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Grand Erg sand plates Grand Erg sand plates
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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
Photo by Ellen Delis, Lagunas Ojos del Campo, Antofalla, Catamarca

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Photo by Ellen Delis,
Lagunas Ojos del Campo,
Antofalla, Catamarca



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  #1  
Old 9 May 2002
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Grand Erg sand plates
Hi,
I've heard some good stories about the Grand Erg composite sand plates, and I'm thinking about getting some. Anyone like/dislike them?

Cheers,
Nick.

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  #2  
Old 9 May 2002
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Hi Nick,
I just got them delivered by Chris. Look well made, are very light and have one specific advantage over alu plates - will always stay in shape. That means for transport they can be slided into C-channels between the roof and the roofrack

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  #3  
Old 9 May 2002
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Hi Roman,
Under the roofrack is something I was thinking about.

How do they deform under load? More or less than the ally ones?

Cheers,
Nick.
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  #4  
Old 9 May 2002
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Nick,
They are much too flexible to use as bridging ladders (even if used in pairs). They just provide a rolling surface for the wheel, stiff enough to spread the downward pressure over a large area. IMHO they could be roughly described as twice as flexible and twice as light as alu plates. They will however spring back to shape.

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  #5  
Old 15 May 2002
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Roman,
Do you feel the need for 4, or do you think it is sufficiant with 2?
I'm thinking of buying from Grand Erg but havn't decided. We have their 700 watt compressor and think it's great. Good quality. I know that it's been mentioned that with a compressor, sand plates aren't "needed". But with Michelin XZY for trans-africa, I'm thinking it might be a good idea. Even though they can be deflated pretty low.
With XS maybe things are different. But we don't have them...
I'd appreciate yor advice!

Erik D.

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  #6  
Old 15 May 2002
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Erik,
Two is enough for solo recoveries if you have diff locks, more than enough if you get a pull. Plates or not, first you have to do the digging anyway. I hope you are not using those pathetic Camel Trophy style mounting brackets with which taking four plates off and putting them back would take more time than diging out the car completely. You should be allright with the XZY's, just don't drive too fast when they are fully aired down.

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  #7  
Old 15 May 2002
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Roman,
mountingwise, I don't have any system yet. I'm not sure what the Camel Trophy way is...
I have thought though of trying to place them between the roofrack and roof, some sort of slide-in system. Perhaps it would be an idea to also have 2 "hooks" on the side of the roof rack so that the person on the ground can easily hang them up while on the move. Then transfer them to the correct place when traction/ground allows. What do you think?

Erik

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  #8  
Old 15 May 2002
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Erik,

If you are talking about the Grand Erg plates, I'm going to fit them the way you describe. You can't achieve this with alu plates because when they are bent, they won't go into the channels. Camel Trophy mounting style relies on two oversize washers and two bolts with regular nuts to fix the plates to the sides of the roof rack (two each side).

For alu plates I have fabricated a system whereby the plates are first hanged on two hooks and then bolted down in the middle with a single large screw (without the use of a spanner) that is secured by a padlock.
Never tried using this while on the move, but if you are concerned about having to retrace your route to recover the plates, tie them to the rear bumper with a piece of string.

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  #9  
Old 16 May 2002
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Roman,

re. the hooks, I was thinking of "oversized" hooks that you could easily slide/hook a Grand Erg plate onto (through one of the holes)while "on the run".
Grand Erg says on their website that they make a 5 and 7 layer type, depending on vehicle size. Do you know what the differance in weight capasity is?

Erik D.

ps. nice article about your disco in the magazine!

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[This message has been edited by Erik D. (edited 15 May 2002).]
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  #10  
Old 17 May 2002
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Hi

I've also heard good things about the Grand Erg stuff but if you are wanting to use the plates as bridging ladders etc then you need to get something a bit more rigid - try Scorpion Racing or Dave Bowyer

cheers
Chris


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  #11  
Old 17 May 2002
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Erik,

I don't quite follow why you are concerned about refitting the plates on the run. Any quick release bracket will do (and a padlock when you stop in villages). Ask Chris Scott about some brackets he advertised the other day in the Sahara Travel Forum.

I guess mine are the thicker type (as they have been ordered for a Lancruiser 80) but I don't thing the difference in weight is dramatic.

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  #12  
Old 17 May 2002
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Thanks chaps, I've ordered a set so I'll let you know how it goes.

Nick.
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  #13  
Old 18 May 2002
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Ordered 2 Grand Erg's.
Thanks for the help!

Erik D.

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  #14  
Old 20 May 2002
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Chris, Do you have links for scorpion racing of David Bowyer?

Thanks

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  #15  
Old 22 May 2002
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I'm not Chris, but here it goes:

http://www.scorpion-racing.co.uk

http://www.dborc.demon.co.uk/


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