Constructing a modern-day covered bridge with a semi-van trailer
For a few years now, I have had a dream of building a covered bridge on my property, large enough to drive an automobile (Studebaker) through. I recently purchased a retired 53-foot long van trailer with 99 inch inside width that I found for sale locally on Facebook. I also purchased sixteen large, used concrete blocks (made from waste ready-mix concrete at the batch plant) that were sitting piled up in a local gravel pit, to be used for the foundation at each end of the bridge.
When deciding to use a van trailer for a bridge, I concluded that it would be plenty strong enough for a car, being that loaded forklifts drive in and out of them on a regular basis. But, after further inspection of the trailer floor support framework (or lack there of, as the thin van sidewalls apparently provide floor support), I feel it necessary to purchase some heavy H or I-beams (10" or 12" height), which I am still looking to find for cheap. If I am unable to find such used beams for a reasonable price, I will consider a retired semi flatbed trailer or a pair of long truck frames welded together for the van trailer to rest upon. I do not trust the sidewalls of this van trailer for adequate floor strength as one wall has outward bow to it, perhaps that is why it was retired from service.
With that said, I installed four of the concrete blocks on the west-side of the gully this week, but will wait until I have the beams (or flatbed or truck frames) on hand before I place the blocks on the east-side of the gully as I may change the distance separating the the two foundations slightly. Furthermore, I am constructing a dam made of field stone (harvested from the nearby field) about twenty-five feet downstream from the bridge, as I want the gully to retain water under and around the bridge. I intend to cut window openings in the walls of the 'covered bridge' so that passer-throughs can look outward and see water, as there is otherwise only water flowing through the gully in early spring or after heavy downpours of rain. So, now for some photos:
Looking into the gully, with some fieldstone dumped in it for the making of a dam (need to haul-over at least twice as much more stone). I hauled the concrete blocks in from the east side, then carried them one at a time from my equipment trailer with the excavator and then sat them at the bottom of the gully. Then I drove the excavator up hill where shown (looking west), and reached down and picked them back up one at a time and placed them into the level trench. Getting the blocks situated/oriented just right was a bit of a hassle by myself, but with the aid of a rock and a tree branch, I got it done.
The pathway up the hill eventually leads to my home.
Here is the van trailer, um, I mean future covered bridge. The concrete 2' x 2' x 4' long blocks on the equipment trailer each way about 2000 lbs.
Looking towards the east, with the concrete blocks in place for the west end of the bridge. I placed a railroad tie atop for the frame to sit on, as the blocks have a center tongue protruding upwards that would be inadequate for the frame to rest on.
In case you think that this is a bridge to nowhere, it actually is for a trail (nearly 1/2 mile long) that leads from my home to my parents home which is across the wetland shown here. The short bushy trees are in the wetland, with cattails and swamp grass hidden from view. The road shown was built about twenty-two years ago for forest management and for cattle to cross, with a woven poly fabric underlayment holding the roadbed from sinking into the wetland.
(Me, my dad and his hired hand, built this wetland road during the winter. Once the thick grass and willow brush was dozed to the side, the lack of insulation allowed the wet ground to freeze deep enough to back a loaded gravel truck on. I guess we were ice road trucking?)
That's all for now, folks!
When deciding to use a van trailer for a bridge, I concluded that it would be plenty strong enough for a car, being that loaded forklifts drive in and out of them on a regular basis. But, after further inspection of the trailer floor support framework (or lack there of, as the thin van sidewalls apparently provide floor support), I feel it necessary to purchase some heavy H or I-beams (10" or 12" height), which I am still looking to find for cheap. If I am unable to find such used beams for a reasonable price, I will consider a retired semi flatbed trailer or a pair of long truck frames welded together for the van trailer to rest upon. I do not trust the sidewalls of this van trailer for adequate floor strength as one wall has outward bow to it, perhaps that is why it was retired from service.
With that said, I installed four of the concrete blocks on the west-side of the gully this week, but will wait until I have the beams (or flatbed or truck frames) on hand before I place the blocks on the east-side of the gully as I may change the distance separating the the two foundations slightly. Furthermore, I am constructing a dam made of field stone (harvested from the nearby field) about twenty-five feet downstream from the bridge, as I want the gully to retain water under and around the bridge. I intend to cut window openings in the walls of the 'covered bridge' so that passer-throughs can look outward and see water, as there is otherwise only water flowing through the gully in early spring or after heavy downpours of rain. So, now for some photos:
Looking into the gully, with some fieldstone dumped in it for the making of a dam (need to haul-over at least twice as much more stone). I hauled the concrete blocks in from the east side, then carried them one at a time from my equipment trailer with the excavator and then sat them at the bottom of the gully. Then I drove the excavator up hill where shown (looking west), and reached down and picked them back up one at a time and placed them into the level trench. Getting the blocks situated/oriented just right was a bit of a hassle by myself, but with the aid of a rock and a tree branch, I got it done.
The pathway up the hill eventually leads to my home.
Here is the van trailer, um, I mean future covered bridge. The concrete 2' x 2' x 4' long blocks on the equipment trailer each way about 2000 lbs.
Looking towards the east, with the concrete blocks in place for the west end of the bridge. I placed a railroad tie atop for the frame to sit on, as the blocks have a center tongue protruding upwards that would be inadequate for the frame to rest on.
In case you think that this is a bridge to nowhere, it actually is for a trail (nearly 1/2 mile long) that leads from my home to my parents home which is across the wetland shown here. The short bushy trees are in the wetland, with cattails and swamp grass hidden from view. The road shown was built about twenty-two years ago for forest management and for cattle to cross, with a woven poly fabric underlayment holding the roadbed from sinking into the wetland.
(Me, my dad and his hired hand, built this wetland road during the winter. Once the thick grass and willow brush was dozed to the side, the lack of insulation allowed the wet ground to freeze deep enough to back a loaded gravel truck on. I guess we were ice road trucking?)
That's all for now, folks!
Thanks for the short respite of daydreaming.
Looks like an excellent place for a private picnic area, a hammock between a couple of trees, quiet meditation, and peace from a world in turmoil. Your photos had me expanding your project to include a windmill-powered well pump providing a pond for year-round enjoyment to include a Courier & Ives winter scene.
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