What's the best type of mat/flooring to lay down to avoid tire ruts?

[ULTIMATE]

I just bought a 25,000lb bucket truck and I'm looking for advice on what to buy to put down so that the truck doesn't leave ruts across the lawn. Out here at the Jersey Shore customers really take care of their lawns and the last thing you want to do is leave ruts behind. I don't know if there is any alternative to 3/4 inch plywood. I was on this site here but I'm taking suggestions of what is best. Cost is not an issue. https://thematking.com/business_ind...ymats/paths-n-roads/trail_blazer/overview.htm

 

[Vendetti]

AlturnaMats are sold by Sherrilltree. I think if you become a Canopy member you can get free shipping. I think I have DuraMats. I use white mats because of the heat that the black mats can absorb and burn the grass. Good luck!

 

[beastmaster]

If the grass is wet from over watering or rain, run off, the matts still leave depressions. As much as I hate leap froging plywood, it has the most protection but a pain to lay, while matts are a lot easyer to lay out they don't work well if you have to cross a boggie golf course or lawn.
I think I'd have both if money was no object.

 

[MarquisTree]

I prefer plywood.

 

[old_soul]

We keep a bunk of plywood on the bucket truck almost every job, it sucks laying it out but is a good way to prevent ruts. The bucket will leave ruts even in dry weather.

For the cost of mats, you could buy new wood every year for five years and still come out ahead

personally i like the wood better because it is twice as wide as the mats, 2 foot is too narrow especially if you have to back the chipper around a corner and stay on the wood

 

[gorman]

What size plywood do you guys use? I prefer the 5/8ths.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

AlturnaMats all the way. No matter what you put down, you will be able to tell you drove there. After the grass stands back up, you dont notice it. As said before, get the white mats, so they dont bake the grass in the heat. If you buy them from american arborist supply in west chester, they will give you a good qty discount.

old_soul
I am not sure what mats you seen, but you can get the AlturnaMats in 4'x8' or 3'x8'. (by the way, the sales girl at expo was smoking hot) I am not quite sure how you figure you can buy plywood every year and it still be cheaper then mats. I will never have to replace my mats. If they break, I send them back, and they send me a new one.

 

[treeclimber101]

I keep 30 sheets of 3/4 stacked on the headache rack of the bucket , I can get the entire truck about 50 ft into a yard before we have to start picking up the road , and they work nice , granted when it rains they are a little soggy to start the stack but who cares , they beat alturnamats hands down and they are a lot more user friendly unless your handling the with a skid steer or grapple .

 

[treeclimber101]

just so ya know I ain't bull####ting here's a pic LOL

 

[treeclimber101]

Ohhh BTW my wife took that pic 6 weeks ago ! So who's a fat #### now all you haters I am a lean mean 260 now !

 

[Vendetti]

Please don't use plywood. spend the extra money on the mats it will save your back. The plywood will soak up about 20lbs of water, get soggy and freeze in the winter. The best price I got on mats was a company in Rhode island (Oxford). 12 4x8 white EnduraMats. The sales man was David Sardinha e-mail [email protected]. Drove the mats from Rhode island to my front door in Massachusetts.

 

[treeclimber101]

Please don't use plywood. spend the extra money on the mats it will save your back. The plywood will soak up about 20lbs of water, get soggy and freeze in the winter. The best price I got on mats was a company in Rhode island (Oxford). 12 4x8 white EnduraMats. The sales man was David Sardinha e-mail [email protected]. Drove the mats from Rhode island to my front door in Massachusetts.

Well ...............ok ...... You did say please , there ya have it mats beat plywood because of good manners !

 

[treemandan]

I prefer plywood.

Wow, I'm surprised to hear you say that. I would have thunk the alternamats were better.

 

[treeman75]

how much do the mats run

 

[mckeetree]

I use 3/4 inch plywood. I don't care for the mats. Black or white ones.

 

[mckeetree]

how much do the mats run

If you need very many they add up to a big expense. Plus, I think they are a rip off.

 

[treeman75]

are they a hundred bucks apiece or what

 

[treeclimber101]

 

[Vendetti]

Don't forget the freight.

 

[2treeornot2tree]

how much do the mats run

If you buy 10+,

4'x8' mats $210.00
3'x8' mats $173.00

at american arborist supply.