Anybody using Alturnamat outrigger pads?

[Blakesmaster]

Outrigger Pad by AlturnaMats, 24" x 24" x 1" : SherrillTree Tree Care Equipment

Call me old fashioned but I'd rather have wooden ones. They just seem that they'd be better for stacking near curbs, have less flexibility, etc, but it appears these polyethylene jobbies are the industry standard now. Pros/cons for either?

 

[TreeClimber57]

Outrigger Pad by AlturnaMats, 24" x 24" x 1" : SherrillTree Tree Care Equipment

Call me old fashioned but I'd rather have wooden ones. They just seem that they'd be better for stacking near curbs, have less flexibility, etc, but it appears these polyethylene jobbies are the industry standard now. Pros/cons for either?

Well I know a guy south of me that actually has some of these pads. But personally, have never used. He seems to like them.

They seem pretty strong, and fairly light for the area they are.. and thinner than wood for same size.

But I use wooden ones, mainly for the cost reason though. Hard to justify putting $300 into something that can cost 1/10th that. Someday maybe.. but right now got other things that I figure as more important so wood it is.

 

[chief116]

We use them for the bucket trucks. They are light, they're pretty strong and don't crack or bend easily.
I never realized how expesive they were till you posted the link. No wonder the boss made me drive 6 towns over to pick up the 2 that got left at a jobsite.

 

[A&Atree]

pads

i use the plastic pads all the time, the problem with them is that the flex alot if the ground under the pad is un even. the pad will conform to the shape of the groud under it. The pads always return to flat, it might take a little while/ they also hold up extremely well i have had these for the past two years and they work like the day they were bought. If i need to stack up some duuage i still use wood, its stacks better plus its much cheaper but i still top off the stack with the plastic pad always and nevr had a prob. i hope this helps a little

 

[treeclimber101]

I got a piece of the main beam that they use in new construction , its almost impossible to cut with a saw but its unbreakable , you can use it with a end up on the curb or wall and a the other on the street and the truck will not break through it , and the best part is there free , so if they get lost or left behind we just cut another and were back in business , I HAD a set of alturnamats pads but they grew legs and walked away they were nice ...

 

[tree MDS]

Someone mentioned to me once, the idea of cutting 3/4" plywood into 2' squares... glue and screw them together. I guess you could drill holes for handles too if you wanted. Seems like it would work pretty well.. never did it. I have old pieces of oak plank sawed up that work good enough.

The problem I see with the mats, is that I would still more than likely want additional wood for cribbing sometimes.. so whats the point really? Too much $ IMO.

I've seen what 101 is talking about too, works well..

 

[TreeClimber57]

I got a piece of the main beam that they use in new construction , its almost impossible to cut with a saw but its unbreakable , you can use it with a end up on the curb or wall and a the other on the street and the truck will not break through it , and the best part is there free , so if they get lost or left behind we just cut another and were back in business , I HAD a set of alturnamats pads but they grew legs and walked away they were nice ...

How big is one of these beams (I am assuming you mean the engineered wood beams used in construction). I though they were usually fairly thick.

 

[Blakesmaster]

Someone mentioned to me once, the idea of cutting 3/4" plywood into 2' squares... glue and screw them together. I guess you could drill holes for handles too if you wanted. Seems like it would work pretty well.. never did it. I have old pieces of oak plank sawed up that work good enough.

The problem I see with the mats, is that I would still more than likely want additional wood for cribbing sometimes.. so whats the point really? Too much $ IMO.

I've seen what 101 is talking about too, works well..

I hadn't considered plywood an option. I have plenty of that as well as access to a lot of hardwood boards. I think I'll try using the plywood as a base and drill the hardwood planking into that. Seems that would be strong enough...and free.

 

[sgreanbeans]

101 is talking about Microlam, its basically a super thick plywood, pressed with glue, used for new construction, real heavy duty. Builders will always have this as scrap, 2 or 3 ft off every job.
What I use for pads, and they have lasted about 5 years now, 2, 3/4" AC plywood, 24 x 24, 2x6 cut to same size, sandwiched between the plywood, glued and screwed, took an old web sling, cut it to make handles, they fit in the "sign" boxes on the truck.

 

[treeclimber101]

How big is one of these beams (I am assuming you mean the engineered wood beams used in construction). I though they were usually fairly thick.

Yea there real thick , but real strong I have them cut in 2fters and a few cut to 4ft for the wet yards or the tree side of the truck so when its heavy on that side it won't sink into a wet yard , I am a real fan of heavy dunnage I have seen trucks and cranes collapse cribbing .. I can am not a real fan of floating outriggers so when I set up a truck or crane I don't want it moving or floating ...

 

[treeclimber101]

101 is talking about Microlam, its basically a super thick plywood, pressed with glue, used for new construction, real heavy duty. Builders will always have this as scrap, 2 or 3 ft off every job.
What I use for pads, and they have lasted about 5 years now, 2, 3/4" AC plywood, 24 x 24, 2x6 cut to same size, sandwiched between the plywood, glued and screwed, took an old web sling, cut it to make handles, they fit in the "sign" boxes on the truck.

I don't know what you call it but I got about 30ft. of it out of a dumpster on a job site and that was almost 4years ago , we use it for trailers and pads for the truck , you can submerge it water leave it for a week and it still doesn't get wet , it heavy as hell but real strong ....It works good for curb jumps too so your not wearing out the truck or gonna break the concrete , its the perfect thickness for that transition ..

 

[sgreanbeans]

yep! My brother is a builder, he always has scrap. 30ft! They must have cut it to short! That was a good find as it is not cheap! Stuff starts out at like a foot thick, they press and bake it. GOOD STUFF!

 

[treeclimber101]

yep! My brother is a builder, he always has scrap. 30ft! They must have cut it to short! That was a good find as it is not cheap! Stuff starts out at like a foot thick, they press and bake it. GOOD STUFF!

It may not have been scrap , housing developments around here have left abandoned for years as a regular occurance , you would be amazed at the finds you can get lol , I saw it sticking out of the dumpster and had to take another guy with me to get it out ... I still have almost 15ft uncut in the container at work