Tractor over trail Bridge?

   / Tractor over trail Bridge? #11  
Problem with wood is it will rot. Ive been building crossings with rocks by creating a natural culvert. If you access to a pipe, id use that and line both sides with rocks to keep the wild look.
 
   / Tractor over trail Bridge? #12  
Problem with wood is it will rot. Ive been building crossings with rocks by creating a natural culvert. If you access to a pipe, id use that and line both sides with rocks to keep the wild look.

I agree. There's a lot more to building a bridge than the bridge itself. You gotta set it on something solid. Dirt banks don't count.
 
   / Tractor over trail Bridge? #13  
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   / Tractor over trail Bridge? #14  
More than a few ALL WOOD covered bridges throughout New England, STILL in everyday use.

That Ford looks mighty purdy sitting on your bridge!
 
   / Tractor over trail Bridge? #16  
   / Tractor over trail Bridge? #17  
More than a few 200 year old ALL WOOD covered bridges throughout the Northeast, STILL in everyday use.

No doubt. Just wouldn't be my goal for material.

I actually think as small as this crossing is I'd do a culvert or low water crossing.
 
   / Tractor over trail Bridge? #18  
If you’ve got a salvage yard close by you can probably get some steel beams for a comparable cost of wood beams. Seaton enterprise is my steel source and it’s 25 cents a pound which includes nearly anything else you’re likely to find.
 
   / Tractor over trail Bridge? #19  
All you need to do is find a beat up 20' equipment type trailer or a truck bed. They can be had for much less than buying steel and building it. If there is any danger of abutment wash out, I would use those concrete 'pigs' that most concrete company's sell, they are 2'x2'x6' long and here they are $50 ea. So dig down a bit, lay some gravel if needed, then two pigs end to end on each side of the creek. Then winch the trailer bed across & set it on the pig abutments, then remove the tires or axles.....done.

I did one out of a 20' steel truck bed, and we just had a nice flood(as usual during winter) and the bridge stayed high and dry). I'll snap some pictures late today for you.

Hey OVRSZD....excellent job or your bridge:thumbsup:
 
   / Tractor over trail Bridge? #20  
In your (OP) case, I think I'd go with a culvert, unless the location experiences pretty extreme flow events.
I have an aging wooden bridge that needs to be replaced (if mushrooms growing out of the decking and support beams is any indication). My first choice was a flat-deck shipping container, but they are pretty rare...I'm now thinking of having a local trailer fabricator price out a heavy trailer deck (without tongue, springs, axles, wiring, etc.) as an alternative.
 

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