well today I tried to back up to the fifth wheel and the roads in our storage area is gravel but there is about 15 feet between the road to the trailer that is grass and just the slightest angel, well now its 2 tracks of mud, next month we are pulling it out of storage and I was thinking about laying down something in my wheel path to get some grip for the tires to grab, a little background, we live in Seattle so the ground is not going to be any dryer next month, the truck is a 1999 4 door freightliner weighing in at 12,000 pounds, it has an air locker and new aggressive street tires in the back, I was even considering buying a set of chains for the back tires, but that's a big expense and a lot of work for the 15 feet, so what would you do ?

Multiple sheets of used 3/4" plywood, ripped in half lenghtwise and laid down to drive on.15 feet X 2 sheets of plywood, ripped in half and laid end to end. 2X8' twice = 16 feet. This will give you something to run on without your wheels being in the mud.

Go with the plywood.... best plan :)

Plywood works fine for a LDT but the 12k tractor will make short work of the plywood unless its 1" thick. Then where do you put the plywood or even haul it. If you have the same place to park the trailer at the storage yard get the owner/mgr to gravel the 15 feet or gravel two tracks for the duals yourself for the 15 feet. The problem with a HDT is off the pavement especially in grass and wet soil. The front end of a HDT sinks and sometimes even chains on the rears will not push or pull the steer axle through mud/soft dirt.

Does the storage yard have a 'yard machine' that could pull it out for you? or perhaps a friend with a 4WD truck.

cat litter or gravel | Good Sam Community

wirenutz
Explorer
Jan 05, 2014
thanks everyone, I am going to call the storage company on monday and talk to them, my pad is graveled where the fifth wheel is, the next problem is when I pull straight out from my pad and cross the road, the area on the other side of the road is also grass, I cant make any turns till at least 2/3 of the trailer is out of the "slot", when we parked this beast in august it was dry and we had a 1990 dodge diesel one ton truck single rear tire, it got replaced with the freightliner, as the trailer weighs in at 14,000 pounds dry, and the dodge was just not enough truck in my book for the job
me1magoo
Explorer
Jan 06, 2014
Paying for a storage spot means paying for a reasonable access to that spot. I would expect the storage company to at LEAST put down rock and gravel in two strips for you to back in and drive out on. If not, find another storage space that is willing to provide a secure driving surface for you. Money talks.
campigloo
Explorer
Jan 06, 2014
If this is a somewhat permanent storage place for you, I would use #45(?) limestone. Build it up high and after a few trips over it it will pack like concrete.
Bedlam
Moderator
Jan 07, 2014
I feel for you. My truck is just over 11K lbs with the camper and I sink a good 4" into the water soaked ground even before pulling out my 7K lb trailer. Last time I had to put the truck in 4wd just to get to the trailer to prevent spinning out even deeper grooves/ruts. I was able to use the tongue weight to my advantage when pulling out the trailer, but I did find some spots gave an additional 2" with the the extra weight (all this was without wheel spin and just ground compaction).

I'm in a similar situation where I do not own the property (keep trailer at a friend's location). Even though I have offered to gravel in this section for better drainage and traction at my expense, he does not want rock in that area. Believe it or not, the ruts are gone within a week of rain and the ground is again level.

I agree with the others that pavers or gravel would be the best solution to your problem, but you may need to stay with temporary solutions if the owner does not want to alter his property. Have you considered using an old carpet for traction? It would still compress and rut underneath, but it would give you traction. The carpet could be rolled up and stored on the MDT or left at home once the fifth wheel is extracted from storage.

Any chance of relocating to another spot that is dryer or has more turnout space?
wirenutz
Explorer
Jan 07, 2014
update on the storage yard, the owners are having gravel layed down not only in the area right in front of our fifth wheel, but also in the expected path of travel in the grassy field that is straight out in front of the trailer, thanks for the advice about calling them and reminding them " Paying for a storage spot means paying for a reasonable access to that spot"
rhagfo
Explorer III
Jan 07, 2014
Good luck, don't get stuck!!!
wirenutz
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
Thanks rhagfo
wirenutz
Explorer
Jan 08, 2014
the new and final update on the storage unit, today a company was hired by the owners of this storage yard, they had the soft top soil dug out and layed down 2 inch gravel in the intended path way of my exit and entrance of my storage spot, well there will be now more backing it into our spot as when we pull it out this feb. 1st we are moving into it full time, just to a Mobil Home park for now
Passin_Thru
Explorer
Jan 12, 2014
gravel
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Jan 12, 2014
Fresh Step for multiple cats .... oh ... sorry ... wrong thread!