Trailer as a bridge

[bdhsfz6]

A local business out on the highway near here bought an old railroad flatcar and used it to bridge a 30' wide drainage swale. He drives trucks over it with no issues.

Not sure what it cost to get it delivered but I'm sure it was over $1K. He recovered some of the expense by scrapping the wheel trucks

Flatcar Bridge Building Information

Here you will answer your questions about using a rail flatcar for a bride. Includes links to information sites, videos and cost.

therailmart.com

 

[KennyG]

Been a while since you built it. What are your thoughts on how it has worked for you and held up since then? I was a bit surprised at using 2x10s.

Almost 13 years later and it's working fine. I haven't done anything to it. I always intend to power wash it and stain it but never seem to get around to it. The pressure treated lumber is as installed and is in fine shape. The most I take over it is my tractor loaded so a max of about 2 tons, but it's solid as a rock.

2 x 10 was what fit nicely with the dimensions I had and the loads I expected. 2 x 12 would have been a lot stronger but I didn't need that.

 

[anomad]

A local business out on the highway near here bought an old railroad flatcar and used it to bridge a 30' wide drainage swale. He drives trucks over it with no issues.

Not sure what it cost to get it delivered but I'm sure it was over $1K. He recovered some of the expense by scrapping the wheel trucks

Flatcar Bridge Building Information

Here you will answer your questions about using a rail flatcar for a bride. Includes links to information sites, videos and cost.

therailmart.com

A guy just down the road has one like that too. It spans a pretty significant creek and survived Helene.

 

[MossRoad]

 

[rneal55555]

We build Snowmobile Trail Bridges all the time we use trees and deck across, our Grooming machines weigh approx 9000 lbs. there is a section on Bridges and other useful stuff in the pamphlet I've attached.

 

[jaybo77862]

My neighbor got a trashed semi trailer and made a bridge pretty much like the video above. It works great for getting to the back pastures. Used twenty foot trailers are always for sale in my area for reasonable amounts if you want to go that way.

 

[kenhar]

Same scenario, a small creek or branch that runs in the spring and winter and is dry during the summer. I made a low water bridge out of 50-gallon barrels welded end to end and poured concrete over them about 45 years ago. Still there, hasn't washed away but gets under water with every big rain. Three rows of barrels, 10' wide, spaced about 10" apart with about 8" of concrete over the top of the barrels. Reinforcement wire is 3-4" above the barrels. We drive across it daily; concrete trucks have crossed it several times bringing concrete for projects around the house. Has been a one time fix.

 

[Joe Batt]

If you are putting in an undersized culvert, then you need to plan a spill way. My creek will flow through a 8" culvert on most days, but when it rains, a 20' pipe wouldn't hold it. So I installed a 18" culvert with grassy spillways to divert heavy flow. Because they are grassy and smooth, there is no erosion. The highest point in the flood plain is the dirt over my culvert.

 

[Little Red Tractor]

I’ve seen it done and it works well. You might or might not need some kind of footing on each end. Your culverts probably washed out because they weren’t big enough.

I suspect that Dodge Man is correct. From what you describe, a 4 or 5 foot culvert (which will carry far more then 2 of the 24 inch ones) might work; but the water coming into the wash from the grade might be part of that problem as well. Spanning at the top, if you find a trailer that fits that bill and will carry your needed loads, sounds like a viable--and possibly less costly--plan.

 

[strykerAKAmack]

Look into used railroad ties , 8.5 foot standard but you can find em up to 16 foot . For atv crossings around here a downed tree turned with an Alaskan sawmill works