Repurpose, Reuse

Ron-MO

Member
Reading the posts on repurposing made me think of a project I did about 10 or so years ago where I purchased an old Semi flatbed trailer from a local trucking company. Pretty easy project really, I cut off
the headache rack, rear low hanging bumper, etc. The axles were movable, so it was very easy to remove those, and I had a local contractor with a backhoe dig into the embankment and place the large pre cast
blocks for support, so no concrete work needed on site. He used the backhoe boom to set the trailer onto the blocks, and I have since anchored it into bedrock underneath. I apparently do not have a photo of
the decking, but it is basically oak from a local sawmill. It now serves as a small bridge on my private drive. Yes, it is narrow, but larger vehicles can cross the low water crossing bypassing the bridge. P.S. Don't let the rusty exposed part be a concern, as the frame is plenty solid. Trailer had a 50,000 lb load rating, and main beams are about 19" tall, still, I have a few who refuse to cross.
a230882.jpg
 
Neat, neat...neat!
My parents have a ditchline I want to build a bridge across. Just for running horses and ATV's across. This would be so much easier than my wooden construction plans!! What a great idea.
How much would an old flatbed cost?
 
No doubt I got a great deal, as the trucking company basically calculated scrap cost at the time, and I paid him $500 plus $100 delivery. I sold the removed tag axle assy to a logger to use on a pup trailer
he had for $500. I paid roughly $400 for the decking, and another $500 to the guy who did the backhoe work and hauling the blocks. I think blocks were $200. So basically total out of pocket was about $1100.
I also sold the crank up supports (seen at the time of photo, but later removed), but that was only about $75 or $80. So, all in all a fairly inexpensive bridge, and works very well, although I would like to
remove the wood deck now and pour concrete some time. I know that will be an expensive proposition, and I am not skilled with concrete, and no longer know anyone that is, and prices of concrete work and the
delivered product is through the roof now compared to when I built my house (a little over $40 a yard then delivered).
 
I haven't see the ads in magazines for quite awhile, but they used to advertise used railroad flatcars to use as bridges. Don't know how you would handle them (crane?), but once they were in place it would be a strong bridge.
 
actually I got the idea from someone who suggested using an old rail car. My biggest issue was transport from wherever you could purchase from, then as you say, moving them. Just getting this trailer in was task enough, and he brought it in with a full sleeper Kenworth. He could not make the turn and dropped the trailer on county road and left. I had to get the backhoe guy down to twist it into my driveway, and it is only a 40 foot trailer. There are places on the county road where I live that the road is only about 25 feet wide, which sounds like no big deal until you consider this is in curves at times.
 
My friend has a culvert giving away and part of his drive fell into the lake. He is looking at around $25-30k for someone to replace culvert that was made out of old RR tanker cars. Your idea might be a bandade fix and much cheaper. Thanks for sharing. geo.
 
First, I commend you on your project and the minimal cost. My dad calls your alternative a "Missouri Crossing". No offense. My brothers rent land that has a crossing of a much larger creek than this using that method. Probably larger aggregate than I see in the picture. Also no bedrock within reach to attach a real bridge to. I believe the county north of us used that design to replace a bridge that had washed out due to the cost.
Why replace the oak unless it has deteriorated beyond safety. There are oil based products to preserve the wood. I guess this only applies to white oak as red oak will rot much faster due to the open grain structure of the wood. There are many road bridges in our state that the road surface is made of wood with much more traffic than your driveway. I have also see bridges where they put planks lengthwise over crosswise planks to add more structure.
 

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