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Helpful
Hints 1 for using Trail Blazer Mats in General Applications |
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1.
Trail Blazer Mats are very strong, but they do flex. The weight
of the truck won't break them but watch out for low hanging
rear bumpers, jacks, and under bed boxes. If the tip of the
mat gets caught behind one of those and the driver keeps going,
"something" is going to break. |
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2.
In extremely soft ground where the tires are pushing a "ball"
of mud between the tires and a wave of mud is pushing out
from under the mats, double the mats up. This will level out
the pressure and spread the load over a wider area. |
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3.
If the ground under the Jacks is like "chocolate pudding",
double the mats; or use a combination of mats as the base,
with a Jack Pad on top of the mat. |
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4.
The same goes for where the Jacks have punched a hole in the
ground and won't lift the rig. Now there is a hole under the
Jacks. By doubling the mats or using a combination of mat
and Jack Pad, the rig can be lifted because the mats will
spread the load enough to carry the weight. |
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5.
The same also goes for where the truck is stuck all the way
down to the frame. Use a combination of mats under the Jacks
to get it up and then, without filling the hole in where the
tires came out, double the mats under the rear tires and set
the truck back down. The mats will carry the load. Make sure
the mats are centered over the holes. |
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6.
Going up a steep incline. There is a limit to how steep a
grade you can drive out of. At some point it is better and
safer to winch the rig out on the mats. |
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7.
Use low gear and a steady accelerator. If the driver guns
the motor, the truck wins every time. Spinning mats out from
under the truck is just going to get somebody hurt or the
mats torn up. Do not stand behind the truck when trying to
drive out on mats. If the mats start to move under low-gear
pressure, increasing the speed is not going to help. |
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8.
The bottom of the mats and pads are "roughed up"
so they get a better "bite" into the ground and
resist spinning out. Please note that the bottom surface looks
like a diamond plate design that is not finished. That's exactly
what it's supposed to look like. This has been found to be
the most effective way to create a rough, jagged edged surface. |
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9.
When in doubt, mat the truck in. Driving in first to see what
happens only causes the ground to be torn up and makes the
job of matting that much harder. |
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10.
The mats are equipped with rope handles because of how easily
these handles can be replaced. It is recommended that prefabricate
spare rope handles be carried along with the mats so that
when a handle should break it can be replaced immediately. |
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11.
Tying a 5' long, large diameter rope in one of the auxiliary
holes of a mat makes it easier to drag the mats out from under
the truck. This also affords more leverage for pulling from
a standing position. |
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12.
A flat shovel helps scrap the mud off the mats. Slugging your
way into a site is hard enough without carrying a hundred
pounds of extra mud caked to the mats. |
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13.
A handy tool you can make to measure the ability of the ground
to carry weight is a 2-1/2' long 3/8" diameter steel
rod with a "T" handle. Mark the length of the rod
every 6". If the rod goes into the ground 6", you
can drive in without mats; 12", the tires will leave
a 2" or 3" mark; 18", you're going to get stuck;
24", the truck is going to "sink" in up to
its frame. |
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14.
Jacks that are flat on the bottom are not a problem for either
the mats or the Pads. Jacks with "ribs" on the bottom
are a problem because they create a "point load."
With smaller "ribs", say no more than 3/8"
high, use some type of barrier between the mats/pads and the
Jacks. The barrier can be a piece of wood or rubber, at least
1/2" thick. (We now offer part # 1818RP, Rubber Pad)
This will spread the load over enough area to protect the
mats/pads. The Jacks with large 1" tall "ribs"
are simply too high for a casual solution to be effective.
You must use at least a "cribbing" block to prevent
damage to the mats or pads. **Here's an idea from a driller
in Ohio: They use leftover "Wiper Rubbers". Those
big "donuts" are very strong and hard. Just center
them under the Jacks. In any case, something must be done
by the user to neutralize the effects of such "ribs."
The Warranty will not be honored for any mat or pad that is
damaged by use of Jacks with "Ribs" as described
above. |
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15.
On some of the smaller mats we provide a means to bolt them
together, and to stake them to the ground. With the "Tight
Spotter," we do not suggest either of these options.
First, the "Super Mats" were designed for unstable
ground and typically there is not enough integrity in the
soil to hold a stake. Second, if the mats are flexed with
a load on top of them, the pressure on the bolt heads is so
strong that they can not be unbolted. |
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16.
Clean the mats with a water hose. |
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17.
Even though we use UV inhibitors in the mats, the sun finally
gets to them. The life expectancy can be greatly increased
if the mats are stored inside or covered from direct sunlight. |
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18.
When laying mats, overlap them about 6". Always overlap
in the direction the truck is going. That way the mat being
driven on controls the tip of the next mat. The softer the
mud, the more overlap is required. For "chocolate pudding"
it can be as much as 2 feet. |
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19.
Rule of thumb! If the truck is over 25,000 Ibs. and is being
used in unstable, off-road situations, the correct mat is
the "Tight Spotter". |
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20.
Rule of thumb! The number of mats per "set" should
be enough to cover twice the wheelbase of the vehicle. For
utility line trucks that would be 12 mats per set. Here is
the logic. When the truck is backing up and maneuvering, it
is almost impossible to predict where the front end is going;
thereby, requiring the operators to mat "double wide".
If the ground is extremely soft, the extra mats are going
to be needed under the outrigger pads to prevent damage or
to provide a stable base for lifting. |
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21.
Yes! We make all sizes of mats: shorter, longer, wider, narrower.
And if they need to be stronger, we'll make them stronger.
Color, shape, textured surface; we do it all. Whatever your
job, we can customize Trail Blazer Mats to do your job. |
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22.
Trail Blazer Mats are made from a fiberglass composite material.
Eye and hand protection are required. |
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Helpful
Hints 2 - Mobile Homes |
Helpful Hints 3 - Cemeteries |
