[fakie99]

do any of you guys use plywood to tread across with your equipment to prevent/minimize damage to turf/driveways? i used to and it seems to me that after about 5 min, the plywood was destryed, along with the lawn, and i was out $80 in plywood....

using plywood has come back into favor aroiund here for some reason, and i am wondering if any of you guys use this method and is it worth the trouble?

thanks....

[cutntrim]

I have and the plywood gets trashed pretty quick. I'm glad you posted the thread because it reminded me to follow through on an idea for that. I'm going to call a company that sells used conveyor belting cut-to-size and thickness. I figure I'll get them to cut some 30" x 8' lengths that I can use over and over again. 3/4" thick should suffice.

I've used the same stuff as an inexpensive (and very durable) snowfoil on my plows in the winter.

[dan deutekom]

I usually find that plywood is usually an expensive waste of time. I try to use just one path in and out of the work site and then just bite the bullet to repair the damage. There are special rubber mats made for this purpose. I think I saw an ad for them in a heavy equipment magazine but they are probably pretty expensive.

If I am running the skidsteer on concrete or pavement and don't want to mark it up to much I will do multi point turns along with covering the pavement with a light layer of sand and keep the surface wet. The edges of pavement or pavers i will protect by placing a 4x4 against the edge sunk into the soil so that the weight of the machine isn't working on the edge of the pavement.

[P-Train]

Plywood under loaders has saved by butt numerous times. It's a must on some jobs. Better than buying new sod and labor to put it down. Plus an unhappy customer.

[phototropic1]

I think using plywood is the way to go in a lot of situations. Sure it takes some time to move it around and it doesn't last forever, but it's a relatively cheap solution to rutting or marking up an area.

Dan, I've seen those mats you're talking about. They do look nice. But, man, are they expensive!!! Check this out:

http://gear.sherrilltree.com/iwwida....p=SHE&cat=WORK



I think I'll be sticking to plywood. But when my current supply get's destroyed, I'm checking into cutntrim's idea. Sounds like a great one!!!

[Fine Edge]

OSB around here costs $5.99 a sheet and we have saved some turf areas by putting it down. A spinning Bobcat can ruin it in a hurry but to go back and forth , it seems to work well for us.
Plus, we have a mini skid steer that doesn't even take up the full width.
If the boards start to get chewed up too bad at the end of the job and break apart, we use the pieces as soil amendment.
Just kidding on that last quote.

Check some of you local lumber companies for used / damaged plywood. One in our area had a stack of about 350 sheets that they were going to give me at $2.50 / sheet but I procrastinated and it was gone.
Same thing with drywall, paid $5.00 a sheet for 1/2" x 54" x 12'.
I bought 48 sheets and more than 2/3 of them were practically new. The rest I had to cut anyway so hardly any waste.

[HardDaysKnight]

We figure the damage into the overall price of the
job. We add the cost of the soil and seed ahead of time
and the client knows that at contract.
We try to get a damage waiver for driveways, patios, walks etc,
or we boost the labor charge if it can be done with wheelbarrows.

[Matt Kulp]

We use plywood as much as we can and still build in repair work to all the jobs. If we can save the yard, great, if we can't well then we are covered.

[Raj Venugopal]

We're redoing someone's backyard...

Big job with no side, rear or front access except straight through the garage which has a rear garage door. Driveway is pavers.

I suspect plywood will save our hide. Given the earth is full of heavy clay, I'm afraid the loaded one ton will rut the driveway.

[site]

We picked up about 100 sheets of 5/8" plywood that a contractor had been using on their staging for a masonry job. It was in the dumpster, and we grabbed it. It doesn't always work, but when it does it's worth it. Dont waste your money on 1/2". It breaks up too fast.

[EpicInterlock]

This thread is a perfect example of why I'm seriously considering buying an ASV track skid steer with a ground PSI of 2.8. Most skid steers are easily 3 - 4 times that PSI. I figure I'll be able to use the machine without damaging my customers turf, and I'll be able to use it in more applications (more surface area for tracks vs wheels means I get to use it in other areas like mud, deep and wet grass).

[Greensmith]

Tracks suck on asphalt and pavers. They get torn up quick, I would make sure you have a low % of that surface for work time.

[cgland]

Sometimes I think people are misinformed about CTL's. yeah, they have a low ground PSI, but will do just as much damage as a skid steer if not more. Especially in turns. Plus they are not that great on asphalt.

Chris

[GLAN]

I bring in a tree guy for a couple properties we maintain every several years or so......properties are large enough that they can drive their bucket truck all over the property..............

After the first time...........I have insisted plywood be used while on the lawn