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Steel Plate vs. Grates (Heavy Mud)

U

UtahYoutubeGuy

Active member
I have a car wash close to a big mountain mine and I get very heavy mud usage. We scoop mud from the floors when cleaning but a lot goes in the pits. We just filled the pits again after only 2 months.

Whats the best design for a mud catcher cover over the pits?

I was looking at this design on this KleenRite vid.

 
I use these grates after repeatedly coming into the wash to find the metal ones gone with a midnight scrapper. Welding heavy chain to the grates didn't help as it just added to his haul. We ended up catching him but not before a handful of headaches.
I guess it was dumb luck, but the height of the fiberglass grates we got is higher than the bay floor by about 3/4" and if a mudder comes in, it accumulates around the edges which is easily scraped up with a square head shovel. I notched out one (side) square on each side of the grates to allow water to drain. I really like 'em and the plugs are good at stopping debris build-up around the edges.
 

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edredtop said:
I use these grates after repeatedly coming into the wash to find the metal ones gone with a midnight scrapper. Welding heavy chain to the grates didn't help as it just added to his haul. We ended up catching him but not before a handful of headaches.
I guess it was dumb luck, but the height of the fiberglass grates we got is higher than the bay floor by about 3/4" and if a mudder comes in, it accumulates around the edges which is easily scraped up with a square head shovel. I notched out one (side) square on each side of the grates to allow water to drain. I really like 'em and the plugs are good at stopping debris build-up around the edges.
Click to expand...
How much weight can these composite grates handle? I often get some very heavy rigs at my wash. That would be my only worry.
 
edredtop said:
I use these grates after repeatedly coming into the wash to find the metal ones gone with a midnight scrapper. Welding heavy chain to the grates didn't help as it just added to his haul. We ended up catching him but not before a handful of headaches.
I guess it was dumb luck, but the height of the fiberglass grates we got is higher than the bay floor by about 3/4" and if a mudder comes in, it accumulates around the edges which is easily scraped up with a square head shovel. I notched out one (side) square on each side of the grates to allow water to drain. I really like 'em and the plugs are good at stopping debris build-up around the edges.
Click to expand...
I'd be worried about liability with a trip hazard like that.
 
HeyVern said:
I'd be worried about liability with a trip hazard like that.
Click to expand...
Noted.
99.9 % of the time it's under the customer's vehicle.
That 3/4 of an inch gets gobbled up pretty fast with dirt and mud accumulation too.
To your point, maybe I'll try safety yellow next time.
 
I have heavy metal plates at one location and would not recommend them. While mud does collect on top it also becomes completly blocked and creates a dam at times leading to large pools in the bay.
 
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