Steel Bridges Built For Tough Terrain

Steel Bridges Built For Tough Terrain DIY-Bridge began as Eric Hill’s personal solution for driving ATVs across his hilly, creek-filled property. “It was hard to cross the gullies and creeks without getting stuck,” Hill explains. “I’m a metal fabricator by trade, and about 15 years ago I built a couple of small bridges for myself to tackle these problems. People saw them and encouraged me to build and market them. Last year, I started DIY-Bridge after I couldn’t ignore all the interest.” The bridges are designed as kits and shipped in stacks of heavy-duty, laser-cut steel parts. Assembly is straightforward. “Start with the tubes that run the length of the bridge,” Hill explains. “They’ve been laser-cut with Vs to give added strength, as they carry most of the weight and load.” Angled pieces connect the outer tubes to prevent vehicles from falling through. All parts are Grade 50 steel and hot-dipped galvanized for durability. No welding or bolting is required because components slide into place and pin together for a secure fit. “I make them to flex with a lot of play, so the landing and takeoff spots across the creek or ditch don’t have to be level,” Hill notes. The bridges can be installed on dirt, wood or concrete, with or without anchors. “Once we know how the customer will fasten it down, we can cut the holes to what is desired,” he adds. Hill currently offers bridges suitable for ATVs, small tractors and trucks, with plans to introduce a super-duty version for heavy trucks and large farm equipment. The largest bridge pieces can weigh up to 500 lbs yet remain compact enough to be easily handled by loader tractors or skid steers. “Even assembled, the bridges weigh less than 10,000 lbs, so buyers can take them off the truck, set the individual pieces on a nice flat spot, assemble them, and then just pick the bridge up and carry it to where it’s needed,” Hill says. All bridges are custom-manufactured in Cincinnati, Ohio. Hill can add personalization if buyers are interested, laser-cutting a farm name or logo onto the side pieces. Sold directly from Hill, kits start at around $4,000 for the smaller models. A 12-ft by 24-ft bridge is about $13,000, while heavy-duty models for truck traffic are expected to reach $30,000 plus S&H. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, DIY-Bridge, 891 Redna Terrace, Cincinnati, Ohio 45215 (ph 513-227-1144; eric@DIY-bridge.com; www.DIY-Bridge.com).

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