaches so one can limit the span you most likely would be better off,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
any regulation on the creek your wanting to cross, (would the building of the bridge cause you legal problems?)
LD1
Epic Contributor
Certainly would like to see an update with some more questions answered.
One could build a bridge to support 5000# out of 2x6 beams if they wanted. No way to size anything without knowing how far the span is and how far apart the supports are. He referenced 5', but I dont know if that was width or length,
The size of the posts depends on the height. 6x6 is probably fine for shorter heights. But a tall crossing with 15' of 6x6 sticking out of the ground I wouldnt do without a good bit of other bracing to tie the posts together.
One could build a bridge to support 5000# out of 2x6 beams if they wanted. No way to size anything without knowing how far the span is and how far apart the supports are. He referenced 5', but I dont know if that was width or length,
The size of the posts depends on the height. 6x6 is probably fine for shorter heights. But a tall crossing with 15' of 6x6 sticking out of the ground I wouldnt do without a good bit of other bracing to tie the posts together.
