I'm working on an ALTA of a parcel that adjoins a railroad, and there's a wire-topped chain link fence along the entire length of the parcel that's several feet into the property from the ROW line.?ÿ Between improvement locations and monument setting I knew I was going to have to cross this fence multiple times in order to complete the work, and I wasn't looking forward to it.?ÿ I did find a spot where the barbed wire had been mashed down to a single layer, so a stake bag on top of that would make getting over doable, but the prospect of scrabbling for footholds was still daunting.?ÿ I figured there must be a better way.
My first thought was a ladder, but that really means two ladders, and that seemed like an unwieldy solution.?ÿ I went online and found a few references to "tactical" climbing aids, which seemed like a reasonable compromise from a design perspective.?ÿ But they're pricey ($150-ish for a set of 3) and the shipping delay wouldn't work with my schedule, so I took the basic design concept and implemented it in a material I already had on hand:?ÿ rebar.
I took a couple of 30" lengths of 5/8" rebar, heated them with a torch and bent them into shape.?ÿ The result is far from perfect, but it beat trying to get the toe of my boot into the the little holes in the fence fabric.?ÿ And they're small enough to leave in the truck until needed.
?ÿ
?ÿ
?ÿ
Great Idea, thanks for sharing
If you unloop two of the wires where they join at the top, you can unwind one of the wires, pass through and then thread it back together on the way out. Works easier on loosely stretched chain link than taut.
I wonder if the people at LoInk Specialties would be interested in selling these hard to find, specialty items.
Ice-piss, don't leave home without it!
Oh the days of having a young limber chain person was nice!?ÿ ?ÿ
Think I??d spring for the extension ladder, break in two for each side and tie off. Cumbersome, sure, but so is a trip to the ER.
extension ladder, break in two for each side and tie off
This is what I've done, and throw a moving blanket over the wire...
Bought one of these for the truck and have used it several times now - about 8 feet as an A frame ladder, so should clear most fences - it locks in the A and you then can swing it over the fence - has a wide foot, so stays pretty stable
When not in use is really small too
Less than $200 on Amazon
Similar to a moving blanket: a piece of carpet (about 3' x 3') as tall as your stake bag, and rolled up. Good quality home living room carpet works best. Throw the pile side down over the fence with the backing/mesh face up. Great for normal and barbed wire fences. Adjust size as needed.
I've also used this ladder for climbing in and out of steep muddy ditches, and it also works for smashing down sticker bushes; lay one down; walk out on it and lay the next one down; pick up the first one and repeat.
?ÿ
I think I would have simply looked for a gate or some other easy way into the railroad ROW and shot everything I needed while I was over there.
Nice, Jim.
Well done.
Atta boy.
Climbing a railroad fence here gets you dinged times two. First the railroad gets you for trespass, then the Board gets you for failing to comply with right of entry. If you're lucky you can hurt yourself crossing and get strike three from your workers comp provider..
Climbing a railroad fence here gets you dinged times two. First the railroad gets you for trespass, then the Board gets you for failing to comply with right of entry. If you're lucky you can hurt yourself crossing and get strike three from your workers comp provider..
Before we scold Jim too boldly we should notice that he said the fence is several feet into his subject property from the ROW line...so not a trespass or right of entry issue.
