Ooops!
Reversed the camper van over the cast iron cover and spong!
Nearly in deep sh*t.
Fortnately nothing grounded, and I could jack the corner up and put scaffold boards under the wheel to drive off again.
However I now need a new manhole cover and surround, which is designed to take the weight of a vehicle.
Nothing obvious at Screwfix.
Is there an online source significantly cheaper than the local B&P merchant, or do I just ring round the usual suspects?
TIA Dave R
Yes. Did that a few years ago. Cast iron covers in the middle of the drive, paved over by the previous owner. I knew the covers were there, but had never needed to lift them and so had assumed they were OK. A helpful neighbour looked at the embedded car and said words to the effect of; "Oh dear. I told Harry when he put that paving down that those covers wouldn't take the weight of a car".
I couldn't find anything on-line and bought a steel cover from one of the sheds. It fitted into the old frame.
A Thames Water contractor showed up last November and requested access to the inspection pits because a neighbour's garden was in deep ****. They swore blind they'd reinstate the paving. I'm still waiting. I wrote to Thames Water in January and they said they were under no obligitation to reinstate the paving, but they'd do it free of charge. Guess what? Still waiting.
Builders Merchant. They're cheap anyway -- significantly cheaper than the post and packing alone would be for something of that weight. I bought one from Gibbs and Dandy in Luton. First I bought a pressed steel one which claimed to take 3 tonnes, but flexed with a pong/ping when I stepped on it, so that went back and I bought a cast iron one which was rated for something like 10 tonnes. This was only in a footpath alleyway anyway. They had a selection of them which at the top end went way above what I could actually lift. They come with the frame too -- unless you are lucky enough to find one which exactly matches, you'll have to replace the frame too anyway.
Thanks.
Just been out to Travis Perkins to look and they do a standard 620*470 steel one which is rated for 10 tons but is too small.
They can get a larger one sent from a Leicester branch for about £3.50 courier charge, or I can wait for 2 weeks for one from the manufacturer.
Costs £47.31 inc. VAT (plus £3.50 if I get the one in Leicester sent) for a
674*524 to replace a 660*520.I am now about to ring round other B&P to see if someone has one in stock.
Cheers Dave R
Just measured the brick chamber instead of the existing cover.
The chamber is 440*575 from lip to lip.
How much gap should I allow around the chamber rim?
Being right on the edge doesn't seem a good idea, when I intend to drive vehicles over it. So how far back?
1/2 brick? More?TIA
Dave R
The wickes ones are cheep, and rated to take a good heavey car/4x4
Rick
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