MUD-TRAKS® are very strong, but they
do flex.
The weight of the truck won't break them but watch out for low hanging
bumpers, jacks, under bed boxes, etc. If the tip of the mat gets caught behind
one of those and the driver keeps going, "something" is going to
break.
There is a Right Way and a Wrong
Way to lay mats:
First, overlap in the direction the truck is traveling. That means the mat
the truck is on overlaps the next mat so the tip is covered. That way the
tip can't flex up and catch the underside of the truck. Reverse the overlay
when the truck comes back in the other direction.
Overlap mats about 6":
The softer the ground, the more overlap is required. For "chocolate
pudding" it can be as much as 2 feet of overlap. Without sufficient
overlap, the mats can be separated by the movement of the mud and the tires
will drop into the gap.
-
In extremely soft ground where the tires are pushing a "ball"
of mud just in front of the mat, and a wave of mud is pushing out from under;
you need to double the mats up.
This will spread the load over a wider area.
What the ground is telling you is, it doesn't have enough integrity to
lift the weight of the distributed load and you are going to have to give
it some help.
If the ground under the Jacks/Outriggers
is unstable or like "chocolate pudding", double the mats; or use
a combination of mats as the base, with a Jack Pad on top of the mat.
If the truck is stuck all the way
down to the frame.
Use a combination of mats under the Jacks to get it up (see #5 above). Then,
fill in the hole, and double the mats under the rear tires and set the truck
back down. The mats will carry the load. If you don't fill in the hole
and the mats are not centered over the holes properly, the mats can collapse.
They must be supported on all four sides, particularly on big rigs.
-
Going up a steep incline:
There is a limit to how steep a
grade you can drive out of. At some point it is better and safer to winch
the rig out on the mats. We do offer the option of adding "spikes"
to the mats to add traction capability.
-
Use low gear and a steady accelerator:
If the driver guns
the motor, the truck wins every time. Spinning mats out from under the
truck is just going to get somebody hurt or the mats torn up. Don't stand
behind the truck when trying to drive out on mats. If the mats start to
move under low-gear pressure, speed isn't going to help.
We rough up the bottom of the mats
and pads so they get a better "bite" to the ground and resist spinning
out.
You'll note that the bottom surface looks like a diamond plate design
that's not finished. That's exactly what it's supposed to look like. This
has been the most effective way we've found to create a rough, jagged edged
surface.
When in doubt, mat the truck in.
Driving in first to see what happens; all that does is tear up the ground
and makes the job that much harder.
We use rope handles because they
are easily replaced.
Fabricate spare rope handles and carry them in the truck
so when they break they can be replaced immediately.
Tie a 5' long rope with a loop in one end to the mat.
This makes it easier to drag the mats out from under the truck. And there
is more leverage for pulling if you are standing up.
A flat shovel helps scrap the mud
off the mats.
Slugging your way into a site is hard enough without carrying
20 pounds of extra mud caked to the mats.
A handy tool you can make to measure
the ability of the ground to carry weight is a 2 1/2' long 3/8" steel
rod with a "T" handle.
Mark the length of the rod every 6".
If the rod goes into the ground 6", you can drive in without mats. 12",
the tires will leave a 2" or 3" mark. 18", you're going to
get stuck. 24", the truck is going to "sink" to the frame
right there.
Use "cribbing blocks"
between Jacks/Outriggers and MUD-TRAKS® to protect the surface and to spread
the load.
In most applications the mats are
not bolted together, they are just overlapped.
If the situation dictates
that the mats be connected, we suggest using Grade 8 bolts with wide washers
on both sides. Use at least a 7/16" bolt or larger. We also offer
"Connectors".
Clean the mats with a water hose
and elbow grease.
Even though we use UV inhibitors
in the mats, the sun finally gets to them.
The life expectancy can be greatly
increased if the mats are stored inside or covered from direct sunlight.
Rule of thumb! MUD-TRAKS® can carry
30,000 lbs./axle weight over ground that will support a man walking and making
no more than a 2" impression in the soil. Caution is the word if conditions
are worse.
Rule of thumb!
The number of mats
per "set" should be enough to cover twice the wheelbase of the vehicle.
For most "work" trucks, 2 or 3 axles, that would be 12 mats per
set. Here's the logic. When the truck is backing up and maneuvering, it
is almost impossible to predict where the front end is going; thereby, requiring
the workmen to mat "double wide". If the ground is extremely soft,
the extra mats are going to be needed under the outrigger pads to prevent
damage or to provide a stable base for lifting.
MUD-TRAKS are "traction" mats and have a very rough textured surface on both sides. With our new process the edges are smooth and there is only a slight chance of getting cut or fiberglass splinter. We do recommend hand and eye protection as a safety precaution.
