Trying not to get stuck

[dspizzle]

So I have cleared some land behind my house to park my bus during the conversion. Tried to get back there over the weekend and got stuck in the soft Florida sand. Completely underestimated the weight on the back axel. Was able to get it out with a quick pull from my neighbors f150.

Anyways, I am planning on Laying gravel or slab where the bus will ultimately sit for a year. Looking for suggestions on how to get my bus back there by dispersing the weight. Will not be moving the bus often.

Thanks for the help!

[brokedown]

Sand complicates it for sure! Gravel is great on dirt but I've got 0 experience with it on sand. These buses have a lot of weight on skinny tires and I've had to dig mine out once too.

[EastCoastCB]

I've driven in a lot of FL sand in buses.
Get open shoulder, meaty drive tires. They'll make a huge difference if you don't already have them.
Other than that, park on boards or plywood or something.
I've had mine sink down a few inches after a rain and they usually pull right out without much fuss.

[dspizzle]

I don't want to necessarily want to purchase anything huge. We are simply trying to back it into the parking spot (~100 ft from the pavement). We will have the land prepped where we want to park it. Was thinking about using some planks and move them throughout the process.

[dspizzle]

Found that out real quick! Was super happy that a 150 was able to get me out and I now have a tow strap that I will keep on me!

[jazty]

I would frequently get stuck in our clay driveway after it rained for a couple days before buying 4 of these:

Sailun S753


Haven't been stuck since! Even while driving through a mucky clay ditch. I've been very impressed. Not too loud on the road, either!

[Tango]

Ooooooohhh...Knobbies!!!

[jazty]

Originally Posted by dspizzle

I don't want to necessarily want to purchase anything huge.

Ahh.. buy some 2x6s then. Doesn't come much cheaper than that.

[dspizzle]

Originally Posted by jazty

Ahh.. buy some 2x6s then. Doesn't come much cheaper than that.

Thats what I was thinking. Just wasn't sure if they would hold or just snap under the pressure.

[Tango]

Railroad ties.

[jazty]

Originally Posted by dspizzle

Thats what I was thinking. Just wasn't sure if they would hold or just snap under the pressure.

double stacked if in mucky ground. singles usually work on sand, in my experience.

[Robin97396]

If you do use rock, try to get 3" so it doesn't sink so easily.

I like the railroad ties idea because you will eventually be spending time under your bus.

[cadillackid]

ive got uniroyal RD30s on my DEV bus.. ive driven in snow / black ice / yards, etc and havent put it down yet.. even pulled out tree stumps. with the back tires on dirt and they spun a little but didnt clog up and stop going..

tires.jpg

-Christopher

[dspizzle]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

If you do use rock, try to get 3" so it doesn't sink so easily.

I like the railroad ties idea because you will eventually be spending time under your bus.

Where does one get railroad ties and how are they used for spending my time under the bus?

[Robin97396]

Use railroad ties are used commonly in landscaping, at least in some states. Those are generally #1 or #2 quality used ties. I get #3 or #4 grade ties at about $3 each. They are usually delivered in a bundle and dumped where you want them in your yard.

You want the bus weight spread out obviously because of the sand. You could use rock, but that's fairly uncomfortable to lay on under your bus. Ties would make a nice flat surface. I guess it just depends on how tough you feel. Another thing is the ties can be moved if you change your mind, while that's not so easy with the gravel.

[Defjr333]

2nd on the RR ties. Had 2x6s snap doing that with an ambulance....Bus gotta weigh more.
Doug

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Remember that full size bus tires are anywhere between 10-11" wide. Pine 2x6's simply aren't up to the task of keeping you afloat in soft dirt or sand. You'll want to get 2x10's or wider, or a harder wood such as oak. I would visit some local business and industries and see about getting scrap wood that was used for "dunnage".

For those who haven't heard that term, think about the oak 4x4's that separate iron pipe on flatbed trailers. Often they are not returned since the driver may be picking up something else, somewhere else. "Dunnage bags" are big paper air bags used in dry-van trailers to fill the empty space between pallets and trailer walls, to keep the product from shifting. Tractor dealers often get large crated tractors and the crates usually get trashed.

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

DSPIZZLE. Railroad ties would be great if you bought enough to build you a runway down to the bus or had some real good help to help you keep moving them from under the bus stuck in the sand to behind the rear tires to go another 7'.
Trust me I have played the Egyptian style method before but in MUD?
If you buy enough to make a 100' runway down to where you want to park the bus for the build then you would have good start with using them as the pad for your bus to set on for the build.
If you do go that route?
Wear good gloves and depending on you and your manpower a good long sleeve shirt because a creosote splinter sucks and the tar used to need kero or gas to get it off?
That should have had cleaner by now that will do it but when I was messing with brand new ties you either wore it home or you smelled like a fuel jug when you got home.
Heck at robins price I want 40-60 of them delivered now.
They just tore up a track near me and when I stopped to ask about them they said not for sale and my local box store don't stock them but can get them for 8-10$ each like its a dang gum decoration piece or something?
Good luck.

[Robin97396]

In reality I'd suggest ties for parking the bus, but large gravel for the rest of the driveway.

It could be they're chipping the less desirable looking ties in your area. Yes, ties are expensive if you buy them inidividually. In bulk they come in bundles. It was about $500 for three bundles delivered.

[1olfart]

IF you are considering building some type of cover, to store the bus under, you might consider getting some 4x6s instead of RR ties. After the bus is in it's place, you can use the 4x6s as your corner posts for the cover.
Good luck