Cattle Guard

[CowboyRam]

I'm thinking of building a cattle guard to cross over my cement ditch. I'm only spanning 4'. I was thinking of using 2"x3"x3/16" tubing for the rails. 3"x4"x1/4" tubing for the support beam spaced 4' apart. The heaviest thing I would potentially drive over it would be my CaseIH 7130 tractor. Would that be sufficient for my needs.

 

[GoWyo]

I'm thinking of building a cattle guard to cross over my cement ditch. I'm only spanning 4'. I was thinking of using 2"x3"x3/16" tubing for the rails. 3"x4"x1/4" tubing for the support beam spaced 4' apart. The heaviest thing I would potentially drive over it would be my CaseIH 7130 tractor. Would that be sufficient for my needs.

I would think that would do it. Drill stem and 3.5 or 4" casing would be way cheaper material. My yard cattle guard is 2-3/8" drill stem grid with 3.5" casing for the beams.

 

[Brute 23]

That would be nice but a 2 3/8 or 2 7/8 tubing for top and 4" for runners would save some money. Be sure to cut some little round bars to put where the two pipes meet so you can weld top and bottom. If you try to weld the two round pipes the weld will crack. Same if you use I beam or recangular tubing or some thing for the runners.

 

[CowboyRam]

That would be nice but a 2 3/8 or 2 7/8 tubing for top and 4" for runners would save some money. Be sure to cut some little round bars to put where the two pipes meet so you can weld top and bottom. If you try to weld the two round pipes the weld will crack. Same if you use I beam or recangular tubing or some thing for the runners.

I have not run the number for drill stem yet. I would agree with you. I did run numbers for square tubing, and it would be cheaper for me to buy one made of drill stem than buying square tubing.

 

[worldsgreatestlover]

Your materials seem adequate and not to get in your business or get of topic. Your probably already aware of this
You mentioned your only spanning 4'.
I would still make the actual cattle guard at least 6'. 4' is narrow enough to encourage some cattle to try to cross. That often ends bad.

 

[CowboyRam]

Your materials seem adequate and not to get in your business or get of topic. Your probably already aware of this
You mentioned your only spanning 4'.
I would still make the actual cattle guard at least 6'. 4' is narrow enough to encourage some cattle to try to cross. That often ends bad.

I'm not worried about the cattle crossing it. It is just going to be used as a means to get equipment across my cement irrigation ditch. The cows will be able to cross the ditch anywhere either side of it.

I found one that is already built for $1000. I'm going to go ahead and buy it.