Lawn mats for trucks

[kurtztree]

What do you guys use to go over the lawns with the trucks when its wet? Plywood or some other mats? If you use mats what brand do you use?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Plywood.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

You can pick up some 3/4 inch rubber mats used for placing under Gym weight benches at your local athletic store. They are 2ftX3ft and have interconnecting male and female ends like jig saw puzzles so the individual pieces wont come apart. I think a set of 6 or 8 is no more than 50 bucks. Since they are heavy duty rubber they will last forever and two sets will break down and stack up a lot more convienently that sheets of ply wood. Oh and just so you know, my girlfriend Teri just said that you can get the same thing at Toys R Us and they come in different colors there. I guess this is her way of saying, "Get off the puter with all your tree friends" But she does have a point, they are cheaper in the long run and take up less space. At first I would say that Master wouldnt recognize the gym mats, but I am sure he will recognize the ones from Toys R US.

Kenn:Monkey:

 

[TheTreeSpyder]

Very good idea thanx!

i imagine easier to handle too, with any flexibility. i thought MB was banished to a gym for 10 years before?

 

[NeTree]

I just use plywood, but Alturna-Mats are supposedly pretty durable (albeit expensive).

 

[Menchhofer]

We have been using the Alturna-Mats for about 4 years now and even though they are a bit pricey up front, they do pay for themselves in just a few years. Plywood breaks too easy and does not last long. The alturna-mats have let us get in to some places where other crews would not attempt.

 

[MasterBlaster]

How big is one piece, and how do they sell it?

Does it get cheaper the more you buy?

 

[Menchhofer]

If I remember correctly I purchased the 3x8 ft pcs. They run around $175 a piece. Bought 12 total pcs. If you buy them during a show I think they discount 10%. Like I said they are expensive but they have been very useful also.

I had bought several pcs of 3/4 plywood at 25.00 a shot but it would only last for a couple "drive ons" and then they were trash.

 

[Frans]

Rubber Horse Stall Matt

Folks with horses have been using rubber mats in the stalls for a long time.
I buy mine at a ranch supply store. they come in 3/4" & 5/8" thick, are corrugated or not, and they sell all kinds of different sizes. I cut mine down to be more managable and I drilled holes and inserted ropes to make handles.
Frans

 

[topnotchtree]

The utility co I work for lets us use their mats. I think they are the Alturna-mats, but im not sure. They have a bunch, and they get used alot, and I have never seen one broke, yet. They do work great, but they are expensive. I have bought plywood and ripped it in half. Holes and ropes makes handling easier too.

 

[topnotchtree]

I have also planked a 70 foot high ranger up a pretty new concrete driveway. It was to get to a hazard tree, too dead to climb, but we never cracked the concrete. That was a new idea to me, so I thought I'd pass it along. I didn't think most guys would think to plank across concrete. But I may be wrong

 

[Hunter]

I use old conveyer belt, Its work well for me and is about 48" wide and as long as I want it. I just cut it to size.
Hunter

 

[JJM]

Where is the best place to buy ground protection mats? I am hoping to beat the prices at the major tree supply stores. THX