That trick about shimming outriggers on soft ground actually works

I always thought those guys carrying extra plywood sheets for outrigger pads were just wasting space until a job in Medina last spring. The crane started sinking maybe 2 inches into the mud even with the standard pads under it. Anyone else find a better solution than hauling a dozen sheets of 3/4 ply everywhere?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray_burns3d ago

Honestly, did you ever figure the plywood was just extra weight for no reason? Same here until I saw a buddy's rig start sinking at a site near Puyallup and we threw down some 3/4 inch sheets he had stashed under his seat. That little bit of surface area stopped the whole thing from tilting and I've kept a couple sheets in my truck ever since.

parker_webb2d ago

Ray, I get what you're saying but I see it a little different. That 3/4 inch plywood is heavy and takes up a ton of space in the cab. I keep a set of those plastic traction boards instead. They're way lighter, stack flat behind the seat, and they actually grip better than plywood in mud or snow. Plus plywood can get slick when it's wet and you're trying to stand on it or drive on it. I've seen a guy try that with a sheet of 1/2 inch and it just cracked under the weight. Different tools for different jobs I guess.

noahwood2d ago

Pacific Northwest mud is a whole different beast (I'm over in Oregon myself) and I've seen plywood save a few trucks near Tillamook where traction boards just spin on that slimy top layer. The key is having it cut to maybe 2x3 foot pieces so it's manageable but still covers enough ground to keep you from sinking. I keep two of those stacked behind my seat and they've earned their spot after getting unstuck from a ditch near Government Camp last winter when the snow was deeper than I thought.