I need to fashion a small bridge across a small creek The creek bed is about 4' deep, but narrow perhaps 4' or 5' in places. I need this bridge to be able to get a compact tractor across and also a SidebySide UTV.

I was thinking railroad ties but they are hard to work with. Would pressure treated landscape timbers work? If I had an old 8 trailer and could strip the trailer bed, that would work fine. Another thought is Steel grate, but that would be one heavy rascal to move. 2x12s perhaps. The Side by Side is 1500 lbs. the tractor is close to 3000 lbs.

Another thought is if I had some of those long steel ramps that come with trailers for loading equipment. I would need two of them. Where to get these?

Would a Steel Fence guy be able to weld up a frame / grate?

What say ye?

Dukes of Hazzard style launch ramp would be the best way to do this

find an old flatbed trailer that will span across it.

There is this listing on facebook, I wonder if it would work for you?

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BSqCRLGwr/

Proper way would be to put in a large culvert and cover it properly with dirt. Culvert pipe prices are stupid expensive, sadly.

That being said, a couple of ramps to span and then lay pressure treated wood across them would work for the next 20 yrs.


Like these.

5K aluminum ramps.

Like the trailer idea also.

Just fill it in and enjoy your new pond.

Where's Hop, he would recommend how to do it.

That is very cool! It would indeed work. I bet it weighs a ton. I will check into this and see how I can get that down in the woods.

Thanks

That is very cool! It would indeed work. I bet it weighs a ton. I will check into this and see how I can get that down in the woods.

Thanks

I thought about that, but likely not kosher. There are several springs that drain down near there on my land that I could dam those up for sure.

That is perfect Dave. These would work fine I bet. $$

You need to anticipate if the water gets higher

Where is Hop when you need him…

That is a "jim dandy" right there.

We have a couple of bridges made of semi tractor flatbeds. Just make sure you build a good base for them on each end. We used railroad ties to build a small retaining wall to set it on.

does the creek flood ?

Not really. It has cut a deep trench over the years. Where I would like to cross is not so deep. I am thinking 8' Landscape timbers now. I would need 12 of them to make a 48" wide bridge. Then I could strap them together with a 2x4 at the ends. Less than $100 I think.

Interesting. I wouldn't need anything that long or stout I think.

that only leaves you 2 foot on each side of the creek
if you look around there are a lot of flat steel type ramps out there
they are heavy though
but they would not wash away or collapse the bank

Couple of I beams with planks across them.

Now Bob, we've seen how you drive. You're going to need something at least 12 ft wide and with large curbs. Probably need hand rails and be ADA certified, too. C'mon now, we know how old ya are.

(please don't box my ears for that... )

We put in a telephone pole bridge back in 76 and that thing is still standing. 2 poles covered with 2x4's. Spans about 20'

Here's my contribution to this, it's going to be the wackiest of them all.

1) Qty 9 each 12' x 6-8" diameter concrete pillars
2) Qty 3 each 6" x 20' steel i-beams
3) Qty 20+ sheets of perforated metal
4) 1000 or so weather rated 1 1/2" self tapping metal screws
5) Washers w/ rubber for the 1000 or so screws
6) Drill, die grinder, etc. needed for installation
7) Beer and buddies to help

Have fun.

Get a backhoe. Start digging a trench and divert the creek around the area where you’re wanting to cross.

Of course you’ll then need to figure out a way to get over the diverted section of creek. Note: I’m an excellent problem solver and was laser focused on solving the original problem.

Hope that helps. Love you Bob!

remember the weight issue
its not for pedestrian traffic

With my solution there’ll be no bridge, so there’ll be no weight issue concerns.

Slope the banks down and spread some rock in the bottom of the creek.

I guess a culvert tube is out???

Yeah but that would involve hauling stuff via truck probably. That can be very risky if you don’t know what you’re doing.

LOVE this idea!

simple is smart

You want to keep the load supported about 5 or 6 feet back away from the edge of the drop off. Otherwise the weight of your vehicle will cause the edges to collapse, and your bridge will eventually fall into the creek. Longer is better than shorter, and keep it arched.

This is what I do. Culvert then a 400 dollar load of iron ore dumped on top. Smooth it out with tractor bucket. Half a day of work.

I’m going with this one. Lot easier, and more fun to super charge the SS and the tractor than do all that work.
Granted the tractor is gonna be 50/50 that you can get her to “fly.”

Is this bridge over troubled water?

Yeah, that is an idea. I would need to find some I beam. Maybe the metal building people can get me some.

That is a good idea. Instead of the telephone poles, I could use railroad ties. I would only need 2 or 3. Only saying this because I have no idea where to get a telephone pole.

?

Step one: round up about thirty beavers
Step two: lay down plenty of wood

Hmmm... this is indeed a clever idea.

Yes, a culvert tube is a decent idea, but leaves and debris would make it not worth the effort.

It is quite troubling for sure.

Buy a used flatbed trailer and drag it across the span. Drop the axles off the trailer. (?)

Landscape timbers probably won't hold the weight of the tractor. They are very weak.

Oh, I didn't know that.

Call your local utility company and see if they have any old telephone poles to sell. I know this place sells them as well, but they're not very local to you. I'm sure they could help you locate some in your neck of the woods.

Samex Crossties

Get some HD used pallet racking parts for the structure.
I have a customer who did this at his place in Meridian. Worked out good.
He drives his UTV’s and tractor over it

You should have a old style lumber yard that sells utility poles-
Like blacklands or sutherlands, those are like mini telephone poles, they are pretty stout and should do what you need and yet be affordable-

Bob if there are any Co-Op electric companies around you they will usually have old poles they have taken down. They will usually give them too you just so they don’t have to worry about disposing of them.

These are the poles a lot of folks use if they are setting up a mobil home somewhere and need to put a breaker box on it for power-

You may consider looking at rig mats. They are basically hardwood 4x4 planks bolted together, used to build a base for drilling rigs or other heavy equipment. You can often find used ones for pretty cheap around areas where there is drilling activity. This is a company I've done business with before, Quality Mats.

Thank you all for the excellent info.

They came with the property. The guy before us built the barn using telephone poles as the main supports. Guess he had leftovers.

That wooden barn has to be 75-80 yrs old now. Still in good shape. That old man knew what he was doing.

And the tractor is in the creek. Do not kid yourself

After sleeping on this; culvert is the way to go.
It’ll have the highest weight bearing capacity to simplicity of design/construction ratio.

The large metal pipe culverts are also extremely common and widely available.

Most lumber yards carry meter poles. These would be my choice over landscape timbers.

Be sure to contact 921Phoenix and rj for appropriate anchoring and ratcheting when on the trailer.

BOB. check with J&L utilities in Edgewood, they used to sell old Telephone poles by the foot there. Not certain if they still do, I believe they changed ownership since I dealt with them.

Thanks!

Go to a military surplus and get you a sky hook. We used them all the time to transfer things ship to ship.

Overbuild for your and others safety no matter which way you decide.

Absolutely

I have one already. Its in the garage next to my spool of flightline. On the shelf with the spare muffler bearings.