WeeJeep2
Adventurer
I saw an earlier post from 2008 on bargain bridging ladders made from grating that came back to life not to long ago.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/17223-Bargain-Bridging-Ladders
I guess I missed it first time around. Here's a fresh start along the same idea with a method to carry them on top of a trailer.
I got up my bargain fiberglass grating ladders from a company in Houston that I've done business with for years, AIMS International (281) 590-3240 or on the web at http://www.aims-intl.com Michael Smith is a good contact. I picked mine up from their shop up near Bush Intercontinental Airport. Price will depend on what size you want and where it gets shipped. Make sure you ask for used grating. They don't always have it but there was a good stack when I stopped by.
I decided on 2" grating from their used grating pile and had it cut to 4' long by 18" wide. Put a bevel on one end to help the tires walk up on it without trying to tip the panel up.
Here's a few photos of a test to show deflection. The 18" wide helps carry the load better than 12" wide and gives you an easier target to hit too. With the jeep on the middle deflection was only 1/2".
Another reason I went with 18" wide is that 2 of them fit nicely on the roof of the trailer under the racks.
I built a retainer bar out of 2x2 with some strategically placed blocks that fit in the grating openings. It keeps them spaced properly and prevents them from sliding.
There is a similar board for the other end but with no blocks. One strap around the whole assembly keeps everything in place so they are quick to deploy. I have some small wooden wedges that insert above the panels and keep them from bouncing vertically.
The photos are with the tent off of the trailer. It works just about the same with the tent on the trailer, but the boards I have shown to keep the panels off the roof get replaced with thinner strips of rubber matting so that there is room for the bolts that hold the tent to the roof rack to stick through. The rubber mat strips can also be used to keep the ramps from sliding as much if they are deployed on rock.
I haven't had to use them for real yet. We do our share of solo trips so a winch up front and ramps are nice to have along.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/17223-Bargain-Bridging-Ladders
I guess I missed it first time around. Here's a fresh start along the same idea with a method to carry them on top of a trailer.
I got up my bargain fiberglass grating ladders from a company in Houston that I've done business with for years, AIMS International (281) 590-3240 or on the web at http://www.aims-intl.com Michael Smith is a good contact. I picked mine up from their shop up near Bush Intercontinental Airport. Price will depend on what size you want and where it gets shipped. Make sure you ask for used grating. They don't always have it but there was a good stack when I stopped by.
I decided on 2" grating from their used grating pile and had it cut to 4' long by 18" wide. Put a bevel on one end to help the tires walk up on it without trying to tip the panel up.
Here's a few photos of a test to show deflection. The 18" wide helps carry the load better than 12" wide and gives you an easier target to hit too. With the jeep on the middle deflection was only 1/2".
Another reason I went with 18" wide is that 2 of them fit nicely on the roof of the trailer under the racks.
I built a retainer bar out of 2x2 with some strategically placed blocks that fit in the grating openings. It keeps them spaced properly and prevents them from sliding.
There is a similar board for the other end but with no blocks. One strap around the whole assembly keeps everything in place so they are quick to deploy. I have some small wooden wedges that insert above the panels and keep them from bouncing vertically.
The photos are with the tent off of the trailer. It works just about the same with the tent on the trailer, but the boards I have shown to keep the panels off the roof get replaced with thinner strips of rubber matting so that there is room for the bolts that hold the tent to the roof rack to stick through. The rubber mat strips can also be used to keep the ramps from sliding as much if they are deployed on rock.
I haven't had to use them for real yet. We do our share of solo trips so a winch up front and ramps are nice to have along.
